Stafford Rangers 1 Ashton United 0
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Saturday 14 October 2017
A late Richard Gregory goal saw Stafford Rangers edge home against Ashton United. The play from both sides may not have been of the highest quality but there was plenty of effort on show.
Rangers were without Louis Briscoe (suspended) from the side that drew with Mickleover in midweek. In came Mat Bailey while Jack Langston replaced the injured Dan Westwood on the bench.
In a fairly even first half, both teams had good chances to get on the score sheet but none were taken as the half ended goal less.
Gregory was the first to try his luck inside three minutes with a shot from around 25 yards that spun off the foot of Ashton defender Aaron Chalmers but it was comfortably gathered by keeper Dave Carnell.
Ashton responded soon after when an error from Jack Sherratt allowed Liam Tomsett to put in Matty Chadwick but he was kept out by Adam Whitehouse.
On 15 mins Rangers came close when Sam Griffiths’ free kick down the right flank allowed Izak Reid to pick out Gregory but his close range header was well saved by David Carnell.
Poor defending from the Stafford midfield saw Ashton’s leading scorer Matty Chadwick advance on goal. He was halted by a foul challenge from Jordaan Brown that earned the Stafford centre back a yellow card but Chadwick’s 25 yard free kick went safely over the Stafford bar. Soon after, Tomsett fired straight at Whitehouse from a similar distance.
Rangers were dealt a blow shortly before the half hour when Kieren Westwood departed with what appeared to be a hamstring injury, to be replaced by Kai Davis.
But, a couple of minutes later, they should have found themselves in front.
Jack Sherratt pounced on an error from Nicky Platt to put Reid clear but he chose the return pass to Sherratt rather than shoot and Carnell saved at close range.
Ashton responded with a slick move that ended with Jack Dyche forcing a parried save from Whitehouse from just inside the area.
The two teams continued to battle hard in the second half but, after a Richard Batchelor header was well held by Carnell in the opening couple of minutes, neither side posed too much of a threat to the opposition goal until the mid way point when Ashton sub Alex Johnson exchanged passes with Dyche. The former squared for Chadwick but Kieran Morris made a crucial goal line clearance.
As the game entered the final 10 minutes, an excellent ball from Batchelor to Thomas saw the Stafford sub shoot straight at Carnell but it was the youngster who set up what proved to be the winner just a minute later when his deep centre was converted by Gregory at the second attempt after Carnell had saved the initial header.
The Stafford goal scorer spurned a great chance for a second on the stroke of full time but one goal proved to be enough.
Rangers: Adam Whitehouse, 2 Sam Griffiths, 3 Kieren Westwood (16 Kai Davis 27m), 4 Kieran Morris, 5 Mat Bailey, 6 Jordaan Brown, 7 Josh Craddock, 8 Jack Sherratt (14 Joe Thomas 57m), 9 Richard Gregory, 10 Izak Reid (15 Osebi Abadaki 72m), 11 Richard Batchelor. Unused Subs: 12 Levi Reid, 17 Jack Langston
Ashton: 1 David Carnell, 2 Dominic Smalley, 3 Will Beesley (16 Jack Slinn 46m), 4 Tom Eckersley, 5 Aaron Chalmers, 6 Nicky Platt, 7 Mark Lees, 8 Liam Tomsett, 9 Matty Chadwick, 10 Jack Dyche, 11 Nic Evangelinos (12 Alex Johnson 60m). Unused Subs: 14 John Roberts, 15 Simon Woodford, 17 Josh Ollerenshaw
Cautions: Brown, Batchelor, Craddock (Rangers), Tomsett (Ashton)
Referee: Matthew Law
Att: 514
Report: Chris Elsley
