Report: Boroughbridge AFC 0 v 3 Rangers

KDRAFC Media
Mar 13, 2022
4 min read

In a match where Rangers weren't at their best, first-half goals from Rob Holliday and Joe Wilks and a second-half strike by Joe Turley saw them wrap up the points and complete a rare double over Boroughbridge AFC.

n his pre-match talk, Manager Dan Marshall stressed the need for both concentration and intensity in play to continue in the manner that had seen Rangers win their previous two games. He couldn't have wished for a better start when Deighton won a penalty within the first three minutes after the keeper appeared to have fouled Wilks after trying to collect a cross that he had dropped. Rob Holliday took on the responsibility and made no mistake beating the keeper with a low shot to his right.

Deighton threatened again down the right-wing through Adam Carter, releasing Harvey Ribbons, the right-back drilled a pass through the area, but the keeper read the danger and smothered the ball.

Boroughbridge pushed Rangers back, and it needed two well-timed tackles by Ribbons and Luke Dubery to stop them from getting shots away on Jonty Smith's goal.

Surviving the host's pressure, Deighton mounted their own, and a good block tackle inside the area halted Wilks' run. Moments later, the keeper claimed Josh Barden's curling corner under pressure.

Pushing forward again, a good run down Deighton's left flank ended with a dangerous cross that went untouched as it travelled across the 18-yard box.

Boroughbridge were enjoying a phase of pressure that pinned Rangers back. However, try as they might, the hosts couldn't find the final pass they needed, and several headers went wide.

Using long balls as a means of easing the pressure, Rangers doubled their lead in the 28th minute when one such ball found Wilks, and he lifted his shot over the stranded Boroughbridge keeper from outside the area.

A free-kick for Boroughbridge appeared to strike the hand of a Rangers player two minutes later. Despite protests from both the home players and bench, the referee waved away the claims indicating that it had hit the player's knee before ricocheting onto his arm. Following a stop in play, while the referee spoke to Boroughbridge's management, a yellow card was issued to a member of the bench.

The momentum shifted again, and this time it was Rangers who were on the front foot. A nice piece of skill by Jake Little saw him pass to Ribbons, but his cross landed on the roof of the net.

A pass to Wilks by Carter saw him collide with the keeper who had narrowed the angle down well. After several minutes of treatment, Wilks got back to his feet.

A flowing Boroughbridge move down the right was crossed into the middle, and the shot brought out a superb save from Smith as he dived to his right to deflect the ball clear.

Half-Time: Boroughbridge AFC 0 v 2 Kirk Deighton Rangers

Rangers started the second half on the attack, as Wilks's pass picked out Ribbons, but his cross was defended by Boroughbridge.

With 48 minutes played, Rangers scored their third after Turley picked up the ball and glided past three defenders before shooting low across the keeper to find the corner of the net.

Boroughbridge warned Rangers that they were still in the game when some neat play in the middle of the park allowed their striker to shoot over the crossbar. Minutes later, the same happened again, but the striker couldn't connect cleanly, and the ball bounced to safety.

Rangers pressed down the right and won a throw-in that found Wilks. Back-heeling the ball into Carter's path, his shot brought a good save from the keeper as he turned it around the post.

A foul on James Flynn (who had replaced Luke Dubery) saw Barden pick out Little. Passing back to James Woodward, he shot from outside the area, but his effort ended in the playing field behind the pitch.

The game was pulsing between the two areas, and no sooner had Boroughbridge had a shot that went over than Neal (who had replaced Wilks) combined with Carter to set up Little, but his shot lacked the power to trouble the keeper.

Ribbons was having a superb match down the right, and his cross set up Carter to try an overhead kick which he couldn't connect with properly and the hosts cleared.

Coming on against his former club, it was James Harrison's free-kick that nearly led to the fourth goal for Rangers, but Flynn couldn't find the angle he needed, and his shot went wide.

Another free-kick for Rangers, following a foul on Neal, allowed Carter to shoot at goal. Despite hitting it well, his accuracy was off, and it flew wide of its target.

Boroughbridge broke down the right-wing, cutting in he looked to shoot, but Mason Sheridan-Hawley produced a solid block to divert the ball away from goal.

A long goal kick by Smith picked out Neal, who fed Harrison, hitting a half-volley he watched as the keeper dived to his left to turn it away.

The half ended with Woodward controlling a pass and shooting from outside the area, but as with his other attempts, this one sailed wide of its intended target, knocking over a phone mast and causing telecommunications issues in Boroughbridge.

Full-Time: Boroughbridge AFC 0 v 3 Kirk Deighton Rangers