Oct 18, 2017 | Club News
Sutton Coldfield Town 1 Stafford Rangers 1 (Rangers win 6-5 on penalties)
Integro Cup 1st Round
Tuesday 17 October 2017
Rangers needed penalties to overcome Sutton Coldfield Town in their Integro League Cup 1st Round tie at Coles Lane.
Manager Neil Kitching used the fixture to get a first look at new signings Niall Flint and Alex Fletcher as well as giving a run out to second choice keeper Brad Caswell who was making just his second appearance for the club. On the bench was U18 player Taylor Allen and he saw just under 30 mins of action after coming on as a second half substitute.
Sutton Coldfield sit at the bottom of the Evo-Stik League Premier Division table but, with three former Rangers players in their line up, they were keen to get one over on the Boro.
A cheeky back heeled flick from Lee Knight went into the side netting following Kris Taylor’s free kick as the Royals were first to threaten, then a minute later, Rangers responded through Louis Briscoe who sent his header across the face of goal and wide.
Kieran Morris was denied by keeper Nicky Draper then Briscoe appeared rushed and blazed wide as Flint’s cross shot off the artificial surface.
At the opposite end, a poor clearance from Kai Davis fell straight to Knight and his shot had Caswell scrambling across his goal but, thankfully, the ball went just wide of the post.
Rangers looked to be getting on top of the home side with Flint causing problems on the right hand side, sending in some dangerous crosses.
A Flint corner just evaded the reach of Draper but also Briscoe who hadn’t anticipated the opportunity.
After Tyler Lyttle had sliced a shot wide for Sutton, Jack Langston was just off target for Rangers with a shot from around 30 yards out and half time arrived with both goals intact.
As with the first half, Sutton were first to show after the turnaround with Brian Smikle firing over but again there was an immediate response from Rangers and Flint should have scored when a Briscoe dummy put him through but Lewis Probert got back to make the crucial tackle.
The deadlock was broken on 52 mins when Jak Barnes fired home from near the penalty spot after the ball fell kindly to him following Lyttle’s blocked shot.
Knight went close to a second a minute later and, just after the hour mark, he missed out again with a poor effort that allowed Caswell to make a comfortable save.
Langston who had had a quiet game up to now, came into it in the last 15 mins. He was denied by Draper after an excellent through ball from Joe Thomas but made no mistake on 76 mins when he clipped the ball over the Royals’ keeper following Mat Bailey’s flick on.
Another Langston effort forced Draper to push over the bar then both Langston and Flint had shots blocked.
But Sutton could have won it in the final minute when Barnes put Knight in but Caswell was out quickly to save to force the penalty shoot out.
Sutton went first and took an early advantage when George Cleet scored but Izak Reid saw his effort come back off the post. The next six spot kicks were all successful with Thomas, Langston and Fletcher all finding the net for Rangers. Youngster Jorge Blemings missed the chance to win it for Sutton when his kick was saved by Caswell and Morris brought the scores level. Probert and Jack Sherratt cancelled each other out but when Francino Francis saw his kick saved, Mat Bailey sent Rangers through.
Sutton Coldfield: 1 Nicky Draper, 2 Tyler lyttle (12 Joe Sinton 67m), 3 Lewis Probert, 4 James Beresford, 5 George Cleet, 6 Francino Francis, 7 Brian Smikle (16 Jorge Blemings 82m), 8 Reece Webb, 9 Lee Knight, 10 Kris Taylor, 11 Bozhidar Aleksandrov (14 Jak Barnes 46m). Unused Subs 15 Josh Morris, 17 Aaron Birch
Stafford: 1 Brad Caswell, 2 Kai Davis, 3 Jack Sherratt, 4 Kieran Morris, 5 Jordaan Brown, 6 Jack Langston, 7 Niall Flint (14 Mat Bailey 70m), 8 Alex Fletcher, 9 Louis Briscoe (15 Izak Reid 67m), 10 Joe Thomas, 11 Osebi Abadaki (17 Taylor Allen 62m). Unused Subs 12 Josh Craddock, 16 Sam Griffiths
Cautions – none
Referee: Greg Rollason
Att 77
Chris Elsley
Oct 16, 2017 | Club News
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
Oct 12, 2017 | Club News
Stafford Rangers have signed 2 new players ahead of the Ashton United game on Saturday.
ALEX FLETCHER a 20 year old centre midfielder has joined us from Southport and NIALL FLINT also 20 years old, a midfielder has joined from Matlock Town.
Further details to follow
Oct 12, 2017 | Club News
STAFFORD RANGERS V ASHTON UNITED
This Saturday we welcome Ashton United to Marston Road for an Evostik Premier League match.
