Report: Rangers (ST) 4 v 2 Hunslet Club Reserves

KDRAFC Media
Apr 4, 2022
3 min read

On paper, the statistics pointed to this being an easy three points for fourth-placed Hunslet Club Reserves, but a superb first-half performance, coupled with a final twenty-minute burst, saw Rangers deserve their 4-2 win.

With the weather changing from hail to sun just in time for kick-off, Deighton forced the first chance after a minute when Liam Dean picked out James Flynn on the edge of the area, but his shot was straight at the Hunslet keeper.

Keeping the pressure on, Connor Weal flicked on Dan Flynn's free-kick, but none of the blue shirts could reach the ball before it bounced out of play.

With ten minutes played, Deighton's momentum paid off when Hunslet's keeper ventured too far trying to deal with a long pass, and Holliday got the better of him and the defender before rolling the ball into an empty net.

Holliday had the ball in the back of the net again, but the referee stopped his celebrations by indicating he had strayed offside when collecting Dean's pass.

A superb piece of footwork by Dean saw him twist past a challenge, but his shot clipped off a defender and went out for a corner.

Rangers doubled their lead after 20 minutes when good play down the right-wing paid dividends, and James Flynn worked the ball into the area, picked his spot and steered his shot under the keeper.

The visitors tried to breach Deighton's defence, but a sliding tackle from Ben Barraclough denied them a shot at the expense of a corner, which was dealt with by the home side.

Winning a battle in midfield, Andy Wort picked out Dean, who released Holliday. Out sprinting a defender, his cross found Weal, but he shot over.

Hunslet attacked down Deighton's left and played a deep cross towards the back post. As the striker jumped to meet it, Kieran Arnett rose above him, safely collecting it.

A long clearance from Arnett found James Flynn, and his cross to the back post picked out the unmarked Holliday, who headed home from six yards after 31 minutes.

Rangers nearly added to their total ten minutes later when Weal towered above the Hunslet defence, but his header went over the bar.

Deighton were producing some superb football, and chances for Holliday, Joe Turley, and Rich Jenner were either deflected wide or shot over the crossbar.

Half-Time: Kirk Deighton Rangers (ST) 3 v 0 Hunslet Club Reserves

Coming down the pitch, Hunslet won a corner that saw the original cross punched clear by Arnett. Retrieving the ball, a cross towards the back post was headed past Arnett to reduce the deficit on 50 minutes.

Whatever exchange happened in Hunslet's changing room at half-time had the desired effect as they pinned Rangers in their own half, and it needed a reflex save by Arnett to his left to prevent another goal.

A run through Deighton's defence saw Arnett produce another save to deflect a shot away from goal, but the ball fell to an unmarked player at the far post, and he tapped it into the net to make it 3-2 in the 61st minute.

Regaining their composure, Rangers took the game to Hunslet. Wort picked out Holliday with a good pass, but his shot was saved by the keeper.

Hunslet won a free kick just outside Deighton's area following a handball by Turley. However, the shot flew into the wall, and Deighton cleared.

Rangers came close to adding a fourth when James Flynn's shot was tipped past the post by a superb diving save, although the referee saw differently and awarded a goal-kick!

On the front foot again, Deighton pressed, and as Holliday set to shoot, the ball bobbled in front of him and his shot sailed harmlessly over the crossbar.

Another free kick in a dangerous position afforded Hunslet a chance to equalise, but Arnett produced another good save to get his hands to it.

It was nearly a long-range shot from substitute Matt Trower that brought Rangers their fourth goal, but the keeper watched the ball and claimed it under his crossbar.

Deighton finally got their reward for their endeavours in the 79th minute when Matthew Lurcuck, who had replaced Wort, produced a striker's finish to guide James Flynn's cross past the keeper from close range.

Hunslet came back at Rangers, and a mazy run into the area saw a clever pass pick out their striker, but Arnett had come out quickly, and although the flick beat him, he had done enough to narrow the angle, and the shot went wide.

Full-Time: Kirk Deighton Rangers (ST) 4 v 2 Hunslet Club Reserves