MATCH REPORT: Lightning start as Skegness Town grind out victory against Hall Road Rangers

NCEL Division One
Jordan Smith.Jordan Smith.
Jordan Smith.

Skegness Town 2 Hall Road Rangers 1

Skegness Town ground out another three points against a spirited Hall Road Rangers to retain their position at the top of Division One.

They may not have dominated the game as much as they had hoped, but they did enough to keep themselves top of the pile.

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With injuries and suspensions hitting the squad Nathan Collins gave debuts to new signings Kieran Wressell and Tom Sawyer.

Jordan Smith returned to the starting line up and George Hobbins, having completed a four-match ban, was on the substitutes’ bench.

A fair sized crowd turned out to witness the win, chalked up on the first anniversary of manager Collins’s reign.

They didn’t have long to wait to see the first goal. Just 64 seconds into the game the seasiders drew first blood.

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Luke Rayner-Mistry intercepted the ball in his own half and found Elliot Broughton, who released skipper Ben Davison down the inside right channel.

The Skegness captain got to the by-line and pulled the ball back to Rayner-Mistry, who opened up his body to precisely and clinically side-foot into the roof of the net.

Those expecting a flood of goals after this great start would have been disappointed as the seasiders were met with stiff resistance from the visitors. Rangers pressed their opponents at every opportunity and denied the Lilywhites any space.

Town were dealt a blow midway through the half when Wressell went down injured. He had suffered a cut to his foot and had to be replaced by Loz Lambley, who slotted in at right back, while Liam Parker moved across to partner Jacob Norburn at the heart of the defence.

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As his team adjusted to the change Davison earned them a second goal, bursting clear of the visiting defence and getting clipped by keeper Adam Walters as he went round him.

The Skegness skipper dusted himself down and then slotted home, sending Walters the wrong way.

Rangers may have felt that the score flattered the seasiders, but that was how it stood at the break.

The second half followed a similar pattern, but Town did enough to hold Hall Road at bay.

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The visitors did however reduce the deficit just after the hour mark, when a quickly-taken free kick caught the Skegness defence on their heels and Charlie Birley swept the ball home.

It made for a nervy last half hour but Skegness held on to the three points.

TOWN: J. Lambley, L. Parker, Morrall, Norburn, Wressell (L. Lambley 22), Sawyer (Clarke 80), Rayner-Mistry, Nichol, Davison, Smith (Hobbins 55); Sub (not used): Parish.