Report: Rangers 2 v 2 Knaresborough T Res

KDRAFC Media
Apr 24, 2022
4 min read

Rangers drew first blood in the doubleheader against Knaresborough Town Reserves as they progressed to the semi-finals of the West Yorkshire League Cup after a 3-2 penalty shoot-out win.

With nearly a dozen players out through injury and unavailability, Manager Dan Marshall put out another mixed side that saw Joe Barden return and Joe Wilks partner him in the centre of defence. Second-Team players Dan Flynn, Kieran Arnett, and Andy Wort made up the bench.

Deighton got off to a dream start ninety seconds when Connor Weal pounced on a weak headed clearance and drilled the ball past Knaresborough's goalkeeper Josh Sharkey from outside the area.

The blue shirts attacked again when Rob Holliday looped his pass into Knaresborough's area. Rising to claim the ball, Sharkey couldn't collect it cleanly, although he managed it at the second attempt, under pressure from Joe Turley.

Still stunned by the early goal, the visitors found themselves pinned in their own half as Rangers sought a second. However, their defence had regrouped well, and a superb block saw James Harrison's shot stopped on route to goal.

Moving through their gears, Knaresborough started to push back, and a flowing move down the right needed Harvey Ribbons to read the danger and slide to poke the ball into touch.

Harrison was heavily involved in Deighton's play, and he had another shot blocked before his low corner just evaded Turley before Holliday's shot was intercepted.

With end to end action occurring, both teams found chances at a premium. Mike McCartney shot over from outside the area after good work by Turley. In defence, Deighton were thankful for the calmness of Barden and the tenacity of Holliday in the challenge.

Working the ball well into the area with a series of one-touch passing, Smith denied Knaresborough with a superb low save to push the ball clear.

The visitors were on top now, and a free-kick at the edge of Deighton's area went wide. Smith then forced a powerful cross out of play, and Holliday headed the corner clear.

Rangers doubled their lead in the 32nd minute when a through ball saw Adam Carter burst into the area, and his cross was headed into the net at the back post by Harvey Ribbons.

The second goal rattled the visitors, and their passing and control momentarily left them, but Rangers couldn't capitalise on this, although Harrison came close.

Coming back into the game, Knaresborough halved the deficit in the 44th minute when their striker turned in Deighton's area and lashed the ball past Smith.

Half-Time: Kirk Deighton Rangers 2 v 1 Knaresborough Town Reserves

Aiming to re-establish their two-goal lead, Rangers attacked through Carter, but Knaresborough's defence intercepted his cross to Turley.

Rangers came forward again, and McCartney picked out Sam Murphy on the right-wing. Crossing deep into Knaresborough's area, their defender outjumped Carter to head the ball out of play.

Turning the tide of possession again, Knaresborough forced Rangers back, and two corners needed Smith to catch the first one before an overhit cross back into the area bounced out of play.

Counterattacking, Rangers came close through Carter, but Sharkey gathered his shot. Minutes later, Weal nearly breached Knaresborough's defence but was forced back as the red shirts swarmed around him.

It was all level in the 70th minute, and in all honesty, it came as no surprise as Knaresborough had been piling on the pressure. A good run down the wing saw the attacker stoop to head the cross past Smith.

The pendulum of possession swung back into Deighton's favour, and a free-kick was headed into Sharkey's hands by Turley. Carter then evaded Knaresborough's offside trap and cut into the area, but his shot went just wide of the back post.

With Harrison forced off through injury in the 73rd minute, Dan Flynn replaced him, and Barden moved into a more attacking role.

Rangers came forward again, and Ribbon's cross nearly found Carter, but Sharkey read the flight of the ball and leapt highest to claim it.

Carter was inches away from restoring Deighton's lead in the 86th minute when Barden had battled well in the Knaresborough area, turned his man and fired in a low cross that needed just the faintest touch, but despite trying, he couldn't get to the ball.

Piling on the pressure through a series of free-kicks and corners, Rangers tried to win the game, but a defiant Knaresborough defence denied them forcing the game to penalties.

Full-Time: Kirk Deighton Rangers 2 v 2 Knaresborough Town Reserves

Penalty Shootout.

Knaresborough took the first spot-kick and sent Smith the wrong way before Holliday did the same to Sharkey.

Town took the lead after the second round of penalties as they converted their kick, and Sharkey saved Turley's shot with his feet.

It was all square again when Smith produced a superb diving save to his right to push the ball clear. Stepping up, Ribbons made no mistake with his spot-kick.

Another diving Smith save to his right saw Flynn with the chance to put Rangers ahead, but a superb save by Sharkey saw him deflect the shot onto the crossbar.

With each side left with their final penalty, Knaresborough hit the post, but Carter made no mistake sending Sharkey the wrong way to book their place in the semi-final and gain a psychological advantage for the Whitworth Cup Final.

Penalty Shootout: Kirk Deighton Rangers 3 v 2 Knaresborough Town Reserves