Report: Howden Clough Res 0 v 7 Rangers Res

KDRAFC Media
Oct 11, 2020
3 min read

Roman Neal opens the scoring in the fifth minute.
Liam Dean adds a further four to put Rangers five up at half-time.
Neal and Phil Turner score one each in second-half.

This match was settled by half-time as Rangers bagged five goals without reply. However, it was the hosts who had the best of the opening exchanges when a pass over Deighton's defence was cleared by keeper Mitch Moore, who had to time his run to beat the striker to the ball.

The first goal arrived in the 5th minute when Josh Barden released Roman Neal, and his looping shot arched over the goalkeeper before dropping into the net.

Three minutes later, Rangers doubled their lead when Brad Spencer latched onto Mason Sheridan-Hawley's long pass. Beating his marker, he pulled the ball back, and Dean slid in to divert the ball past the keeper.

With Howden stuck in their half, Dean was in the right place again to steer Rich Jenner's high cross home in the 15th minute. Credit also has to go to Neal who battled hard to win the ball on the left flank before picking out Jenner.

Howden won several free-kicks in dangerous places, but thankfully for Rangers, they couldn't convert, mainly due to Mike Tasker, Dan Flynn and Sheridan-Hawley who either collectively, or individually cleared the danger.

Dean completed his hat-trick in the 20th minute after Barden had been fouled in the area. Sending his spot-kick to his right, and the keeper the other way, the striker celebrated a twelve-minute trio of goals.

Barden was pulling the strings in midfield, and another through pass eventually fell at the feet of Dom Walton, whose shot just cleared the crossbar.

A sudden downpour which sent the smattering of supporters running for cover didn't stop the blue tide and Dean claimed his 4th goal in the 24th minute when he showed some quick feet to spin a defender and lift the ball over the keeper from six yards.

Spencer was giving Howden's right back no peace at all, and another darting run saw the winger flash his shot across the face of the goal.

Barden's inswinging corner presented Jenner with a free header from eight yards out. However, the ball glanced off his shoulder and cleared the crossbar.

Rangers thought that they had added another in the final minute of the first half. Taking a long shot, Barden's effort clipped a defender before ending up in the back of the net. Turning to celebrate, the midfielder was astonished to see the referee ruling out the goal citing that a Deighton player had ventured offside when the shot was taken!

Half-Time: Howden Clough Reserves 0 v 5 Kirk Deighton Rangers Reserves

As was evident towards the final stages of the first half, Rangers had taken their foot off the accelerator, and Howden tried to take advantage with a good spell of passing that ended with a shot just over Moore's goal.

An offside decision rescued Deighton after Park was unable to cut out a pass to Clough's speedy left-winger. Minutes later Moore produced a superb reflex save to palm a shot over from close range.

Deighton's first substitution occurred in the 69th minute when Phil Turner replaced Dean. Within two minutes of his introduction, he was celebrating his first goal of the season after he slammed home from just inside the area, following good work by Neal.

With Rangers playing attacking football again, they found themselves in seventh heaven when Neal curled Barden's corner past the diving keeper and defender, and into the net.

Two quick changes saw the injured Spencer replaced by Jack Loudoun, and John-Paul Williams on for Park. It was Loudoun who won a free-kick near the corner flag that was sent into the area by Barden. Coming to Sheridan-Hawley at the back post, his header went just wide.

Howden were forced back again, and Walton and Loudoun both had good chances to score, but it was Tasker who came the closest when his shot was charged down, and as the rebound fell to Sheridan-Hawley, his shot also met a similar outcome.

Final Score: Howden Clough Reserves 0 v 7 Rangers Reserves

In review: A superb performance by all the team. Strong when in possession, and quick to regain the ball when it was lost, Rangers deserved the win. Some superb goals were scored, and Dean was on fire, deservingly winning the Man of the Match award.

Report by KDRAFC Media.

Squad: Moore, Park, Sheridan-Hawley, Tasker, Jenner, Flynn, Walton, Barden, Neal, Dean, Spencer

Subs: Turner, Loudoun, Williams

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