Report: Rangers 4 v 1 Whitkirk Wanderers

KDRAFC Media
Aug 22, 2021
3 min read

Updated: Aug 28, 2021

This game was a lot closer than the scoreline might suggest, and if it wasn't for a handful of goal-line clearances, then, to be honest, who knows what the final score may have been!

The game was just 12.80 seconds old when Ashley Tatler gave Rangers a dream start. Timing his run to perfection, he latched onto Rob White's cross and powered his shot past the startled Whitkirk keeper.

Rangers were soon on the attack again but couldn't fashion a decent chance from a free-kick.

Playing some neat football through the middle of the pitch, Whitkirk worked the ball to the edge of Deighton's box, but a strong tackle from Josh Buckley denied them any further coverage.

The visitors won a free kick just outside Deighton's area, but despite shooting on target, they couldn't beat Jonty Smith.

The second goal for Rangers arrived in the 11th minute, and some slick one-touch passing saw Rob Holliday play the ball into White's path, and his cross was met by the head of Sid Abbott and nestled in the net.

A minute later, it seemed to be game, set and match to Rangers when Sam Murphy released White, and he rolled his shot wide of the keeper's dive and into the goal.

The third goal woke something in Whitkirk, and they pushed Deighton backwards. Alternating between flanks, it took two superb tackles from Murphy and Luke Dubery to prevent them from reaching Smith's goal.

Suddenly all the pressure was on the home side, and a shot from the corner of the area smacked into Smith's far post and bounced to safety. Minutes later, another cross was knocked just wide by the striker as he lunged for the ball.

Whitkirk thought they had pulled one back after Dubery had blocked a fierce shot, only to see the ball fall back to the striker who beat Smith with his drive, but thankfully, not Josh Buckley, who cleared off the line. However, Smith needed to make two superb saves soon afterwards as the visitors threatened on every attack.

Hesitancy in clearing their lines nearly cost Whitkirk again at the end of the half when Tatler robbed a defender and sprinted into the area. Keeping his shot low, the striker watched as the keeper spread himself and blocked the ball before gratefully clutching it to his chest.

Half-Time: Kirk Deighton Rangers 3 v 0 Whitkirk Wanderers

The start of the second half saw Whitkirk score, only for it to be disallowed for offside. Plying on the pressure again, they won a free-kick just outside Deighton's area, but the cross was headed wide at the back post.

Coming down the pitch, Dom Walton, who had replaced Josh Buckley, managed to win the ball and clip it towards goal. Unfortunately for the substitute, it looped too high, and the keeper readjusted his position to catch it.

Smith was back in action when he dived to his left to push another free-kick clear of his goal.

Rangers rang the changes, and a double substitution saw Murphy and Abbott replaced by Dan Flynn and Jack Holliday.

A nice triangle of passes between Rob Holliday, White and Josh Barden allowed the latter to shoot, but this time it was Whitkirk who produced a block to stop the danger.

Attacking down the middle of the pitch, it needed another goal-line clearance to deny Whitkirk from scoring.

Rangers claimed their fourth goal in the 65th minute when Tatler squeezed in front of a defender and side-footed White's cross home.

Five minutes later, Whitkirk finally got their goal, which no one could deny that they deserved. Beating Flynn to the ball, the striker slipped it past the on-rushing Smith and ran past him to knock it into the net.

The game was very much a gun-ho approach, and Smith pulled off another diving save to his left to thwart Whitkirk. Straight down the other end, Liam Dean, who had replaced Dubery, fired into the side netting.

With time ticking away to end Whitkirk's hope of a comeback, it also took another superb diving save by Smith to claw a high shot from the goal. Soon after, Trower completed a trio of goal-line clearances as the away side tried to end on a high note.

Full-Time: Kirk Deighton Rangers 4 v 1 Whitkirk Wanderers

Squad.