Report: Rangers Res 1 v 3 Polonia Yorkshire

Rangers take the lead through Andy Maxted
Polonia Yorkshire score three times during the game
Both teams miss from the penalty spot

At a cold and windy Grange Park, Kirk Deighton Rangers Reserves hoped to bounce back from a recent defeat with a good result against Polonia Yorkshire.

It was the visitors who threatened first down Deighton's right after a good piece of passing. However, reading the situation well, Mike Tasker intervened and cleared the danger.

Rangers forced their way up the pitch, and Polonia made several mistakes in their half that allowed the blue shirts to progress. The best attempts fell to Andy Maxted whose long-range shot was straight at the keeper, and Jake Little whose pull back at the near post was cleared behind.

Jake Little drives the ball across goal.

Custodian Mitch Moore was called into action as Polonia played a through ball, coming off his line quickly, the keeper dived low to reach the ball before the attacker did.

It was Maxted who opened the scoring in the 28th minute when Little had been fouled just outside the area. Maxted bent his free-kick past the wall and keeper, and the ball sailed into the net.

Polonia upped the intensity and forced Deighton back. Again Moore and the defence were called on to make several blocks as the Castleford side searched for the equaliser.

A misplaced pass in defence found the Polonia striker and he wrong-footed Moore to roll the ball home for the equaliser in the 40th minute.

Rangers thought that they had regained the lead in the 43rd minute when Jack Holliday beat the keeper to the ball and lifted it over him, unfortunately, his shot had too much weight and bounced over the crossbar as well.

Half-time: Kirk Deighton Rangers Reserves 1 v 1 Polonia Yorkshire

In stark opposition to the first half, it was Rangers who came out guns blazing, and James Woodward was just beaten to the ball by the keeper, and moments later his shot just drifted wide of the target.

Polonia pushed back and cutting off the right-wing, the attacker forced Moore into a diving save that was finally cleared by Rich Jenner who had tracked back.

A foul on Little just inside the area saw Rangers awarded a penalty in the 52nd minute. Stepping up to take it, Little saw his shot saved by the keeper's foot.

The match was more of an attacking affair now, but both teams were having problems when it came to creating clear cut chances.

Polonia Yorkshire took the lead in the 62nd minute when Jonny Atkinson tired to clear a dangerous inswinging corner, but could only glance it into the net.

Rangers tried to respond immediately, and from the centre, Maxted tried a long-range drive that had the keeper diving to cover as it went just wide.

James Woodward tries to force the ball home.

Making another save low down, Moore went to collect the ball with a Polonia player bearing down on him and was somewhat confused to see the referee point to the spot. Justice prevailed, however, when he dived to his right to push the ball away.

The final goal came in the 70th minute after another pass in Deighton's defence was intercepted and lifted over the advancing Moore.

To give Rangers due, they didn't give up, and a corner found Little who's shot spun off a defender and was collected under pressure by the keeper.

Jack Cheetham rattled Polonia's crossbar when his free-kick, following a foul on Sam Murphy, dipped at the last moment but smashed into the goal frame before flying over.

With the match coining to an end, it was the visitor's who attacked and both Tasker and the lively Jake Bollon combined to block the striker's path.

Full-Time: Kirk Deighton Rangers Reserves 1 v 3 Polonia Yorkshire

In review: Rangers never really got to grips with a strong and well organised Polonia Yorkshire side. However, there were glimpses of a team who could do well this season if they work hard. Maxted's free-kick was superb, and Mitch Moore impressed in goal. Jake Bollon in defence appears to be a good player, being both vocal and commanding.

We would also like to say thank you to our junior sides for letting us use Grange Park to host this match.

Report by KDRAFC Media

Match Partner

Throughout the pandemic, Catherine and her staff at St Angelo tried to keep serving us, either with take-away or delivery. Recently, they have been able to open their doors again to the public, and Wetherby and the surrounding areas are enjoying quality Italian food again.