STAFFS SENIOR CUP QUARTER FINAL

Rangers have been drawn at home in the quarter final of the Staffs Senior Cup against Kidsgrove Athletic.

The fixture date has not yet been arranged.

ROCESTER V STAFFORD RANGERS . MATCH REPORT

Rocester 0 Stafford Rangers 0 (Rangers win 5-4 on penalties)

Staffs Senior Cup 2nd Round

Tuesday 30 January 2018

Despite dominating play for most of the evening, Rangers needed penalties to see off plucky Rocester in this Staffs Senior Cup tie.

Neil Kitching fielded a strong side while giving game time to the likes of Mat Bailey, Levi Reid, Dan Westwood and Joe Thomas.

Josh Craddock had the Boro’s first real effort on goal in the 9th minute but fired wide from just outside the ‘D’.

Then Massiah McDonald went on an attack down the line before cutting the ball back to Dan Westwood. His shot was pushed unconvincingly on to the bar by Charlie Wood but the young Rocester keeper was first to the rebound to make the catch.

Rangers continued to press but were unable to find a way through the resilient home defence. There was a scuffed shot from Craddock who then had another blocked. McDonald also had one blocked and headed another wide.

Rocester sensed an opportunity as the half drew on but Scott Wesson miskicked when well placed after good knock down from Martin Smyth. From that, Rangers broke away but Joshua Ross got himself in the way of Dan Westwood’s powerful drive.

The final effort of the first half fell to sub Osebi Abadaki whose goal bound 25 yarder was pushed away by Wood.

Rangers carried on dominating play after the interval but Dan Westwood was denied by Wood who then kept out two efforts from Craddock – the second of which was an excellent close range block.

Another chance for Craddock was headed over. Wood saved well after McDonald’s shot deflected off Carl Allen and then came off his line quickly to close down Abadaki as the wide man advanced on goal.

Neil Kitching gave Lucas Burnett a 10 minute run out and the youngster nearly won it in added time with a header that had Wood stretching back to hold on to but full time came with the game score-less.

Penalties that followed without extra time and each side netted their first three spot kicks. Then the strong right hand of Adam Whitehouse pushed Eric Graves’ kick over the bar to give Stafford an advantage which they didn’t let slip. Rangers’ successful penalties came from Levi Reid, Joe Thomas, McDonald, Craddock and Abadaki.

But the win came at a cost with both Tyrell Waite and Mat Bailey picking up injuries while McDonald received a caution that will now result in him missing two matches though the forward could consider himself extremely unfortunate to pick up a yellow card for just standing his ground while Wood chose to kick the ball at him.

Rocester: 1 Charlie Wood, 2 Matt King, 3 Oliver Pratt, Eric Graves, 5 Carl Allen, 6 Joshua Ross, 7 James Frost, 8 Scott Wesson, 9 Martyn Smyth, 10 Joe Brockley, 11 Callum Riddell. Unused Subs: 12 Dale Stewart, 14 Dean Bromley, 15 Matt Nut, 16 Richard Froggatt.

Rangers: 1 Adam Whitehouse, 2 Sam Griffiths, 3 Kieren Westwood, 4 Mat Bailey (12 Kieran Morris 86m), 5 Jordaan Brown, 6 Josh Craddock, 7 Massiah McDonald, 8 Levi Reid, 9 Tyrell Waite (14 Osebi Abadaki 19m), 10 Dan Westwood (17 Lucas Burnett 81m), 11 Joe Thomas. Unused Subs 15 Jack Sherratt, 16 Robert Thompson-Brown

Cautions: Wood (Rocester); McDonald (Rangers)

Ref: Ben Stott

Att:   94

 

Report: Chris Elsley

RANGERS PROGRESS IN THE STAFFS SENIOR CUP

Rangers progressed to the 3rd round of the Staffs Senior Cup after beating Rocester last night. A resolute Rocester side held Boro to a nil nil draw before going down 5 4 in a penalty shoot out.

Full report to follow

Assistant Kit Man / Woman Required

We are after an assistant kit man or woman to help our kit man Dan Smith on match days. Free travel and entry to games provided. This is a voluntary position, no experience required.

Please contact the club for anymore information and speak to Carol Bailey or Dan Smith 01785 602430

Staffs Senior Cup At Rocester

Tuesday 30th January we make the short journey to Rocester for the Staffs Senior Cup second round. Lets hope we can get a good away following to cheer the team on. At this stage we do not know what side Neil will put out. Will he keep the same team that has got four points from the last two games without conceding a goal, or will he rotate his squad to give players much needed playing time. Turn up and see for yourself, and who knows, the new youth team signing, Lucas Burnett may even get some involvement. The winners have a home game against Kidsgrove in the next round which will, we hope take us closer to this seasons final. The final of the Staffordshire Senior Cup for this season is being played at the Britannia Stadium, home to Premiership side Stoke City.