Steve Burr has moved to bolster the squad with two new additions. 18 year goalkeeper Adam Siviter joins on an initial one month loan from Birmingham City , while attacker Pete Williams signs in from Kidsgrove Athletic. We welcome both to the club and both are registered in time for Boxing Day.
Looking over Boxing Day games this century the fixture planners appear to give us more festive home ties. This means we do not have to venture too far having indulged on Turkey and chocolates.
So, what is in store this Boxing Day. Nantwich venture down the A51 arriving as the League Leaders with an impressive record of 6 wins, 3 draws and 2 defeats on the road. Impressive victories include Hyde, Scarborough, while their only defeats came in the same week at Witton and South Shields.
They will therefore arrive in a good frame of mind looking to increase their lead at the top. We, however, will be looking for a good home win to build on our last home game with Hednesford, and to hopefully see our fortunes chance as we enter the new year. You often find that holiday fixtures can throw up strange results, so let us see if we can get one over the side in first place.
Both goalkeepers in the game will be loanees as Nantwich have extended the loan deal of Crewe Alexandra goalkeeper Will Jaaskelainen for a further month. They also include in their squad, Callum Saunders, the son of Dean Saunders who was unable to shine for us in pre-season.
Being a holiday fixture, we are hopeful of a big attendance, building on the 600+ for the Hednesford game. The gate will be swelled by a strong contingent from Nantwich, so we need our fans out in force to again use the new Shed End as the 12th man. Obviously due to travel issues on Boxing Day the fixture planners try to give out local derby games, but this was not the case in the mid-seventies. Apart from the other local holiday games we were paired with Wigan for our Boxing Day and New Years day fixtures. One year the away game at Wigan on Boxing Day and the home game on New Years Day saw both games attract over 6000 fans. Oh, for a repeat of that.
As we almost always play a game on Boxing Day, my feature of games played on this date this century is rather larger than normal.
Games played on 26th December this century
2000 Burton Albion A 0-0 Southern League
2001 Postponed
2002 Halesowen H 4-2 Southern League
2003 Hednesford H 1-1 Southern League
2004 Altrincham H 0-1 Conference North
2005 Worcester H 1-1 Conference North
2006 Kidderminster H 1-2 Conference
2007 Burton Albion H 0-3 Conference
2008 Telford H 1-3 Conference North
2009 Telford A 1-2 Conference North
2010 No game
2011 Nantwich A 0-2 Northern Premier League
2012 Hednesford H 0-1 Northern Premier League
2013 Nantwich A 1-4 Northern Premier League
2014 Chasetown A 2-0 Northern Prem Div 1 South
2015 Chasetown H 2-1 Northern Prem Div 1 South
2016 Hednesford H 2-1 Northern Premier League
2017 Stourbridge H 1-0 Northern Premier League
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Saturday 22 December 2018
Stafford Rangers twice led but, in the end, came home from Matlock empty handed as the Derbyshire side continued their own fine run of form. Matlock just about shaded the opening exchanges, but it was Rangers who struck first on 15 mins when Joe Cuff got goal side of his man from a Josh Green throw in and clipped the ball over Ross Durrant who had come off his line and was let stranded in no man’s land.
But the lead was short lived and, just two minutes later, Craig Westcarr’s challenge resulted in George Sykes-Kenworthy dropping a high centre from Craig King on his goal-line. Luke Jones’ attempts to clear proved fruitless and the Matlock man came away claiming the goal. Any other day Westcarr would have been penalised for a foul on the Rangers keeper.
Cuff could have restored Rangers’ lead when he charged down a clearance from Adam Yates but Durrant saved with his feet then the home keeper had to take a looping header from Dan Burns just underneath his cross bar. Rangers were then denied a penalty when Cuff went to ground, but their efforts were rewarded on 36 mins with a smart move down the left. Josh Green’s ball down the line was squared first time by Cuff to Jake Chares and the unmarked forward did the rest.
Matlock were more purposeful after the break. Brad Beatson’s flick header landed on the roof of the Stafford net while Green made an important tackle to prevent Marcus Marshall getting in a shot on goal. Rangers had a number of chances of their own. Andy Haworth chose to go alone on a couple of times when there appeared better options available while a half chance for Theo Bailey-Jones swung just wide of the target.
