Report: Rangers (ST) 5 v 1 Huddersfield Amateur 2nds

KDRAFC Media
Apr 11, 2022
3 min read

Following a week that had seen a loss at Boroughbridge AFC Reserves but three points gained courtesy of the league punishing Oxenhope Recreation for fielding an ineligible player during their 5-2 win at Barr Field, this match became an important one for helping to beat the spectre of relegation!

Connor Weal recovered from his knock midweek to start, along with Max Bladen and Jack Abbott, who took the left-back berth with Dan Flynn partnering Jacob Bollon in the heart of the defence.

With the starting whistle fading out, Deighton launched their first attack as James Flynn looked to latch onto a long pass, but the ball had too much weight on it and travelled through to the keeper.

Following a brief moment in Deighton's half, which ended with Kieran Arnett catching the cross, the visitors had to defend as the blue and white shirts swarmed up the pitch, and Flynn and Liam Dean combined to set up Bladen, but his shot went wide.

The deadlock was broken after ten minutes when Jack Holliday collected a clearance, outpaced a defender, and placed his shot over the keeper and into the net.

Under pressure, Dean managed to get the ball to Holliday. Just as he was about to shoot, the Huddersfield's keeper bravely dived at his feet to make the save.

Winning a free-kick following a foul five yards outside the area, Deighton breathed a sigh of relief as a well-struck shot flew past the far post.

Abbott found Dean with a long pass. Bringing the ball down well, Dean noticed the keeper off his line, but his curling shot was off target. Moments later, Andy Wort shot from inside the area, but it went over.

Huddersfield attacked down the middle of the pitch before switching the play to the left side of the area. Hitting a low shot, it needed Arnett to stick out a leg and deflect it wide.

It was 2-0 to Rangers after Dean found Holliday again, and he slipped the ball under the advancing keeper and into the back of the goal after 36 minutes.

Deighton were playing with a recently found fluency, and a good run by Ben Barraclough down the right-wing saw his cross misjudged by the keeper, but just too high for Rangers to convert.

The half ended with Flynn looking to sprint onto a misplaced back pass, but the long legs of the Huddersfield tall centre-back got to the ball before him and kicked it clear.

Half-Time: Kirk Deighton Rangers (ST) 2 v 0 Huddersfield Amateur 2nds

Wanting to reduce the arrears as quickly as possible, the visitors pushed Deighton back from the restart, but their shooting accuracy let them down, and Arnett remained untroubled.

Rangers looked to get back on the front foot, but the early fluency had deserted them and balls were overhit or off-target.

Deighton's third goal did come in the 52nd minute when Arnett's goal kick found Holliday. Beating the Huddersfield left-back, he squared the ball to Flynn, who tapped home from close range.

Dean was desperately trying to get on the scoresheet, but things weren't going his way, and the keeper twice managed to get to through balls meant for him.

Another dubious offside decision saw Weal's goal ruled out, sparking another furious reaction from Deighton, which earned several players a warning from the official.

Flynn thought that he had scored Deighton's fourth goal when he controlled Weal's pass, but as he tried to flick it past the keeper, the custodian got down and made a good save.

Bladen came close to opening his account for the seniors when he collected a weak back pass. However, his drive was straight at the keeper, who beat the shot away.

It was 4-0 to Rangers after 75 minutes, and it was Bladen in the right position to collect Flynn's pass from the left wing and power his shot into the net.

Deighton's dream of their first clean sheet ended in the 78th minute when a Huddersfield shot deflected off Mike Tasker, who had replaced Holliday and looped over the dive of Arnett.

A good run by Dan Flynn saw his shot rebound back to him. Trying to release his brother, James could only watch as his shot also rebounded off a Huddersfield player to safety.

Minutes after the Huddersfield keeper had produced his second brave dive at feet, this time to deny Bladen, the young midfielder had the last laugh when his scuffed shot, from James Flynn's pass, spun off the keeper's outstretched hand and into the net on 84 minutes to make it 5-1.

Full-Time: Kirk Deighton Rangers (ST) 5 v 1 Huddersfield Amateur 2nds