Hall Road Rangers made a winning start to their 2022/23 Humber Premier League Premier Division season by picking up a 1-0 victory against LIV Supplies at Bishop Burton College on Tuesday night.

Inside the 1st minute, LIV threatened from a corner with a header which went wide. A couple of minutes later, Rangers showed attacking intent. Some good play from Tom Oliver down the left wing led to him finding Sam O’Malley with a cross who then hit a shot straight at the LIV keeper.

There continued to be half chances for Rangers for the remainder of the half with a couple of efforts from Rob Hall that were comfortably saved and a Tom Oliver shot which went over the bar. At this point, it was a lack of final quality in front of goal which prevented Rangers from having a lead at the break.

In the 52nd minute, James Murray saw a header go wide of the LIV goal.

The deadlock was broken in the 64th minute when Sam O’Malley put Rangers in front by slotting the ball into the net to get the club’s 1st competitive goal of the season.

This lead was almost doubled in the 86th minute through a thunderous strike from Lewis Andrew which smashed against the crossbar. After this, Rangers saw out the game well to secure both three points and a clean sheet.

Hall Road Rangers: Withill, Williams, Murray, Pulford, Chaffer, Andrew (C), R. Hall, Bullement, Harrison (Waud 70’), Oliver (Miller 87’), O’Malley (Loughton 80’).

Subs Not Used: Taylor, Sallis.

Rangers boss Leon Sewell was pleased to get off to a good start:

“It was a good, physical battle and I enjoyed watching it. I thought both teams got stuck in.

We probably dominated possession wise, but at the same point we weren’t clinical enough with the possession that we had.

Goals win games and clean sheets are extra for me as an ex goalkeeper. Got to give big praise to the back five in Haydn in goal and the back four as I thought they were superb.

LIV didn’t really breach our backline and we put heads where it was going to hurt and stopped shots and stopped crosses. That was really positive.

In midfield, I thought we had a lot of the ball and probably too much at times. Final third, as a striker they’re going to be frustrated and as an attacking player they’re going to be frustrated not scoring.

Yet again, Sam O’Malley in the right place at the right time. Thought he made hard work of it, but they all count and we’ll take the 1-0.

It was a bit tenterhooks towards the end and fair play to LIV. They kept grafting hard.

I thought our fitness levels looked very good and our ball retention was good. If we keep building on that, we’ll be there or thereabouts.

Overall, it was an enjoyable night. It’s the 1st time the club’s had an opening fixture win since 2016. Six years is a long time so I’m pleased we’ve got that monkey off our back.”