Match Report: Winterton Rangers 1-1 Parkgate

Parkgate pick up a decent point away to fifth place Winterton Rangers.

Parkgate travelled to Winterton Rangers on the back of two high scoring home victories against Skegness Town and Shirebrook Town. Opponents Winterton Rangers hosted the Steelmen looking to get back to their normal winning ways, after the NCEL Division One fifth placed side were defeated by AFC Emley last time out.

The visitors, Parkgate, came out of the blocks quickly, getting at Winterton’s three centre-backs and that proved vital in the opening few minutes when the ball was crossed in from the right, going over the head of Brandon Bagley but reaching striker Bruno Holden, who controlled the ball before volleying home to give Parkgate a early 1-0 lead.

With only seven minutes on the clock, Parkgate were to have a set-back though, when Andy Dawson was forced into an early substitution when forward Alex Rippon pulled up with a hamstring injury. This saw the introduction of Parkgate Under 18 prospect Silas Valladolid-Collins.

As time went on, the hosts started to threaten more and more, having a goal disallowed in the 23rd minute after the Winterton man was flagged offside. However, they had the ball in the net again on the 30th minute after a corner kick from the left side evaded everyone in the box before nestling into the net without a touch.

Winterton still looked the better side in the closing stages of the first half, hitting the crossbar moments before then half time whistle, after a dinked effort bounce back of the bar and eventually cleared by a Parkgate defender.

Half-Time: Winterton Rangers 1-1 Parkgate

The second got underway with Andy Dawson being forced to make his second substitution after midfielder Lewis Whitaker went off his a back issue, and club-captain Elliott Simpson taking his place.

Winterton started the second half as they finished the first, putting the Parkgate back line under immense pressure and the Scunthorpe based side had a break through when going forward Silas Valladolid-Collins brought down his man and the referee eventually pointed to the spot after some thought about his decision. However, Parkgate keeper Chris Butt made a brilliant save down to his right, keeping the score level.

The final 30 minutes heated up on and off the ball with several incidents going unseen by the match officials. One including Winterton defender Kieran Wressell and Parkgate’s Alex Pugh, when the Winterton man seemed to have caught Pugh on the head when stepping over after a tackle.

Parkgate Goalkeeper Chris Butt, kept pulling off some fantastic saves, keeping the visitors in the game. The hosts then had a great opportunity to win the game with minutes left, when Winterton’s William Ball header against the post from close range, but Parkgate managed to hold on and pick up a decent point away from home.

Full-Time: Winterton Rangers 1-1 Parkgate

Winterton Rangers XI: Jordan Quibell, Jack Turnbull, Robbie Start, William Ball, Oliver Fisher-Powell, Kieran Wressell(c), William Peers, Liam Nelthorpe, Noel Burdett, Paul Grimes, Elliot Broughton.
Subs: Tyla Bell, Dale Coy, Joel Shortland, Oliver Hamilton.

Parkgate XI: Chris Butt, Ben Starosta(c), Bradley Davies, Matt Crookes, Haydn Ward, Alex Pugh, Lewis Whitaker, Simon Harrison, Bruno Holden, Alex Rippon, Brandon Bagley.
Subs: George Morris, Elliott Simpson, Silas Valladolid-Collins.