Report: Leeds Modernians Res 2 v 2 Rangers (ST)

KDRAFC Media
Aug 24, 2021
3 min read

Updated: Aug 28, 2021

While this match won’t go down as a classic, the game against Leeds Modernians Reserves at least proved that our second team could compete in this division, as they dug deep and produced a battling performance to register their first point of the season.

With several changes enforced upon Manager Kris Macdonald, Jason Lowe was between the sticks, and there was a place on the bench for striker Jason Wright.

Straight from kick-off, Leeds used their physical presence to try and dominate Rangers. A shot from outside the area deflected off a defender. The corner was headed back across, where an acrobatic effort saw the Modernian’s player crash to the ground and the ball untroubled in its journey.

Pushing Deighton back again, Rich Jenner managed to get his head to a free-kick to clear the danger as Leeds tried to swamp him.

Trying to make something happen down the left-wing, Kieran Arnett and Luke Trower combined, but the numbers game of the home side saw them both dispossessed, and the ball cleared.

The game was racking up a high count of free-kicks, but neither side could find any accuracy with them, and more often than not, they ended up behind both goals.

Leeds had the ball in the back of the net on 26 minutes, but referee Mr Studds ruled it out for offside.

With a lack of skill during play hampering both teams, it seemed that set-pieces would provide a goal, but not for the first time chances were wasted as shots were misplaced.

In a rare foray into the Mods area, Arnett forced a defender to clear for a corner. As the ball came in, Sean Dawson pounced on the keeper's fumble and fed Arnett, who in turn picked out Plews via a deflection. As the striker curled his shot goalwards, it appeared to hit the raised arm of a defender, but again, the referee waved play on.

Half-Time: Leeds Modernians 0 v 0 Kirk Deighton Rangers

The second half kicked off with Wright replacing Plews, who had battled upfront with little success.

In comparison to the first half, both teams started to play football, although the first piece of action was to see Dawson booked for what seemed an innocuous challenge.

Attacking through the middle, Leeds created a chance for the striker to shoot. However, his effort cleared both Lowe and the crossbar.

The home side was pushing hard, and a cross was headed against the post with Rangers scrambling to clear.

Modernians took the lead in the 61st minute when their striker found space on the right-hand side of the area and drilled the ball across Lowe.

Two minutes after the opening goal, it was all even again after a tremendous goal from Trower. Hitting the wall with the original free-kick, the rebound fell back to him, and he let loose a thunderous shot that flew into the top of the net.

A clever pass down the left saw Jack Holliday sprint clear of the defenders, but he couldn’t generate enough power on his flick to beat the keeper.

Leeds regained the advantage in the 75th minute when play quickly moved from left to right in the area, and the player tapped home from close range.

Barely sixty seconds after the game restarted, Modernians were reduced to ten men as their centre back received his second yellow card.

With ten minutes left, Deighton equalised, and again it was an exquisite shot that brought parity. Dom Walton and Phil Turner combined to pick out Liam Dean, who lashed home an unstoppable shot from outside the area.

Full-Time: Leeds Modernians 2 v 2 Kirk Deighton Rangers

Squad.