After being involved in six and seven goal thrillers in their last two league matches, Hall Road went even further against Parkgate, as the two clubs shared TEN.Hall Road Rangers lost 6-4 away to Parkgate in the Third Round of the NCEL League Cup, bringing an end to their hopes for silverware this season. The home side were at one point 5-1 to the good, before three goals in six second half minutes gave Rangers a glimmer of hope. However, a sixth for Parkgate with 26 minutes left, ensured the Steelmen progressed to the next stage of the competition.
Rangers made two changes for the match – the fifth time the two teams have met this season. Paul Wilson came in for Jamie Heard, meaning Mark Griffin dropped to right back, whilst Dave Ricardo, who left Hall Road back in December, started in central midfield after rejoining the club. Joint manager Jamie Barnwell was also included amongst the substitutes.
Ashley Worsfold got the hosts off to a good start with a goal inside the first ten minutes, before Nathan Forbes-Swindells, who got a hat-trick the last time the two teams met, doubled their lead on 23 minutes. Neil Towler was bundled over in the box on the half hour mark, and Paul Wilson converted the resulting penalty to make it 2-1. Parkgate’s two-goal advantage was restored just two minutes later, though, with defender Matt Needham on target, before Forbes-Swindells added his second on the stroke of half-time to give the Steelmen a 4-1 lead going into the break.
The home side made it 5-1 two minutes after the break, with Ashley Worsfold doubling his personal tally. Hall Road were awarded another penalty on 49 minutes, with skipper Steve Gawthorpe converting this one for his fifth of the season. Three minutes later, Wilson added his second to make it 5-3, before the returning Dave Ricardo headed in to remarkably pull Hall Road back in with a shout, with still over half an hour to play. However, Forbes-Swindells completed his hat-trick on 64 minutes – his sixth goal in three games against Rangers – to cement his side’s place in the Fourth Round of the NCEL League Cup.
Having scored nine goals in their last three games, but not come away with so much as a point, Rangers go into Saturday’s difficult game against second placed Retford United in bizarrely good form, despite what the form tables might suggest.
HALL ROAD: Mike Burley, Mark Griffin, Liam Cattermole, Steve Gawthorpe, Jamie Atkinson (Jamie Barnwell), Luke Wheeldon, Paul Wilson, Martin Thacker, Neil Towler, Dave Ricardo, Danny Ricketts (Jordan Easter). Subs not used: Ricky Kemp.
Alex Blackburne, Press Officer for Hall Road Rangers, has provided with this report, for which we are extremely grateful as always. All the relative links are below.
March 22, 2012
Hall Road Rangers, Northern Counties East League, Other Leagues