Report: Rangers (ST) 0 v 2 Horbury Town Reserves

KDRAFC Media
Jan 30, 2022
3 min read

In a game frequently affected by the wind, a goal in either half was enough to see Rangers exit the trophy in the second round. Credit has to be given to both teams, that despite the attempts of the weather, they were able to play a decent game of football.

Rangers began the match with four under 18's in their starting eleven, including new defender Ben Barraclough. Striker Charlie Lloyd, who joined the club recently, was named on the bench.

Horbury won the toss and decided to put Rangers playing into the wind, and it was little surprise that the early stages of the game were all in Deighton's half.

A long ball down the middle of the pitch needed Jacob Bollon to cut it out before pressure down the right-wing brought the visitors their first corner. Playing the ball into the box, Rangers could only clear it to the edge of the area, and the resultant shot crashed off the crossbar.

Coming forward again, a foul gave Horbury a free-kick, but the shot was off target and crashed into the hedge behind Kieran Arnett's goal.

A pinpoint pass freed Horbury's striker, and he raced into the area only to be stopped by Arnett, who dived bravely at his feet.

The wind was causing havoc with Deighton's ability to get the ball down into Horbury's half, and when they did, both James Woodward and Andy Wort saw their passes held up by the wind and falling sort of their intended targets.

With 22 minutes gone, Horbury took the lead, but again the wind played its part. An unnecessary foul outside Deighton's area gave the visitors a shooting chance, and they took it. Clearing Rangers wall, the wind accentuated the ball's curl and whipped it into the corner, leaving Arnett rooted.

A foul on Phil Turner gave Connor Weal the chance to shoot from the free-kick, but it was straight at the keeper who held onto it.

A double injury whammy hit Rangers, and James Woodward and Max Bladen left the pitch. While Woodward returned, Bladen couldn't continue, and John-Paul Williams took his place.

Half-Time: Kirk Deighton Rangers (ST) 0 v 1 Horbury Town Reserves

The beginning of the second half saw Matt Trower replace Woodward, and with the wind behind Deighton's back, it was their turn to put pressure on Horbury. Weal and Liam Dean combined to set Wort away, but his shot spun wide.

Brad Spencer and Dean were causing Horbury problems down the left, and it needed a last-ditch interception from Dean's cross to prevent Wort from getting to it.

Spencer also had a chance from a free kick after Dean was fouled just outside the Horbury area. Hitting the ball well, he crashed his shot against Bollon, who had joined the wall.

Horbury ventured into Deighton's half, but Barraclough and Spencer pressured the winger, and his cross was claimed by Arnett.

Soon after, Horbury attacked again, but this time Appleton and Bolland combined to clear the danger.

Rangers came down the left again, and Spencer found Weal, who turned his marker but couldn't pick out Lloyd, who had replaced Wort minutes before.

Spencer was the catalyst for Rangers, and another mazy run down the wing ended with his cross being too far forward for Dean to reach.

Dean had the next chance after being picked out by Trower. Beating the Horbury right back, his shot flew over Horbury's crossbar.

Heading Spencer's free-kick downwards, Bollon found Lloyd, who hooked his shot goalwards only to see it go straight to Horbury's keeper.

The final minute of the game saw Horbury double their lead. Skipping past Williams' challenge, the winger cut into the area before shooting. Diving to his right, Arnett got his fingers to the shot and pushed it onto the post, only for it to bounce into the net.

Full-Time: Kirk Deighton Rangers (ST) 0 v 2 Horbury Town Reserves