PR: Hall Road vs Clipstone

Hall Road Rangers welcome Clipstone FC to Haworth Park on Saturday as they seek improvement in their home form. Rangers have lost their last three home games against Selby Town, Glasshoughton Welfare and Hallam FC respectively.

Clipstone sit in 18th place in the NCEL Division One table and have 19 points from 24 league games. Rudy Funk’s side have lost three of their last four games. The Cobras haven’t fared well on their travels so far this season having lost nine of their 12 away games. There’s an ex-Rangers player in the Clipstone squad in Sam O’Malley. O’Malley had a couple of spells at Hall Road.

Hall Road could potentially do the double over the Cobras. The previous league meeting between the sides ended up as a 2-3 win for Rangers in August. Despite falling behind twice on the night, goals from Alex Knaggs, Lewis Andrew and a Connor Wright own goal gave them all three points.

Rangers joint boss Leon Sewell says that his side are making positive progression in their overall play and that they’ll have to be at their best to take any points from this game.

“Collectively, we’re making progressive steps in our play and picking up points is obviously key. Those points don’t come free or easily in this league and Clipstone FC and their manager Rudy Funk will be full of positivity and looking to bounce back from their defeat last weekend at home to Brigg Town.

This game will be a tough one as we narrowly beat Clipstone in a midweek game back at the end of August. Come 3pm on Saturday, I’m certain that we’ll be at the races and ready to go when the referee blows his whistle” he said.

Oliver Harsley