The key moment came on 68 mins when Haworth was given another chance on goal. Durrant blocked but no Rangers player was sharp enough to react to the loose ball. Matlock cleared broke away and within seconds were back level – a fine volley from Westcarr after Luke Hinsley had knocked down Taron Hare’s centre.
Six minutes later Matlock were in front. Dwayne Wiley flicked on a corner from King and Yates stole in at the back post to score.
Late Stafford pressure saw both Cuff and Tom Thorley go close but Durrant kept out the former while Thorley’s free kick flew just over on another frustrating afternoon for the Boro.
Matlock Town: 1 Ross Durrant, 2 Taron Hare, 3 Brad Beatson, 4 Michael Hollingsworth, 5 Dwyane Wiley, 6 Adam Yates, 7 Jordan Chapell (14 Luke Hinsley 55m), 8 Cleveland Taylor, 9 Craig Westcarr (16 Tom Davie 78m), 10 Marcus Marshall (12 Lee Beevers 88m), 11 Craig King. Unused Subs: 15 Ashton Hall, 17 Jordan Pierrepont.
Stafford: 1 George Sykes-Kenworthy, 2 Sam Coulson, 3 Josh Green, 4 Luke Jones, 5 Jack Sherratt, 6 Dan Burns, 7 Theo Bailey-Jones (16 Lucas Burnett 88m), 8 Tom Thorley, 9 Jake Charles, 10 Andy Haworth (14 Lewis Banks 80m), 11 Joe Cuff. Unused Subs: 12 Declan Arber, 15 James Askey, 17 Max Dixon
Cautions: Burns, Cuff (Rangers)
Referee: Jamie O’Connor
Att: 493
Report by Chris Elsley
Saturday’s 50/50 draw from our home derby remains unclaimed, winning ticket number 7848 has won £163.00.
If you have the winning ticket please contact the club on 01785 602430 or pop into the match-day reception office between 9.30am and 3pm.
It’s Derbyshire for our next two away fixtures, but before we go to Mickleover on New Years Day we head off to Matlock this Saturday.
Considering a poor start to the season Matlock have a very impressive home record, but that is in the main to the appointment of manager Dave Fecklington in October, who has turned around the fortunes of the club. They have 6 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats in their home league games to date, which include a 7-0 thrashing of Grantham.
The last Saturday before Christmas is known to bring about low attendances as Christmas shopping takes a stronghold, so we can be grateful that this day sees us playing away. However, if we are to build on our good win over Hednesford, we could have hoped for a better run of fixtures we will encounter. Remember leaders Nantwich visit us on Boxing Day. I am sure Steve will get the team up for the game and see if we can emulate South Shields and Whitby as the only sides to go away from Causeway Lane with 3 points.
Since our return to the NPL a couple of years ago we have not fared well at Matlock, losing 3-0 and 2-0. However, in the early days of the NPL this was a regular fixture, with Matlock having the brothers Fenoughty, with Nick Fenoughty later playing for Rangers. Who remembers the FA Trophy run of 1978/79, which culminated with our 2-0 win over Kettering at Wembley. In round 1 we drew 1-1 at home to Matlock with Matlock securing a late equaliser and replay at Causeway Lane was repeatedly postponed due to frozen pitch. When eventually played (Rangers won 2-1) the perimeter of the pitch was a three-foot-high bank of snow that had been cleared off the pitch.
For those traveling by car on Saturday please note that there is very limited car parking at Matlock and you cannot park on the street (Causeway Lane) outside of the ground. The best place to park is the car park near to the railway station which is a few minutes’ walk away. If you travel by train, then you need to leave Stafford at 11:03 changing at Stoke and Derby to arrive at Matlock at 13:26. Return from Matlock at 17:37 with changes at Derby and Tamworth to arrive home at 19:36. Return fare is £24.40 for an adult and advance booking and railcards may get that reduced.
Games played on 22nd December this century.
2007 York City H 0-2 Setanta Shield round 4 (Conference League Cup)
The only other game that comes close is 22/12/01 when our Southern League home game with Newport County was postponed. We won 2-1 when eventually played on 19/02/02
Matlock Website HERE