Ashton United currently sit in 6th place with 26 points from 14 games. They have an impressive away record in the last three games taking all nine points on offer and scoring 12 goals. The only down point is that in those 3 games they have conceded 7 times.
Last season Aston United won here at Stafford by 3 goals to 1.
Our home form is improving and everything pints to this being a good game
Oct 11, 2017 | Club News
Stafford Rangers 1 Mickleover Sports 1
Evo-Stik League Premier Division
Tuesday 10 October 2017
Rangers and Mickleover battled out an uninspiring draw at Marston Road in front of an equally disappointing crowd of just 417.
Rangers made one change from the side that beat Grantham on Saturday with Osebi Adabaki returning to the starting line up in place of Mat Bailey.
Both the goals came in the opening quarter of the game with Richard Gregory opening the scoring for the Boro on 11 minutes before a soft goal credited to Mickloever’s Alex Morris midway through the half brought the scores level.
The game got off to a decent start as Louis Briscoe tried his luck hooking the ball over his shoulder but his effort was straight at Sports’ keeper Lewis King.
A couple of minutes later, Sports went even closer when Pablo Mills struck the Rangers bar from around 20 yards after Rangers had failed to clear a free kick then Andy Dales fired wide after Jack Sherratt had lost the ball in midfield.
There was little to choose between the two sides in the opening 10 minutes but Rangers then established a foothold with a well taken goal from Richard Gregory.
Jordaan Brown was the architect with a strong run down the inside left channel down to the by-line. From there, he picked out Gregory. The Rangers forward still had plenty to do but with tidy control and a sharp turn he fired the ball past King to put the Boro one up.
Kieren Westwood went close to making it 2-0 a couple of minutes later when he exchanged passes with Gregory but King saved with his foot.
With Rangers now on top, they will be disappointed with the goal that brought Mickleover level on 22 minutes.
A free kick was awarded in a dangerous position around 20 yards out after a handball decision was given against Kieran Morris but the immediate danger was averted as Adam Whitehouse turned John McGrath’s dead ball around the post. But, from McGrath’s subsequent corner, the ball glanced off Mills’ head and appeared to deflect off Alex Morris and find its way inside Whitehouse’s right hand post.
With their tails now up, Mickleover sought a second and nearly got it just a couple of minutes later when Mills was given time and space around ten yards out but Westwood headed off the line.
Whitehouse then saved well, tipping over from Andy Dales when the Sports’ midfielder broke through on goal – a chance he really should have taken – then, on the stroke of half time, Lewis Belgrave went wide from around 20 yards.
Rangers began the second half with revived vigour as Briscoe dispossessed McGrath and was only halted when Morris tripped him just outside the area – a foul that earned the Mickleover defender a caution. Gregory’s free kick was comfortably taken by King.
But then the game went flat and the next half hour was pretty much a non event. Mickleover packed their defence and, to their credit, rarely looked like being breached.
In fact, the visitors had the best chance to snatch the points when sub Tevahn Tyrell pounced on an error from Kieran Morris but with just Whitehouse to beat, he inexplicably lifted the ball over both the Rangers keeper and, to the relief of the home camp, the Rangers crossbar.
Rangers’ best chance of the half came soon after when Josh Craddock’s header was blocked on the line by Reece Horne while Whitehouse made a stoppage time save to keep out a long range drive from former Boro midfielder Jimmy Phillips in added time.
Rangers: 1 Adam Whitehouse, 2 Sam Griffiths, 3 Kieren Westwood, 4 Kieran Morris, 5 Jordaan Brown, 6 Josh Craddock, 7 Osebi Abadaki (12 Dan Westwood 84m), 8 Jack Sherratt, 9 Richard Gregory, 10 Izak Reid, 11 Louis Briscoe (17 Richard Batchelor 58m). Unused subs 14 Levi Reid, 15 Joe Thomas, 16 Kai Davis
Mickleover: 1 Lewis King, 2 Kevin Grocott, 3 Reece Horne, 4 John McGrath, 5 Pablo Mills,
6 Alex Morris, 7 Andy Dales, 8 Lewis Belgrave (17 Tevahn Tyrell 67m), 9 Tom Burgin, 10 Evan Garnett, 11 Jimmy Phillips. Unused subs 12 Ben Morris, 14 Morgan Williams, 15 William Norcross, 16 Clinton Morrison
Cautions: Brown, Briscoe (Rangers) Mills, Morris (Mickleover)
Referee: Darren Wilding
Att: 417
Chris Elsley
