Report: Rangers (ST) 0 v 3 Pannal Sports

KDRAFC Media
Dec 19, 2021
3 min read

After a month of football free Saturday's, Kirk Deighton Rangers Second Team had a game to forget as Pannal Sports swept past them and into the Hulme Cup Semi-Final.

With ten bodies missing from Kris Macdonald's squad, it was a case of players taking up different positions, and in the end, this would play a part in Deighton's downfall.

The contest started with Pannal winning a brace of free kicks, which failed to produce any shooting opportunity.

Pannal gave Deighton an early indication of their willingness to use the wings as a strong run down the right-wing ended with goalkeeper Kieran Arnett having to pounce on the ball as a low diving header steered it goalwards.

The visitors opened the scoring in the 7th minute when Deighton claimed for offside and momentarily stopped playing. With no whistle forthcoming, the white-shirted player broke free and passed it across the six-yard box for his unmarked teammate to score.

Minutes later, it was nearly two-nil to Pannal when a free-kick from just outside the area bounced off the crossbar with Arnett covering it.

Deighton started to show some movement and forced a couple of corners which Pannal defended well.

A strong run by Andy Wort saw him win his battle with a Pannal defender, slipping the ball to John-Paul Williams, the striker's cross was just too far for Brandon Trower to turn goalwards.

Deighton were now creating chances, and Chris Plews blazed over a half volley before firing straight at the keeper.

With Rangers forcing Pannal back into their own half, the inevitable happened, and the visitors doubled their lead through a counter-attack. Intercepting a pass, Pannal played a long ball down the left wing and cutting in the winger passed across the area for their striker to slide the ball home despite the attentions of Dan Flynn.

Deighton almost fashioned an instant response after Plews found Wort on the edge of the area, but his curling shot went just wide of the post.

Half-Time: Kirk Deighton Rangers (ST) 0 v 2 Pannal Sports

Rangers lined up looking to take the game to Pannal, and within seconds had worked the ball to Brad Spencer. Beating his opponent, his cross flashed through the area with no blue shirts able to get on the end of it.

A snaking run by Liam Dean saw him spin his marker and pull the ball back to the far post where Phil Turner's shot was blocked feet away from the line by a combination of defender and keeper.

Rangers watched as a quick counter by Pannal ended up with the shot clearing the crossbar. Minutes later, another pullback picked out the unmarked Turner, but his shot landed just short of the goal and a defender thumped it clear.

Pannal were starting to see more of the ball again, and a ball down the right saw their attacker break free. Steadying himself, he hit a powerful shot that Arnett, at full dive, pushed wide.

Dean and Spencer were the danger men for Deighton, and another combination between the town saw Dean shoot just wide. Soon after, another run by Spencer saw his cross blocked by the Pannal defence, and then Plews's free-kick beat the wall and keeper, but wide of the post.

Deighton paused again as they claimed another offside, only for the referee to allow play to continue. Coming out quickly, Arnett forced the striker to shoot and fortunately for the home side, the ball bounced off the post.

It took a superb diving save to deny Matt Trower his first goal for the club. Receiving the ball on the left wing, he let fly with a long-range shot that the keeper acrobatically turned away.

Following a Rangers' attack, Pannal passed over the Deighton defence. Getting to the ball before Arnett, the striker lifted his shot over the keeper and into the back of the net in the 88th minute.

Well done to Pannal Sports, and we hope they do well in the Semi-Final.

Full-Time: Kirk Deighton Rangers (ST) 0 v 3 Pannal Sports