Report: Kirk Deighton Rangers 1 v 5 Salts FC

"Best to chalk that one off as a day to forget!" was the summary from one spectator as he left Barr Field, following Rangers 5-1 defeat to Salts FC.

A poor first half saw defensive frailties raise their head again to cost Deighton the game, and even though a controversial goal from Charlie Yates briefly gave the boys in blue hope, this was extinguished by two more Salts goals in the second half.

As the referee failed to show, Reserves player Sam Murphy took control of the match and by the end, probably wished he hadn't as his patience was severely tested by both teams.

The visitors got the game going and straight away put Rangers under pressure, but their cross was cleared to safety.

A curling cross by Harvey Ribbons tried to pick out Rob Holliday, but the Salts keeper was quickly off his line to smother the danger as the winger looked to pounce.

The first of many tough challenges took Ribbons off his feet, and the free-kick found James Woodward inches away from connecting at the back-post.

Charlie Yates was full of running, and his tricky footwork caused Salts' fullback issues. Manoeuvring the ball onto his right foot, he curled in a shot that went wide of the back post.

Salts put the pressure back on down the right, and it took a combination of Jonty Smith and a defender to clear a dangerous low cross.

A free-kick just outside Deighton's area proved to be their undoing in the 17th minute when the taker bent his shot around the wall and past Smith.

Just sixty seconds later, the visitor's were celebrating again as Rangers failed to clear the ball before the shot beat Smith from close range.

Looking to get back into the game, Rob Holliday and Joe Barden combined to free Yates. Taking his shot, the keeper spilt his effort, but a covering defender put the ball out of play.

The 23rd minute saw the game effectively put out of Rangers reach when a cross was headed past Smith by an unmarked Salts player.

Charlie Yates scores for Rangers, but it was marked by controversy!

Rangers were creating chances, and Josh Bhandal's shot from Woodward's pass tested the keeper, but he stood firm and caught the ball. Minutes later, Joe Turley's free-kick flew wide after Bhandal had been fouled.

A late challenge by Craig Hall gave Salts another chance from a free-kick, but Smith was equal to the cross and plucked the ball out of the air.

Rangers pulled one back in the 39th minute, but it was a goal that was steeped in controversy as Yates's shot crashed off the crossbar and bounced downwards before coming back out of the goal. After a few moments hesitation, the referee awarded the goal, much to the anger of Salts who claimed that the ball hadn't crossed the line.

The goal seemed to spark a bit of life into Rangers as they won another free-kick close to the Salt's area. However, the keeper showed safe hands to catch under pressure.

Half-Time: Kirk Deighton Rangers 1 v 3 Salts FC.

The start of the second-half saw John Large replaced by Josh Buckley, who was making his first appearance since his foot injury earlier on in the season.

The offside whistle halted Deighton's attack, and despite good combination between Yates and Turley, Hall moved too soon to collect a pass forcing the referee to end the move.

Salts had a strong shout for a penalty turned down by the referee as Barden controlled the ball with his foot, but it spun up and appeared to strike his arm.

The visitors were using the wings well, and another deep cross towards the back post needed Ribbons to stretch to put the ball out.

The game momentarily stopped as the two teams squared up to one another following another strong tackle. However, it was soon back underway, and Salts flashed another dangerous ball through Rangers area.

Turley was putting in some decent crosses for Rangers, and he nearly picked out Yates, but the defender just managed to get something on it to take it away from the striker.

The game, when allowed, was moving at a decent pace and following Woodward's blocked shot, Salts worked the ball down the pitch, and it needed a sliding tackle by Buckley to knock the ball out of play.

A double substitution for Rangers in the 66th minute saw Ribbons and Bhandal leave the pitch to be replaced by Jack Holliday and Mason Sheridan-Hawley.

Rob Holliday's shot is deflected wide.

A free-kick, following a handball outside Salts area, allowed Yates to shoot goalwards, but it crashed into Barden, and Rob Holliday's snapshot from the rebound cannoned off a defender before the keeper bravely dived at Woodward's feet to push the ball out for a corner.

With Rangers on top, a challenge just inside the area handed Salts a penalty in the 87th minute and, despite a retake being needed, the taker kept his cool and placed his shot into the top corner leaving Smith no chance of saving it.

The icing on the cake for Salts came in the 89th minute when Rangers failed to clear the danger, and despite Smith making a double save, the third time the ball fell to the Salts player who scored from close range.

Full-Time: Kirk Deighton Rangers 1 v 5 Salts FC.

Team: Smith, Hall, Turley, Large, Wilks (c), Barden, Bhandal, Ribbons, Woodward, Yates, Holliday.R. Subs: Buckley (Large 46), Holliday.J (Bhandal 66), Sheridan-Hawley (Ribbons 66) Not Used: Little

Goal: Yates (39)

Sin-Bin: Rangers (none) Salts FC (none)

Yellow Cards: Rangers (none) Salts FC (none)

Red Cards: Rangers (none) Salts FC (none)

Referee: Mr Sam Murphy (replacement as the original referee failed to show)

Kirk Deighton Rangers Man of the Match - sponsored by B&F Electrical Wholesalers: Joe Wilks.

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