By Neil Winsor
Photograph supplied by Lee Myers
RANGERS boss Bill Gill although disappointed by his side’s defeat last night was keen to focus on the positives that came out of the 3-1 defeat to Pontefract Collieries
Hall Road led at the break following Gareth Owen’s opportunism, when he pounced from close range to poke home on 26 minutes in a first half which Rangers marginally shaded, the only disappointing factor coming as they failed to add to their lead.
The interval stifled Rangers rhythm though and they were punished within four minutes of the restart, as they were pegged back by an Aaron Moxam penalty.
Both sides had glimpses of goal in the second half, and Hall Road had what appeared to be a genuine penalty shout of their own for handball turned down before a Jack Greenhough free-kick, followed by a second Moxam penalty, earned the points for a team fancied by many to win the NCEL Premier Division crown.
Gill believes one of the key points of the evening though was Rangers failure to add to their first half advantage. He said;
“We felt we had control of the first half and could have easily have scored two or three.
We only went in one goal up though, which we knew wouldn’t be enough and then almost immediately after the restart we concede yet another soft penalty.
Even at 1-1 though we we was comfortable and it takes a stunning free kick to put them 2-1 up, and then of course we are pushing forward and miss a couple more chances, before they get the third, and at that point it’s curtains.”
The Hall Road boss was however pleased to finally get back to action at Haworth Park and is pleased with how his side have defended after numerous postponements and believes with a little more luck, that his side will pick up enough points to stay in the division.
“Overall, I thought it was a great performance from us again, and credit to Pontefract, but not conceding in open play in the last two games shows we are hard to break down, and we have just been on the end of some bad decisions of late, so we are keen to bounceback at Staveley on Saturday.” Gill added
The night also saw a further positive as 16 year old Reggie Waud became the latest youngster to be given an opportunity, something which gave his first-team manager great pride.
Waud follows Alex Stock (right), in terms of youngsters to be given an opportunity as the terrier like midfielder, Stock again gave an excellent account of himself for 70 minutes.
“To be able to give a senior debut for Reggie was a huge plus for me tonight, and he is definitely one for the future.
It shows we are building a foundation at the club for the next few seasons with all these young lads coming through, and these lads and others, will form part of the first team squad over the coming seasons.
It is exciting the amount of talent we have in the Under-19s and Reserve team system.”
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