Rothwell Reserves 4 v 0 Kirk Deighton Rangers Reserves

KDRAFC Media
Apr 28, 2021
4 min read

Updated: Apr 29, 2021

A second-half collapse saw Deighton lose 4-0 to Rothwell, but had chances been taken in the first half, this game could have had a very different outcome!

With only six minutes played, Rothwell scored, but the goal was disallowed for offside after the striker headed home after keeper Mitch Moore had pushed a shot wide.

Coming down the pitch, Rangers had their first shot in anger when a ball bounced off a Rothwell player and fell into the path of Phil Turner. Beating the keeper with his shot, the ball bounced off the post and back to Brad Spencer. However, his cross was too close to the keeper and was easily intercepted.

Joe Turley was heavily involved and was denied a shot on goal after narrowly losing a foot race with the keeper. Minutes later, despite stretching, he couldn't reach a curling cross from Spencer.

Rothwell played a long ball down the middle of the park, and some clever footwork afforded the striker time to turn. Just as he shot, however, Mike Tasker blocked the ball with a brave tackle.

Spencer was having the freedom of the left-wing, and he produced another curling cross that Turner hit first time, but a diving save by the keeper saw him parry the ball to safety.

Rothwell responded with two decent chances, which needed Moore to save the first one before the second shot went just wide.

Match Photo — Brad Spencer in action against Rothwell Reserves

Rangers survived a scramble in the six-yard box area after a corner pinballed around. In the end, the shot came in from just inside the area but sailed over the crossbar.

The hosts forced Moore into another good save in the 30th minute as they piled on the pressure. Moments later, they rattled the post with a header from a corner.

A free-kick in a central position a couple of feet outside the area, following a foul by Dan Flynn, gave Rothwell a good shooting chance. However, rushing his kick, the ball cannoned into the wall, and despite getting the rebound, the red-shirted player could only volley wide.

The posts were proving to be equally as annoying for both teams when Stevie Mann found Rich Jenner with a free-kick, and Jenner's stinging half-volley bounced off the bottom of the post and away to safety.

Winning the ball back in an advanced position, Sean Dawson passed to Jenner, who moved the ball to Spencer. Unable to shoot, the winger teed up Turley, and his powerful shot went just wide of the back post.

Rothwell opened the scoring in the 37th minute when they came down the left-wing. Cutting in, the Rothwell player had time to pick his spot and lashed the ball past Moore.

The goal seemed to deflate Rangers, and twice they needed the referee to blow for offside to prevent the hosts from having clear chances.

Half-Time: Rothwell Reserves 1 v 0 Kirk Deighton Rangers Reserves

Jack Loudoun replaced the injured Mann at the beginning of the second half, but before he could even touch the ball, Rothwell doubled their lead a minute after kick-off. A ball down the right of the pitch wasn't cut out and allowed the striker into Deighton's area. Despite his original shot being blocked by a defender, the rebound fell kindly, and he scored from close range.

Using Spencer's speed, Deighton forced a corner, but just as it looked like Turner might get a header on target, the keeper punched the ball clear.

With 54 minutes played, Manager Kris Macdonald had to reshuffle his pack when Tasker came off injured. Moving Turley back to right-back, John Large entered the fray with Kieran Arnett also replacing John-Paul Williams.

A good piece of pressing by Jenner saw the ball picked up by Loudoun. Striking his shot cleanly, the keeper had to move quickly across his line to make the catch. Soon after, Arnett won the ball from the defender but was unable to get his cross in.

Spencer sped past his opponent and put in a deep cross that Turner lunged at but couldn't turn goalwards.

The game was put beyond Deighton's reach in the 62nd minute when Rothwell scored a third. Twisting and turning in the area, the home player slotted his shot between Moore and two defenders.

A good pass from Ross Park, who had replaced Dawson, saw Spencer find Arnett. Picking out Turner with a ball across the edge of the area, the winger couldn't quite get it under his control before being tackled.

Rothwell put the icing on the cake in the 70th minute when another long pass wasn't cleared, and the onrushing player shot under Moore and into the net.

A foul just outside the Rothwell area allowed Turley to have a shot on goal. Hitting the free-kick hard, the ball went a foot wide of the post.

Arnett's persistence won a corner, and despite the delivery being a good one, no Deighton player could get to the ball, and the defence headed clear.

Full-Time: Rothwell Reserves 4 v 0 Kirk Deighton Rangers Reserves

Verdict: The four-match unbeaten streak comes to an end for our Reserves, but they will come back stronger and more determined. On another day, the shots that hit the post go in, but not in this match! It was a case of wasted chances costing us, and the injuries to both Stevie Mann and Mike Tasker will worry Macdonald. However, the lads will regroup and go again against Tingley Athletic.

Squad: Moore, Williams (Arnett, 54) Challenger, Tasker (Large, 54), Flynn, Mann (Loudoun, 46), Jenner, Dawson (Park, 65), Spencer, Turley, Turner.

Sub Unused: Dean

Results: 26th April 2021

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Bar Three Man of the Match: Brad Spencer

Matchday Partner.

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