Report: Huddersfield Amateur 1 v 0 Rangers

KDRAFC Media
Sep 4, 2022
3 min read

Rangers fell to a second-half goal against Huddersfield Amateur to leave them stuck in the bottom three for the fifth game in a row. However, as bad as this sounds, there were signs that this new team were starting to gel.

With regular goalkeepers Jonty Smith and Kieran Arnett injured and suspended, Former Boroughbridge stopper Dan Bramham made his debut. Defender Ethan Macpherson was also out through injury.

Continuing their change in formation, Rangers lined up in a 3-5-2 style, and Luke Trower's long ball freed Roman Neal, but despite trying to chase the pass down, it had enough legs on it to carry to the Huddersfield keeper.

Deighton's defence was soon under pressure, and it needed Trower to move across to intercept and clear a dangerous pass down the left-hand side of the pitch.

It was one-way traffic as the home side piled on the pressure, but the trio of Trower, Julian Williams and Harvey Ribbons dealt with the several crosses that came into the area.

Mounting an attack, Rob Holliday found Elliot Anderson, and he released Dominic Jones. At the last moment, a defender managed to interject himself into the move and guarded the ball for a goal-kick.

A pass back forced the Huddersfield keeper into a hurried clearance, and it just evaded the onrushing Liam Dean.

The post came to the host's rescue after George Widdows rose highest at a corner, but his header, although beating the goalkeeper and defender, crashed against the stanchion and rebounded back into the area.

Play swung back in Huddersfield's favour, and Bramham was called twice into action. Once to dive to his right to push a long shot away, then a good save low down to his left with his foot to divert the ball out for a corner.

Half-Time: Huddersfield Amateur 0 v 0 Kirk Deighton Rangers

The second half started with Huddersfield pressing down the flanks, but as before, Deighton's defence withstood the pressure, and the final shot arched over Bramham's crossbar and into the trees.

Deighton reminded Huddersfield they were in the game, and Ribbons and Jones combined to pick out Holliday. Feeding Neal, his cross was blocked over the crossbar by a defender.

As with the first half, the frame of the goal came to the rescue. This time it was Deighton who benefitted when Huddersfield's shot glanced off the crossbar.

The only goal came in the 55th minute after Huddersfield quickly moved the ball across the area to the left side, where their player nipped in and powered his shot past Bramham, despite the keeper getting his hands to the ball.

Two long goal-kicks, one from either side, momentarily offered chances, but Huddersfield's defence quickly closed down Dean, and the cross from Huddersfield was overhit and went behind the goal.

An issue that constantly dogged Deighton was the inability to make the ball stick in midfield. On several occasions, Huddersfield easily picked up a loose pass and quickly attacked from an advanced position.

Trying to turn the screw on Rangers, Huddersfield had several attempts to double their lead. A save to his right by Bramham denied one endeavour, whilst a contender for miss of the season saw a Huddersfield player shoot over from nearly under the crossbar.

Ribbons' shot deflected off a defender, and Neal managed to get to the ball before the keeper, but his cross back into the area was blocked.

With the game entering the last twenty minutes, the pattern of Huddersfield having the attacks but Deighton's defence withstanding them continued. Rangers were thankful for Ribbons, who was in the right place to head off the goalline with Bramham beaten.

Full-Time: Huddersfield Amateur 1 v 0 Kirk Deighton Rangers