25/08/20 – 7.45pm – Weather – Storm Francis tester!

In a game strongly effected by Storm Francis, both sides did well to serve up something resembling entertainment.

The opening stages saw the visitors looking sharp with a couple of early crosses and the first corner that saw an effort from Kee hitting Rangers’ bar. Rangers responded with a run from Kenton and his low cross shot hit the side netting before Coalville again came close as a McGlinchey shot was deflected wide before a curling cross just evaded Smith. McGlinchey then slipped his marker but shot straight at King. Rangers relieved the pressure with an attack as the impressive Keane delivered a dangerous cross and first Sleigh then Thorley both had shots blocked. The Ravens came back with another effort from 20 yards, but this again narrowly missed. They had looked the stronger team early on but Rangers finished the half strongly, while Candlin had a shot that was way over and Sleigh latched onto a good through ball and his good solo run and shot was saved by Deeney just before half time.

The second half saw many changes for both sides and a battle with ever worsening conditions as the incessant wind and rain howled across Marston Road.

Coalville again started brightly as an early shot was sent just over, before thy broke the deadlock on 52 minutes. Winning a free kick on the right, the ball was swung to the crowded near post where the first incoming header hit the woodwork, but Connor Smith followed up to squeeze a header in for a 1-0 lead. As the half progressed it was impressive that both sides tried to master the conditions and still try to play the right way, but the game was largely interspersed with substitutions giving the respective squads a run out, plus the vicious downpours and swirling gale. Rangers most notable chance was from Sub Joe Cuff who tested Deeney while a Coalville attack saw King pull off his best save of the game.

Rangers -King, Trialist, Moran, D. Burns, Keane (trialist 64), Kenton(trialist), Welsh (Cuff 57), Harvey (Sebbeh-Njie 45), Thorley, Candlin (Carr64), Sleigh (Johnson 63).