Evo-Stik Northern Premier League

Tuesday 15 August 2017

Rangers made it two wins from two as they opened their home campaign against Sutton Coldfield Town.

Rangers named the same starting 11 that defeated Altrincham on Saturday but Sutton Coldfield also came in to the game in confident mood after their victory over Shaw Lane.

It was the visitors who asked most of the questions in the opening exchanges with Aaron Farrell shooting wide and Niall Flint being denied a shot by some good tracking back from Kai Davis.

The Boro got more into the game but it was midway through the half before they managed a serious effort on the Sutton goal, Westwood firing over from around 35 yards following an error involving Mason Springthorpe and Jack Barnes. Shortly afterwards, Louis Briscoe went wide from a similar distance.

Sutton’s best chance of the half came on the half hour when Farrell got behind the defence but Adam Whitehouse saved well at his near post.

But as it was on Saturday, Rangers made their opponents pay for not taking their chances. It was a cracker of a strike from Jack Langston that broke the deadlock, just three minutes before the break, the midfielder hitting a powerful drive from around 20 yards that gave Springthorpe no chance.

Briscoe should have added a second a couple of minutes later when Joe Thomas found him in space but he put his shot the wrong side of the post.

Langston missed a great chance to add to his tally early in the second half when he fired over from 8 yards, then Kieran Morris headed over.

The second goal wasn’t long away and it came from Dan Westwood on 55 mins when he headed in Izak Reid’s centre.

Langston made it 3-0 on 61 mins when Sam Griffiths hooked the ball forward from the centre circle and Langston went through to clip the ball past Springthorpe.

Sutton made a triple substitution and it paid dividends as Aaron Birch netted from close range on 77 mins, converting a ball from sub Nehemiah Zazi.

For a time Rangers looked a little nervy as Sutton pushed for another but Rangers finished the job with two minutes left on the clock as Mat Bailey headed home a precision corner from Briscoe.

Rangers: 1 Adam Whitehouse, 2 Sam Griffiths, 3 Kai Davis, 4 Kieran Morris, 5 Mat Bailey, 6 Jack Langston, 7 Joe Thomas, 8 Izak Reid (17 Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson 71m), 9 Dan Westwood, 10 Louis Briscoe (15 Jake Heath 88m), 11 Richard Batchelor. Unused Subs: 12 Exodous Geohaghon, 14 Kyle Perry, 16 Levi Reid

Sutton Coldfield Town: 1 Mason Springthorpe, 2 James Beresford, 3 Zak Martin, 4 Aaron Birch, 5 Jack Barnes, 6 Nat Kelly, 7 Niall Flint (14 Jack McMillan 62m), 8 Brian Smikle, 9 David Howarth (15 Ashley Vincent 62m), 10 Aaron Farrell, 11 Gurjit Singh (17 Nehemiah Zazi 62m). Unused subs 12 George Cleet, 16 Callum Williams.

Cautions: Kelly (Sutton)

Referee: Ollie Williams

Att: 614

Stafford Rangers will look to make it two wins out of two tonight as we welcome Sutton Coldfield Town, in our first Evo – Stik Northern Premier League game at Marston Road of the season.

The Boro got off to a great start, beating Altrincham on Saturday emphatically, thanks to goals from Dan Westwood, Joe Thomas and Richie Batchelor.

Sutton Coldfield Town started the season also with a victory, as the hosts beat Northern Premier League new boys Shaw Lane 3-1 on Saturday afternoon.

Tonight’s game at Marston Road is a 7.45PM Kick-Off.

£10 Adults, £7 Concessions (Senior Citizen/Armed Forces/18-21 years Students in Full Time Education) – Proof of Identity and Age Required. £1 Kids Under 16, £2 Transfer to Stand.

Updates of tonight’s game will also be available on Twitter: @srfcofficial