Hall Road Rangers’ Leighton Mathewson had a number of efforts in the 0-0 draw with Worsbrough. Picture: Lee Myers
Hall Road Rangers and Worsbrough Bridge shared the points at Dene Park in a goal-less draw, as a 10-men Rangers side fell to 16th in the Toolstation Northern Counties Division One, one place above Worsbrough.
Both sides were looking for the three points to ensure their league status for next season, and after Steven Graham’s dismissal for Hall Road in the 83rd minute, the game was forced into a stalemate as Rangers hung on to a point.
The game started slowly, and a goalless draw seemed more and more imminent as the game went on. The first chance of the game fell to Leighton Matthewson, who saw many of his long-range efforts saved as he led the sweeping attacks from the home side during the first half.
Andy Taylor was leading by example in the Worsbrough defence, as the visitors were put under constant pressure from counter attack after counter attack.
The first teal chance of the game came after 20 minutes, Matthewson’s corner feel to Joe Clement, whose volley was just inches over the bar.
Minutes later Worsbrough escaped another scare, as Graham’s corner was bundled by goalkeeper Jarrod Oxley, leaving Taylor again to take responsibility and clear the ball.
It took 25 minutes before Rangers really tested Oxley, however, Joe Clement’s curling shot was save superbly by the Worsbrough stopper, as he denied the home side time after time.
Sam O’Mally turned his way into a shooting opportunity moments later, before firing narrowly wide as another chance went begging for the hosts.
Worsbrough responded to the home sides dominance with a chance of their own, a Rob Adgie cross was met by the head of Read, who was inches away from making it 1-0 against the run of play.
But Rangers maintained their dominance, and the best chance of the game fell to Andy Harrison, who’s curling shot beat the keeper, but didn’t beat the bar, as Thacker’s men were inches away from going into the half one goal to the good.
Worsbrough came into the second-half with more of a fighting spirit, after some strong words from Dave Mace at half-time.
But after a midfield battle it was Hall Road who finally got the ball into the attacking third, a charging run from Graham was played through to Mark Rudd, who crossed in for Sam O’Mally who seemed likely to head the ball home – only for Taylor again to save his side with a superb overhead kick to clear his defence.
The best chance of the game fell to the visitors, after Steve Janney charged out of the Hall Road net to attempt to head clear, he missed the ball entirely. Read had an open goal and it seemed harder to miss than score, but his tame shot trickled wide of the goal as Worsbrough wasted a golden opportunity to take the lead.
Hall Road were reduced to 10-men in the 83rd minute after Graham received a second booking for grabbing Worsbrough midfielder Mark Stuart’s shirt. The dismissed player even tussled with Stuart leaving the field.
But Rangers held on to the point, only allowing Worsbrough one chance to snatch the win, as in the final minute Connor Warren’s cross was met by an overhead kick from Read, but his stunning effort was just over, as Hall Road earned a hard fought point.
Hall Road Rangers manager Martin Thacker:
“The cutting edge we’ve missed from day one, but when you look out there at the pitch it’s really difficult for the lads to take two or three touches and hit targets, and it’s almost impossible.
“I don’t have any complaints with the results, we didn’t look like we we’re going to put the chances away.
“It’s definitely a red card, I think he had a tussle with the 11 all game and I think the first yellow is a yellow and then when you make a technical foul like that it’s definitely a red card.
“To be fair though we looked like we were going to be a threat when we went down to 10 men.
“I know they’ve missed an open goal with Steven with a horrendous bobble, but I think in general we deserved to win the game but if you don’t score you don’t win.
“Since coming in every game we’ve contested, we might have only won two games out of the seven, but we could have won five of them it’s only that little thing. It’s not just today this happened against Rossington, it happened at Selby last week, Pontefract at their place, so you put the balls in the net you never know where it takes you.”
Hall Road Rangers: Janney, Walsh, Graham, Clement (Earl 69), Blount, McKay, Chadwick, Harrison, O’Mally, Rudd (Webb 66), Matthewson (Tucker 52). Subs unused: Day, Singleton
Worsbrough Bridge: Oxley, Lycett, Hoyland, Owen (Booker 67), Taylor, Evans, Miskell, Broadbent, Read, Adgie (Warren 74), Stuart. Subs unused: Jackson, Lane, Kokot
Referee: Lee Freeman
Attendance: 72
Man of the Match: Andy Taylor (Worsbrough)