Toolstation NCEL Division One
Hall Road Rangers 1-1 Dronfield Town
Hall Road’s Josh Batty in an aerial battle. Picture: Lee Myers
Hall Road Rangers where left lamenting missed chances and wasted opportunities on Saturday as they dropped two points against Dronfield Town at Haworth Park.
In a game that Rangers dominated in terms of chances created and shots on goal it was the Dronfield keeper Joe Taylor who shone brightest.
With the form Chris Spinks has been in recently it would come as no surprise that his grit and determination saw him in and around the goal with chances. Similarly Josh Batty and Scott Phillips also had their chances.
With the game all square at half time at 0-0 the second period looked like it may follow the first with frustration for Rangers. Their golden opportunity to go in front came on 50 minutes as Spinks raced away on the break finding himself one on one with the keeper.
Spinks chose to square the ball to the onrushing Phillips who’s resulting shot from six yards hit the bar and with Batty unable to convert the rebound the chance was wasted.
Still in shock from Phillips miss Rangers where punished on 56 minutes as Tom Fairweather bent his low shot into the bottom corner of the Rangers goal to put them in the lead.
Phillips’ redemption came just minutes later however as Dane Mortimer was bundled over in the box and referee Ryan Love awarded a spot kick. Phillips was making no mistake over this chance and dispatched the penalty with aplomb.
Rangers pressed for the win and with keeper Phil Dobson mostly untroubled in goal the point was sealed for the home side.
What They Said
Hall Road Rangers manager Dave Ricardo
“Disappointed to have dropped points today if I’m honest. As the fixtures come thick and fast we need to capitalise on our points tally against teams like Dronfield.
“They were pretty much as we expected they would be, direct and in our face ,but they lacked the threat that we have in front of goal and we should have been out of sight by half time.
“We wasted chances and where complacent in front of goal.
“Myself and Bill (Gill) will work on this with the lads and look to correct it going into the Nostell game a week today”