Report: Rangers 4 v 3 Harrogate Railway Athletic Reserves

KDRAFC Media
Mar 21, 2022
5 min read

Updated: Mar 22, 2022

Spectacular goals, near misses, a penalty shootout, tears of despair, and tears of joy, this match had it all!

With braces each for Adam Carter and Railway's Joel Freeston during the standard ninety minutes, it took the lottery of penalties to decide who would face Knaresborough Town Reserves in the final. As Jonty Smith dived to his right to push a spot-kick to safety, he waited as his teammates charged towards him before celebrating as Deighton emerged winners.

As early as the third minute, this outcome looked somewhat unlikely, as Smith lost his footing as he came to collect a through ball, and Freeston took advantage and placed his shot under him to open the scoring.

Rangers tried to reply, but despite some clever footwork by both Josh Barden and Roman Neal, Rangers couldn't work an opening, and Railway's defence forced the blue shirts back.

Deighton were knocking on Railway's door, and a corner by Barden caused a bit of consternation until cleared. Straight away, Deighton were back on the attack, but as Harvey Ribbons looked to cut inside his man, the referee blew for a foul, stopping the game.

Rangers survived a scare after a free-kick from outside the area was flicked goalwards. Thankfully, it went just wide of Smith's far post, although it was a warning not to take their eye off their opponents.

For no reason, the game descended into a pattern of needless free-kicks, and despite gaining several in good positions, Rangers couldn't beat Railway's defence, and the visitor's cleared with ease.

Railway's goalkeeper produced another solid save when he dived low to stop Barden's pass from reaching Joe Wilks.

The visitors turned on the pressure and won a series of free-kicks and corners, but, try as they might, they couldn't work a clear opening, and both Luke Dubery and Mason Sheridan-Hawley were able to intervene and clear for Rangers.

Smith was called into action as he had to first scoop up a tame shot from inside the area but then, minutes later, dive bravely at Freeston's feet to prevent him from shooting as the striker burst through the middle of Deighton's defence.

Having received an injury, James Woodward was unable to continue, and Jake Little replaced him in the 39th minute. Moments after the match restarted, Little used his strength to win the ball but couldn't beat Railway's left-back and, in the end, fouled him.

Railway had penalty shout brushed aside by the referee as Freeston went down following a challenge from both Joe Turley and Smith.

Half-Time: Kirk Deighton Rangers 0 v 1 Harrogate Railway Athletic Reserves

Having taken a leaf out of his idol Sir Alex Ferguson, Manager Dan Marshall didn't hold back during the half-time break, and his words had the desired effect as Rangers flew out of the blocks from the start of the second period.

Picking up the ball outside the railway area, Wilks hit a fierce drive that the keeper, unsure of where it was going, pushed wide. From the corner, the custodian produced another save at Wilks's feet.

Little had the next chance but found his shot blocked. Using his strength well, he nearly created a second chance, but good defending closed him down before he could shoot.

With Rangers increasing their shot tally through Barden, it seemed only a matter of time before they would find the target. Finally, it happened in the 52nd minute, after Carter broke the offside trap and acrobatically steered Sheridan-Hawley's exquisite pass past the onrushing keeper and into the net.

Trying to push their dominance in play once more, a switch from left to right by Neal to Ribbon's saw the right back's shot deflect off a covering Railway player, but the keeper was alert to the danger and made another fine save.

Railway tried to ease the pressure with a long ball through the center, but Dubery had tracked back and managed to steer it back to Smith, who cleared.

Railway regained the lead in the 61st minute when a lack of concentration allowed Freeston to jink into Deighton's area and hit a powerful shot past Smith.

It was all square again in the 65th minute, and yet again, it was a moment of magic from Carter! A weak clearance was collected by Barden just outside Railway's area. Squaring the ball into Carter's path, the striker produced a looping shot that dipped over the keeper and into the net.

Looking for the winning goal, Rangers won a brace of corners. Despite good deliveries from Barden, Railway's defence remained strong and cleared the danger.

Rangers won a free-kick outside Railway's area after Carter had been tripped. Striking the ball well, Wilks curled it over the wall but saw the keeper pull off another good save to push it against the crossbar.

With time running out for both sides to find the winning goal, it needed both defences to stand tall as a free-kick from Railway was eventually cleared, and then a good run from Little was halted by the visitor's backline.

A long pass by Dubery released Jack Cheetham, who had replaced Turley. Winning a corner, it fell to Barden at the back post, but his curling shot was wide of the target.

The final chance fell to Railway, and it was a golden chance as a counter-attack at speed saw a pass travel through Deighton's area, but the player at the back post couldn't take the opportunity, and eventually, Rangers scrambled the ball clear.

Full-Time: Kirk Deighton Rangers 2 v 2 Harrogate Railway Athletic Reserves

Stepping up to hit the first penalty, Rob Holliday went to his right, but the keeper guessed correctly and made a good save. Railway took the lead when their opening penalty went above Smith's dive.

Ribbons restored parity when his penalty went down the middle and avoided the keeper's trailing foot. However, Railway re-established their lead when Smith was sent the wrong way on their second penalty.

It looked all over for Deighton when the keeper produced another fine stop to deny Little's we'll hit penalty from finding the net, but Smith had other ideas as he saved Railway's next spot-kick low to his left.

Neal made no mistake with his penalty sending the keeper the wrong way. The Railway player then slipped as he struck the ball, which sent it rolling off the penalty spot but nowhere near Smith.

Cheetham scored a superb penalty which sent the Railway keeper in the opposite direction. However, the visitors restored equilibrium with a shot that beat Smith's dive.

Moving into sudden death, Wilks's shot down the middle was saved, But Smith also produced a superb diving save to his right to turn away Railway's penalty.

Stepping up for Rangers was Dubery, and he made no mistake with his shot. With shouts of encouragement ringing in his ears from the crowd, Smith was the hero for Rangers as he guessed correctly to dive to his right and make his third shootout save to send Rangers into the final!

Final-Score: Kirk Deighton Rangers 4 v 3 Harrogate Railway Athletic Reserves