Report: Rangers 2 v 2 Hall Green United

KDRAFC Media
Nov 2, 2022
3 min read

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After a positive performance against Carlton Athletic, Manager Kris Macdonald hoped they would carry on against Hall Green United at Barr Field.

The match had barely started when Roman Neal played the ball to Liam Dean. Stretching his leg out, the striker prodded his shot goalwards, but the keeper diverted it clear.

Hall Green took over attacking duties and produced some decent passing outside Deighton's area but found it hard to find the final pass.

Rangers came close to scoring when Neal jinked past two defenders, only to see his shot deflected wide. However, he made amends for this in the 9th minute when he rose highest to head home at the near post from Brad Spencer's corner.

Sam Cottrell forced the Hall Green keeper into making two good saves, and his teasing cross nearly found Luke Dubery, but he was crowded out at the crucial moment.

The woodwork came to Deighton's rescue in the 29th minute when a shot from just in the area struck the inside of the post and rebounded kindly into Bramham's hands.

Hall Green were creating plenty of chances, with the best coming from a free-kick that only just cleared Bramham's crossbar.

The visitors were reduced to ten men in the 35th minute when their striker took exception to a tackle by Jacob Bollon and appeared to stamp on him in front of the referee, who wasted little time in dismissing him.

Despite being reduced in numbers, it was Hall Green who upped the pressure, and it needed a good save low down by Bramham to stop them from equalising.

With Rangers failing to press the advantage, Hall Green equalised in the 41st minute from a free-kick after another unnecessary foul outside the area. Despite getting his hand to it, Bramham could only push it onto the post and watch as it fell into the goal.

Rangers regained the lead in the 44th minute after Cottrell produced a powerful header from Spencer's cross that flew over the keeper and into the roof of the net.

The half ended with Bramham having to make a superb save to his left to keep out a fierce half-volley from close range.

Half-Time: Kirk Deighton Rangers 2 v 1 Hall Green United

The second half started with Hall Green on the attack. Looking to thread the ball through to the striker, it took a good block by Ethan McPherson to prevent this.

With Rangers under sustained pressure, they nearly managed to spring a surprise counter-attack with Dubery trying to find Cottrell. Coming a long way out of his area, Hall Green's custodian slid into a challenge with Cottrell and won the ball before playing a risky crossfield pass that evaded all.

It was all level in the 64th minute when a passage of touch-and-go football slipped in their attacker, and he rolled the ball past Bramham and into the net.

Despite having the extra man, Rangers seemed reluctant to press Hall Green, and opportunities to put the visitors under pressure were spurned.

Hall Green's short passing game was causing Deighton trouble, and they nearly capitalised in the 71st minute when they broke free of the defence, rounded Bramham but shot into the side netting.

Winning the tackle just outside Hall Green's area, Spencer picked out Cottrell, whose shot forced a good reflex save from United's keeper.

As has been a feature this season, another unnecessary foul outside Deighton's area allowed Hall Green a strike at goal, but this one was off target and crashed into the foliage behind Bramham's goal.

With both teams tiring, the game had opened up, and Neal strode forward and produced a low shot that went a foot wide of the goal.

The referee momentarily confused everyone on the pitch (and around it!) when he brought play all the way back to the edge of Deighton's area and awarded a free-kick to Hall Green. After some explanation, it was the linesman who had noticed that Bramham had travelled outside his area before releasing the ball. Thankfully, the wall did its job and deflected the shot away from the goal.

Things looked bleak for Rangers in the 86th minute when Bramham went from hero to villain to hero again. With Rangers unable to clear the ball, it needed a good save from Deighton's custodian to push the ball clear, only for it to land to another visiting player. As he tried to pass Bramham, the keeper was adjudged to have fouled him, and a penalty was awarded. Guessing right, Bramham produced another good save to dive to his left and save the shot.

The match finished with the ball in the back of Deighton's net, but with Hall Green celebrating, it was brought to a premature ending when they noticed the linesman's flag up, indicating an offside in the build-up.

Full-Time: Kirk Deighton Rangers 2 v 2 Hall Green United