Rangers progressed to the next round of the Walsall Senior Cup with a 3-1 victory over Boldmere St Michaels FC. Goals from Osebi Abadaki, Alex Fletcher and Massiah McDonald secured Boro’s passage into the next round. Full report to follow.
Stafford Rangers 1 Marine 4
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Saturday 2 December 2017
Stafford Rangers slipped to their third consecutive home defeat with a poor display against Marine.
Adam Whitehouse was back in the Rangers line up for the first time since the end of October but he was soon picking the ball out of the net as Marine opened the scoring in the 4th minute.
The goal came from an attack down the Rangers’ left. Kieran Morris’ attempt to cut out Vincent Bailey’s cross forced Whitehouse to make a close range reaction save but Florian da Silva was on hand to pick up the pieces.
Massiah McDonald went close to an equaliser soon after but that just gave false hope to Rangers and da Silva could have added a second on 10 mins but rushed his shot when well placed at the back post.
McDonald forced a save from Marine keeper Martin Fearon but it was the Mariners were able to double their lead on 16 mins when Rangers failed to clear a corner and Billy Smart stabbed home from close range.
Rangers were poor in all areas, making made life easy for Marine for who Danny Mitchley twice missed out.
Louis Briscoe went closest to pulling one back for Rangers, swinging a free kick wide and sending another effort over.
Mitchley missed out again early in the second half with an attempted chip into Whitehouse’s hands but was in the thick of the action as Marine added their third on 57 minutes, the striker getting his head to Vincent Bailey’s corner, although Stafford debutant Michael Calveley was ‘credited’ with the own goal after diverting the ball past Whitehouse.
Stafford’s sorry story continued as Marine remained firmly in control, threatening every time they went forward but Kenny Strickland fired across goal and Whitehouse saved from substitute Liam Tongue.
But, after Josh Craddock headed over for Rangers, Tongue made it 4-0 to Marine on 88 minutes when he eased his way through the defence to slot past Whitehouse.
Richard Gregory forced a save from Fearon before Alex Fletcher’s well taken goal, four minutes into added time, reduced the deficit but it was hardly any consolation for a well beaten Stafford.
Rangers: 1 Adam Whitehouse, 2 Levi Reid, 3 Kieren Westwood, 4 Kieran Morris, 5 Michael Calveley (12 Dan Westwood 57m), 6 Jordaan Brown, 7 Izak Reid (17 Richard Gregory 71m), 8 Louis Briscoe (16 Alex Fletcher 57m), 9 Josh Craddock, 10 Massiah McDonald, 11 Richard Batchelor. Unused Subs14 Jack Sherratt, 15 Kai Davis
Marine: 1 Martin Fearon, 2 Peter Wylie (12 Liam Tongue 46m), 3 James Short, 4 Kenny Strickland, 5 Adam Hughes, 6 Billy Smart, 7 James Murray (17 Dominic Reid 81m), 8 Michael Brewster, 9 Danny Mitchley, 10 Vincent Bailey, 11 Florian da Silva (14 Phil Baker 46m). Unused Subs15 Michael Grogan, 16 George Hassall
Cautions: Morris, Batchelor, McDonald (Rangers) Hughes (Marine)
Referee: George Warren
Att: 415
Report: Chris Elsley
Rangers have signed 18 year old Mike Calveley on a one month loan from Port Vale, The young midfielder signed his first professional contract in the summer of 2017. In September 2017 he was loaned out to Leek Town. He made his first-team debut in a Checkatrade win over Crewe in November 2017.
The signing is subject to the usual league and FA confirmations.
