Report: Rangers (ST) 0 v 1 Leeds Modernians Reserves

KDRAFC Media
Apr 26, 2022
3 min read

A deflected own goal during the second half was enough to give Leeds Modernians Reserves the points at Barr Field.

Looking to climb further away from the bottom half of the table, this was going to be a testing game for Rangers as the visitors had recently picked up some good wins.

The danger signs were there for Rangers as Leeds surged up the pitch from kick-off and won a free-kick just outside the area on the right side in the first minute. Beating Deighton's wall, Modernians were denied a goal by a superb save to his right by Kieran Arnett, who deflected the ball at full length.

Rangers soon had their first sight of goal when Sid Abbott's challenge saw the ball bounce into Liam Dean's path, but a good tackle by Leed's goalkeeper as Dean attempted to round him forced the ball out of play.

With both teams evenly matched, the game settled into a pattern of lots of effort but little outcome. Leeds found Deighton's defence, marshalled well by Dan Flynn and Jacob Bollon, hard to break down, and Rangers were reduced to long shots, which failed to trouble Modernians' backline and keeper.

A series of corners for Leeds saw them fashion a shooting chance, but a lack of power saw Flynn clear without too much trouble. In Leeds's area, a short back pass nearly played in Dean, but a good starting position for the keeper allowed him to get in a solid challenge and send the ball into touch.

Cutting across the pitch, Dean found Brad Spencer, who hit a looping shot that the custodian was able to claim under his crossbar.

The next phase of play saw Luke Trower penalised for a foul as he ran into the area, only to be stopped from getting to the ball by a defender.

With Rangers shading the majority of possession, Abbott, Spencer, and Phil Turner all had shots that went over the crossbar. However, the visitors nearly scored after a shot in the area was saved by Arnett, who then pulled the ball away from the incoming striker's foot at the last second.

Half-Time: Kirk Deighton Rangers (ST) 0 v 0 Leeds Modernians Reserves

Leeds started the second half exactly as they did in the first period, but this time the shot was straight at Arnett, who claimed it low down.

Conceding a free-kick after a foul in the 50th minute, Leeds saw the initial shot blocked, but it came back to a white shirt whose original shot was deflected past Arnett off Flynn's arm before caressing the inside of the post and nestling in the net.

Leeds were on top, and Rangers had to face a barrage of attacks, but having regained their composure in defence, they restricted the number of clear chances that fell to the visitors.

Breaking down the left, Jack Abbott worked his way into Leeds's area, but his shot was stopped two feet from crossing the line. The clearance bounced to his brother, but again a Leeds player blocked his shot just short of the goal line.

With the tide now in Deighton's favour, a pinpoint cross from Spencer picked out Dean at the back post, but his header flashed across the face of goal and out of play. Minutes later, Andy Wort saw his drive fly just over the crossbar.

Rangers thought they had equalised in the 67th minute after a corner was diverted goalwards by Sid Abbott. Like before, his shot was cleared off the line by a defender covering the post to leave several Deighton players shouting in disbelief.

Reminding Deighton that they still had to pay attention in defence, a counter by the Leeds saw a shot inside the area plucked out of the air by Arnett.

Back in Leeds's area, Jack Abbott saw another shot deflect wide off a Leeds player before Brandon Trower's (who had replaced Luke Trower) run into the area was halted by a good block tackle by a defender.

Full-Time: Kirk Deighton Rangers (ST) 0 v 1 Leeds Modernians Reserves