Report: Gomersal & Cleckheaton 0 v 3 Rangers

KDRAFC Media
Oct 31, 2021
3 min read

The usual ghoulish Halloween puns aside, Rangers pre-match preparation couldn't have gone much worse! With several motorway based issues slowing down players and officials alike, the game started ten minutes late. Ninety minutes later, Assistant Manager Dave Campbell quipped that this should become part of Deighton's routine as they ran out winners to gain their first win in seven games.

Gomersal & Cleckheaton pressured from the start, and a deep free-kick dropped into the heart of Deighton's area, but with no one on the end of it, keeper Jonty Smith let it bounce harmlessly off the pitch.

Rangers won a free-kick of their own just outside Gomersal's area, which needed the keeper to tip over Ryan O'Donnell's shot. A counter-attack moments later saw the hosts snatch at the final chance and waste an opportunity to open the scoring.

With the pitch suffering from the recent inclement weather, both teams were having problems getting a passing game going, but a cross pitch ball from O'Donnell picked out Joe Turley on the right-wing, but his cross was just too high for Roman Neal to reach.

Deighton survived a scare when a pass into the area nearly found an unmarked player arriving at the back post, but he couldn't divert it goalwards.

The first goal arrived in the 14th minute after Rob Holliday flicked the ball over the Gomersal defence and into Ash Tatler's path, and his shot from outside the area beat the keeper.

Rangers tried to force the pace, but the hosts were equal to what Deighton threw at them. Turley's cross just evaded O'Donnell before Josh Barden's free-kick was headed clear by a well-marshalled defence.

Following Neal's attempted volley, Gomersal countered and forced Smith into a diving save to his left. Getting back up, the custodian had to make another save, and despite the home team claiming that he hadn't prevented the ball from crossing the line, the referee disagreed, and the play continued.

With Rangers losing momentum, Gomersal poured forward multiple times, and it needed late interventions by O'Donnell and Josh Buckley to prevent them from having a clear shot at goal.

Both teams had chances to score before the break. Neal was ruled offside as he collected a pass and rounded the keeper and a lax header in the Deighton area landed right at the Gomersal's strikers feet, but he shot wide under pressure.

Half-Time: Gomersal & Cleckheaton 0 v 1 Kirk Deighton Rangers

The second half was still in its infancy when Smith needed treatment after being fouled collecting a cross. Thankfully he was able to continue after several minutes.

A flowing move by Deighton saw Neal release Turley and his low shot from the right-hand side of the area was turned onto the post by a superb save from the Gomersal keeper.

The play moved quickly between both areas, and Gomersal nearly equalised, but Buckley prevented their player from shooting at Smith with a block tackle.

A counter-attack by Rangers infuriated the home side, who claimed Tatler was offside when he received the ball. However, the linesman kept his flag down, and despite releasing Holliday with a pass, the midfielder couldn't make any inroads into Gomersal's area.

Tatler claimed his second goal in the 64th minute, but it was tinged in controversy as Gomersal claimed he had used to hand to control the ball after the keeper had raced to the edge of his area and tried to head clear. With no whistle forthcoming, the striker curled his shot over the stranded gloveman and into the net. However, before the game could recommence, the referee spoke with his linesman at length before showing a yellow card to a member of the home management.

Gomersal were looking dangerous from set-pieces, and from a free-kick, O'Donnell had to defend well as the ball dropped into the danger area.

Some intricate play outside Gomersal's area involving Tatler and Neal saw the latter's path to goal blocked as he looked to shoot, and as the play switched direction, Holliday had to sprint back and produce a last-ditch tackle to stop the striker from shooting.

Smith produced another top-class save to preserve his clean sheet as he dived full length to his left and pushed aside a header that was arrowing into the top corner.

If Tatler had produced the cake, Barden put the icing on it in the 82nd minute after the keeper misjudged his inswinging corner and could only help it into the net.

Not happy with their three goals, Deighton pressed again, but Gomersal's defence stood firm and blocked Jack Holliday's (who had replaced Turley) path.

The game ended with Gomersal attacking down Deighton's left flank, but Buckley forced the attacker out of play as he looked to cross.

Full-Time: Gomersal & Cleckheaton 0 v 3 Kirk Deighton Rangers

Squad:

Starting 11.	Goal	Sub	Other
Smith			MOM
Ribbons
O'Donnell
Sheridan-Hawley		65 min
Buckley
Holliday.R
Barden	82 min
McCartney		58 min
Neal
Tatler	14, 64 min		MOM
Turley		70 min
Substitutes
Murphy		58 min
Bollon		65 min
Holliday.J		70 min