Report: Birstall Rovers 4 v 3 Rangers (ST)

KDRAFC Media
Oct 3, 2021
3 min read

On a sodden pitch at Batley Grammar School, Rangers second-team fell to a last-minute goal that knocked them out of the Challenge Trophy.

Deighton started on the front foot and forced a free-kick which Birstall headed clear. Minutes later, an ambitious effort by Chris Plews from near the touchline was caught by the keeper.

Birstall attacked, and as they shot, Mike Tasker's outstretched leg deflected the ball for a corner.

A foul on Will Hodson resulted in a penalty in the 7th minute, and Dan Flynn made no mistake drilling his shot past the keeper's dive.

The scores were level again a minute later after Deighton expected the referee to give a handball against Birstall. However, the official waved play on, and a dipping shot looped over Kieran Arnett.

Deighton tried to re-exert their dominance, and a good run by Liam Dean saw his cross collected by the keeper. A counter by Birstall saw another looping shot arc towards goal, but this time Arnett jumped and palmed the ball onto the crossbar before gathering it at the second attempt.

Tasker was shown the yellow card following a foul on the edge of the area, but Birstall wasted the opportunity as they shot well over.

Rangers enjoyed a good spell of possession, but try as they might, they couldn't find the final pass. When they did, they found Birstall willing to throw themselves in the way of every shot.

Following a strange pass back decision against Rangers that the referee eventually overturned, a long goal-kick by Arnett found Hodson, who in turn found Jason Wright, but the keeper saved his shot.

The home side took the lead in the 37th minute when despite Deighton claiming offside, Birstall worked the ball from right to left, and the striker fired low past Arnett.

Birstall made it 3-1 a minute before half-time when some over-elaborate passing in Rangers' midfield broke down, and Rovers went down the pitch and scored a goal very similar to their second.

Half-Time: Birstall Rovers FC 3 v 1 Kirk Deighton Rangers

A change of formation saw Finlay Appleton replaced by Jack Loudoun as Rangers looked to try and get a grip on the game. Straight away Liam Dean flicked the ball into Wright's path, but the keeper beat him to it.

Plews saw his shot from outside the area fly straight into the custodian's arms before a header by Wright at the back post bounced just wide of the post.

A tackle by Tasker ended with him injuring himself, and he was replaced by Matthew Lurcuck. Within minutes he was in the thick of the action when he sprinted onto Hodson's pass and crossed for Maxwell to head wide.

Rangers worked the ball down the pitch, and Lurcuck fed Dawson, who shot low past the keeper to reduce the deficit in the 61st minute.

A series of passes saw Birstall break through the defence, but as the striker turned towards goal, Arnett came to meet him and cleared the danger.

The home side were awarded a dubious penalty in the 65th minute, but Arnett was equal to the spot-kick and saved it.

Following a collision between the referee and Loudoun, the game momentarily stoped for the official to recover.

A corner for Rangers saw multiple players, including substitute Sam Briggs get involved. Eventually, the ball fell to Flynn, who half-volleyed it just over.

Rangers scored the equaliser in the 80th minute when Wright latched onto a weak header and hit a hard shot that the keeper could only divert into his net.

With both teams looking for the winner, Rangers' came close when Loudoun clipped the crossbar with a lifted shot from Wright's free-kick.

With the game in the final minute, Birstall broke down the left side of the pitch, and despite lunging tackles from Plews and Matt Trower, the striker evaded them and shot just over Arnett's outstretched leg to score.

Rangers had one final chance when Dean reacted quickest to Wright's chipped free-kick. Hitting a powerful shot, Deighton watched in despair as his shot went agonisingly wide of the goal.

Full-Time: Birstall Rovers FC 4 v 3 Kirk Deighton Rangers

Squad.

Starting 11	Goal	Sub	Other
Arnett
Appleton		46th min
Flynn	7th min		Captain
Trower
Tasker		57th min	Yellow Card
Maxwell		73rd min
Hodson
Plews
Dawson	61st min
Dean
Wright	80th min
Substitutes
Loudoun		46 min
Lurcuck		57th min
Briggs		73rd min