Report: Kirk Deighton Rangers 0 v 0 Wyke Wanderers

For the second time this season, neither team could find a way to claim a win. However, whereas it was the wind that intervened to ruin Deighton’s plans in the first fixture, this time it was Wyke’s goalkeeper who pulled off several superb saves to make sure that the Wanderers left with a point.

Demanding an instant response following the 5-1 mauling from Salts FC last weekend, Manager Dan Marshall cut a frustrated figure before the match as a mixture of setbacks robbed him of several key players.

Rangers kicked off towards the allotments and straight away it was evident that they were determined to right the wrongs of the last game. Jake Little powerfully ran down the right-wing before his cross was cleared by the Wyke defence with Jack Holliday looked to convert at the far post.

The first shot came from Josh Bhandal after good play from Craig Hall, Charlie Yates and Little combined to set him up just outside the area, but his attempt went over.

Little was a threat for Rangers with his probing runs causing Wyke’s defence constant problems, however, each time they were able to provide an answer to the questions Deighton were asking.

An intricate pass by Rob Holliday freed his brother to attack the left side of Wyke’s area. Choosing to pick out Yates rather than shoot, the blond-haired striker was unable to reach the pass before it was intercepted.

A free-kick gave the visitors their first sight of Deighton’s goal, but Josh Buckley and Mason Sheridan-Hawley combined to clear the danger.

A weaving run by Rob Holliday saw him burst through Wyke’s rearguard, but his shot was pushed wide by a diving goalkeeper.

With 21 minutes played, Little beat Wyke’s offside trap to collect Yates’s pass, hitting a powerful shot from a narrow-angle, the ball smashed against the upright and bounced out of play.

Jake Little out jumps the Wyke defence.

The chances were racking up for Deighton, and both Yates and Hall nearly found that crucial touch required to break the deadlock.

Wyke reminded Rangers that they were present when their frontman quickly closed down Jonty Smith and appeared to rob him of the ball, however, the keeper dived backwards to smoother the danger.

Rangers best chance of the half occurred in the 38th minute when Little out jumped several defenders to meet Rob Holliday’s cross. Looping his header over the diving custodian, he, and all watching, couldn’t believe it when it hit the upright again and bounced back into play!

A foul on Harvey Ribbons presented Josh Barden with a free kick in a promising position. Curling his cross in, Buckley headed back to Rob Holliday, who shot just wide.

Just as in the first match at Whitechapel Road, Wyke’s defence was proving to be a stubborn unit and blocks and last-ditch interceptions stopped Yates, Hall, Barden, Bhandal and Little from getting clean strikes on goal.

Half-Time: Kirk Deighton Rangers 0 v 0 Wyke Wanderers

The second period started how the first one ended with the blue shirts swarming forward, and the best of the early chances came from a duo of corners that culminated with both Buckley and Bhandal arriving at the back post, but neither of them could turn Barden’s kick into the goal.

Marshall made his only changes in the 58th minute replacing both Little and Jack Holliday with Chris Plews and James Woodward.

It was the turn of Wyke’s keeper to rescue them again in the 61st minute when Bhandal headed goalwards only to see another superb diving save deny him the opening goal.

With Rangers pushing forward, Wyke took advantage of the numbers game to work the ball down the pitch, cutting in from the left flank, the striker took aim, but shot straight at Smith. Minutes later a carbon copy move down the opposite flank saw the final shot fly wide of the goal.

Rangers watch as a superb save from the Wyke goalkeeper denies Josh Bhandal.

The game was allowed to continue by Mr Grant despite the visitors having a man on the floor, but as he went to check on the Wyke player following Woodward’s shot going wide, he took exception to something said and sent the player to the sin-bin. This enraged the visitor’s bench, and following an initial yellow card to one of their management team, the referee had had enough and sent the official from pitch side.

The action restarted, and it took another block to prevent Yates’s strike from reaching its target from another Barden corner.

A deep cross by Ribbons was mis-kicked by Hall, but the ball spun to Plews who sent in a looping shot that hit the crossbar before striking the keeper on the back and trickling just wide of the post.

It was another good stop by the keeper that thwarted Buckley at the back post after the defender had powered his header goalwards from another Barden corner.

As with any scoreless match, the danger of a ‘smash and grab’ goal is always present and it a quick Wyke break down the pitch saw a one-on-one with Smith. Fortunately, the Rangers keeper wasn’t going to be beaten and produced a fine save down low.

With time running out, Deighton kept on pressing, and Bhandal’s shot was deflected wide before Mr Grant ended proceedings.

A point for Rangers which could have been more if not for some inspired goalkeeper from the Wyke custodian. However, what will have pleased Dan Marshall is the way that his team responded from last week’s game, and if they keep this level of play up, it shouldn’t be long before the victories return.

Full-Time: Kirk Deighton Rangers 0 v 0 Wyke Wanderers.

Match Report by KDRAFC Media

Team: Smith, Hall, Ribbons, Bhandal, Sheridan-Hawley, Buckley, Holliday.R, Barden, Yates, Little, Holliday.J Subs: Woodward (Little 58), Plews (Holliday.J 58). Not Used: Flynn, Thelwell.

Goals: None

Sin-Bin: Rangers (none), Wyke Wanderers (1 player)

Yellow Cards: Rangers (Woodward), Wyke Wanderers (3 players)

Red Cards: Rangers (none), Wyke Wanderers (1 official sent from pitch side)

Referee: Mr Dean Grant.

The Bennett & Fountain Kirk Deighton Rangers Man Of The Match: Craig Hall