Report: Rangers (ST) 2 v 1 Altofts FC Reserves

KDRAFC Media
Oct 17, 2021
3 min read

Rangers Second-Team achieved successive wins with a good display, especially in the second half, against a strong Altofts Reserves.

Forced to change his team around again, Manager Kris Macdonald fielded the experienced trio of James Woodward, Joe Turley and Jacob Bollon, while Rob Holliday was on the bench alongside youngsters Max Bladen and Matthew Lurcuck.

With the match starting before its scheduled kick-off time, Rangers got off to the worst possible start after five minutes when a long pass upfield was misjudged by several players, and the striker lifted his shot over the onrushing Deighton keeper Kieran Arnett and into the goal.

Arnett was soon in action again as a pass split the Rangers' defence to reach an Altoft's player. However, Arnett spread himself and blocked the shot.

With Woodward and Turley driving Deighton on, the home side drew level four minutes later when Turley's cross was handled in the area. Dan Flynn stepped up and duly dispatched the resultant penalty past into the net.

Altofts put the pressure back on Rangers with serval free-kicks, but none of them resulted in a clear chance for the visitors, apart from one shot which went over.

Deighton also found chances at a premium and had to make do with several long shots from Turley, Woodward, and Brad Spencer either went wide or straight into the keeper's hands.

The game flowed between both areas, but a lack of composure cost both teams goals. Connor Weal came close to diverting Spencer's cross home while Graham Cowgill and Bollon had to combine forces to repel a dangerous cross that looked to find Altoft's striker.

Both goalkeepers kept their respective sides in the game when the Altofts stopper had to react quickly to gather his spill, with Cowgill closing him down. At the other end, Arnett was forced into a race back to his own goal after a defender had diverted the ball past him. Thankfully he won and cleared under pressure.

With the first half nearly over, Spencer tried to take the ball around the keeper in a one-on-one, but a great save at feet denied him.

Half-Time: Kirk Deighton Rangers (ST) 1 v 1 Altofts FC Reserves

With instructions from the management to show more composure in their play, Rangers looked to start taking control of the game but first needed Arnett to race off his line and clear a long ball into his area.

Spencer, Turley and Woodward linked to produce some superb passing just outside Altoft's area. Setting Weal off on the right-hand side, he couldn't get the ball under control, and a defender managed to intervene, although the ball found its way to Liam Dean, whose curling shot from the edge of the area was saved.

With fifty minutes played, Woodward had to retire from the match, and Holliday replaced him.

A pass over the top by Sean Dawson gave Weal another sniff at goal, but the Altoft's keeper was equal to his shot and saved well.

Rangers took the lead in the sixty-second minute when a great team move that started in defence culminated with Dawson slipping the ball into Turley's path, and he shot low past the keeper and into the net from the edge of the area.

A facial injury to Turley forced Macdonald to replace him in the sixty-eighth minute with Phil Turner, and he was in straight in the action when he raced down the right-wing and swung in a cross that Altoft's dominant centre-back cleared for a corner.

A misplaced pass in defence fell to an Altoft's player. Running into Deighton's area, he was forced wide by Arnett and couldn't keep the ball in play.

A good pass from Holliday found Matthew Lurcock, who had replaced Dean. Striking the ball with power, the striker saw his shot saved by the Altofts goalkeeper low down.

With five minutes remaining, Altofts put Rangers under pressure again. Arnett had to pull off a good save to his left before Cowgill used his experience to put pressure on the striker who headed wide from a good cross.

The last action of the game saw Spencer nearly score. Beating his marker, he fired in a low shot that struck the near post, roll along the goal line and hit the back stanchion before bouncing back into play!

Full-Time: Kirk Deighton Rangers 2 v 1 Altofts FC Reserves

Squad

Starting 11	Goal	Substitution	Other
Arnett
Hodson		63 min
Bollon
Cowgill
Flynn	9 min		Captain
Weal			MOM
Dawson		74 min
Woodward		50 min
Turley	62 min	68 min
Dean		80 min
Spencer
Substitues
Holliday.R		50 min
Turner		68 min
Tasker		63 min
Bladen		74 min
Lurcuck		80 min