Balgownie Rangers and University shared the points in a 1-1 draw at Judy Masters Oval on Thursday night.
A spectacular goal from Luke Inglis put the Students into the lead half an hour in before Tom Shannon’s penalty on the stroke of halftime levelled the scores.
University had a chance to steal the points in the second half through a penalty; however, Matheus Scapin’s effort was saved by Damian Bedwell.
The visitors got off to a bright start with Scapin seeing a couple of shots float wide within the first seven minutes of the game.
However, Christopher Hollingshead’s persistent run 10 minutes in for the Rangers saw him win the ball high up the pitch before driving into the left of the box and sending a shot wide of the near post.
Five minutes later, University’s Curtis Iverson received the ball in plenty of space on the right edge of the box but powered a right-footed shot into the wrong side of the side netting.
In the 19th minute, Hollingshead had another chance this time mazing into the right of the box before his shot rolled into the gloves of Students’ goalkeeper Jordan Kipps.
The Students struck the woodwork 29 minutes in as a left-sided cross met the head of Joshua Martin in the middle whose effort bounced onto the right post.
Just three minutes later, the side found the opening goal with Inglis bending a right-footed shot from the left edge of the box into the top-right corner.
University looked to finish the first half strongly creating a couple more chances before the break.
With five minutes to go, Ryan Sinclair’s cross from the left byline found Iverson, who from close range was unable to find the target – volleying wide of the left post.
Sinclair was involved again two minutes later taking on a shot from the edge of the box that bounced into the gloves of Bedwell.
The Rangers were handed a lifeline with just seconds to play in the first half with the side awarded a penalty and a chance to go into halftime level.
Shannon stepped up sending a confident side-footed effort into the bottom-right corner with Kipps unmoved.
The sides went into the sheds even with three points for either vital in the pursuit for finals football.
The second half adopted a different tone to the first with both sides trading chances throughout.
Within the first two minutes of the second half, Balgownie’s Sebastian Dallas latched onto a ball into the left channel before jinking inside and seeing his shot saved at the near post by Kipps.
In the 57th minute, Sinclair’s right-sided corner was only cleared as far as Martin whose first-time effort for University went straight to Bedwell.
The Rangers had a chance three minutes after with Brendan Wyatt’s ball over the top into the right channel finding Hollingshead with the eventual shot being saved by Kipps.
University had their best chance of the half in the 66th minute when the side was awarded a penalty.
Scapin took responsibility passing a shot towards the right side of the net that Bedwell got down low to, preventing the goal.
The hosts almost scored six minutes later, with substitute Peter Besnard’s cross from the right finding Jacob Miller at the back post whose header back across goal prompted an important save from Kipps.
With 78 minutes played, University’s Sinclair had a shot from the left of the box that arrowed towards the near post, but Bedwell saved again.
Neither side was able to find a winner in what remained of the game, settling for a point each.
This result sees the Rangers remain in the top five and the side will face the four teams above them in their last five matches.
The side will travel to take on Shell Cove at the weekend before playing the rest of the season at home.
The draw for the Students snaps the side’s four-game losing streak.
University currently sit two points outside a finals place with this Saturday’s match against Oak Flats providing an opportunity make up some points on the sides above them.
Balgownie Rangers 1 (Tom Shannon Penalty 45’)
University FC 1 (Luke Inglis 32’)
Balgownie Rangers: 1. BEDWELL Damian, 2. BUBB Matthew, 3. MCDONALD Luke, 4. VENEY Lachlan, 5. STEFANELLI Anthony, 6. SHANNON Tom, 7. WYATT Brendan, 8. SUMMETT Jackson, 9. HOLLINGSHEAD Christopher, 10. MILLER Jacob, 11. DALLAS Sebastian
Substitutes: 12. BESNARD Peter (DALLAS 68’), 13. JARRET Riley, 14. COHEN Lachlan (VENEY 84’), 15. MCREARY John, 16. DUGGAN Kieran
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
University FC: 1. KIPPS Jordan, 14. GIGGLIOTI Anthony, 2. MORGAN Lachlan, 15. KEARTON Alex, 6. MARTIN Joshua, 30. INGLIS Luke, 23. SINCLAIR Ryan, 33. SCAPIN Matheus, 8. SIMMS Jordan, 21. KIPP Cameron, 29. IVERSON Curtis
Substitutes: 42. KAY Max (KEARTON 80’), 11. TURNER Nathan (KIPP 59’), 3. HAWKES Ashley (SIMMS 66’), 31. JOYCE Ben
Yellow Cards: Cameron Kipp 44’
Red Cards: Nil
Date: 11 August 2022
Venue: Judy Masters Oval, Balgownie
Referee: Nathan Alterator
Assistant Referees: Joel Nees and Steve Bozic
Report by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_
Photos courtesy of Graham Brown
