Hall Road’s Paul Morrill celebrates his wonder goal. Picture: Lee Myers
Hall Road Rangers recorded their third straight victory in the Toolstation NCEL Division One after a 2-0 win over strugglers Dronfield Town.
Rangers have now scored nine goals in their last three games, having only scored the same amount in the 14 games before their recent surge in form.
After a slow start and very little chance for either side to create anything. The first real chance of the game fell to captain Mike Walsh in the 16th minute, who took responsibility and hammered home a cross from Andy Harrison after a well-worked corner routine to put the score a goal to the good.
Martin Thacker’s side had an opportunity to double their lead just four minutes later, a header from Danny Blount was comfortably saved by Richard Henson, but the Rangers continued to pile on the pressure.
In the 23rd minute new signing Robbie Start had a chance to open his account on his debut, but his shot straight at Henson saw a chance go begging as Thacker’s men pressed for a second goal going into the break.
Seconds later Dronfield finally had a shot on target as Ashton Morley saw a header saved by Steve Janney as Hall Road almost conceded an equaliser against the run of play.
An exchange of words between Sam O’Mally and Morley saw both parties booked, with shrieks from the Dronfield bench that O’Mally had raised his fists, claims that were ignored by the referee.
Jonathan Blakeston had a chance to put Hall Road 2-0 up going into the break, a corner from Robbie Start saw him lose his marker, but his header was inches wide as the Rangers went into the break a goal up.
After the interval Hall Road’s intentions were clear after no doubt wise words from manager Martin Thacker in the dressing room, his side pressed for the second goal that would put them in pole position to maintain their winning streak.
But their attacking mentality let Dronfield have an opportunity to mount a counter attack of their own, Jamie Willis looked certain to level the scoring for the visitors, only for Steve Janney to pull off a fine save to keep Hall Road’s lead safe.
And moments later Janney was again on hand with a potential save of the season, the Hall Road number one got his fingertips on a sweetly hit volley from Richie Marples to push into the crossbar.
Janney then jumped up to save two more shots in a goalmouth scramble, one with each hand, to keep the Rangers in front.
Dronfield’s Richie Marples sees red after using dissent towards the referee. Picture: Lee Myers
And second’s later after Janney’s heroics, another contender for a seasonal award stunned the visiting side, Paul Morrill’s wonder strike prompted jubilation at Dene Park, as Thacker’s men responded to a fight back from Dronfield in style.
After 69 minutes Dronfield’s chances of a way back into the game were made even worse after Marples was dismissed for dissent.
But even with 10-men the visitors were still pressing for a goal to reduce the home side’s lead and hopefully prompt a comeback, Mark Fereday’s volley stuck the crossbar, and Hall Road parked the bus to seal all 3 points and their third successive victory.
Hall Road Rangers manager Martin Thacker:
“The last three victories have all been fantastic, the clean sheets and the way they’ve defended and put their bodies on the line has been outstanding, from 1 to 11 today they’ve all grafted.
“In the end the quality showed through, we scored two great goals, one little short corner we’ve worked on it managed to get on the ball, and I know it’s a ricochet but then he’s finished, and Morrill’s strike as out of this world to be fair.
“That save was just amazing, from a kid who’s been playing for Bridlington Sports Club in the Humber Prem Division One to come in and have 6 clean sheets out of 12.
“For a kid whose 20 years old and a defence who’d conceded 69 goals before we came in, is a phenomenal turnaround for him.
“First and foremost I think we have to rely on boys keeping us in games, the back four have done that in the last few weeks, and we just haven’t been able to put the ball in the net.
“We’ve pummelled teams more before and we should have scored more.
“If we could have just scored a few of these 9 goals in the those 14 games it’s another few points and we could have been fighting for the top 10, and really that’s the difference in these leagues.
“Robbie Start looked great, remember after the transfer saga with Winterton he hasn’t played for a few weeks.
“To come and do that it was great, what he offered us first half, making great balls.
“I don’t even think he knew he had that in him, and that’s what I wanted, to get it already is a fantastic start for him.”
Hall Road Rangers:
Janney, Kinsley, Wilson, Morrill, Blount, Walsh, Walker (Foster 70), Harrison, O’Mally (Chadwick 75), Blakeston, Start (Rookes 80). Subs Unused: Singleton.
Dronfield Town:
Henson, Bebbington, Butler, Willis, Darlow, Morley, Savage, Jones, Fereday (Mulgrew 88), Naylor, Marples. Subs unused: Horsfield, Roper.
Referee: D McGinley
Ref Rating: 5/10
Attendance: 38
Man of the Match: Steve Janney (Hall Road Rangers)