INJURY UPDATE

 

 

The injury sustained by Josh Green on Tuesday night is not now believed to be as serious as at first thought.

The recovery period is not known at this time but a period of rest will be required and Josh will be out for an unspecified time.

We wish him a full and speedy recovery.

Stafford Rangers 0-5 Farsley Celtic

INTEGRO LEAGUE CUP | TUESDAY 29 JANUARY 2019

Rangers hopes of a first ever Integro Cup success disappeared at the quarter final stage with a heavy defeat at home to Farsley Celtic. The visitors, who are high flying in the league, proved too strong in all departments and put on a clinical display to end Stafford’s three game unbeaten run. Rangers were dealt a blow shortly before kick off when Sam Coulson picked up an injury and then received a further set back when Josh Green was forced out of the game in the 8th minute after picking up an injury in a tackle but there was little else of note in the opening quarter as the two sides more or less cancelled each other out – Farsley just about shading the play.

But it was an error from Dan Burns that led to Farsley’s opener on 24 mins. The Stafford central defender gave away possession 15 yards inside his own half and a grateful Paul Walker snapped up the chance as he advanced to slot past Adam Siviter.

 

Further errors cost Stafford again on 39 minutes. Lewis Turner picked up possession in midfield playing the ball to Walker on the right. He exchanged passes with Dave Syers then picked out Luke Parkin on the overlap and he fired home to double Farsley’s advantage. If it wasn’t game over by then, there was certainly no way back by half time as Farsley scrambled in a third on 44 minutes through Turner after Siviter had twice saved, firstly denying Isaac Baldwin then Nathan Cartman before Turner stabbed home. Syers made it 4-0 on 49 minutes when he fired home via the inside of the post after forcing his way through.

Farsley seemed content to just sit back and soak up anything Rangers could offer, and they did it so effectively that it wasn’t until the 86th minute that Theo Bailey-Jones managed to muster up Stafford’s first shot on target which was greeted by ironic cheers from a handful of the hardy fans who turned up on a cold night. Farsley responded with a fifth goal two minutes after – a somewhat hopeful strike from Adam Clayton wrapping up a comfortable night’s work for the visitors.

Stafford: 1 Adam Siviter, 2 Izak Reid, 3 Josh Green (12 Peter Williams 8m), 4 Dan Burns, 5 Matt Hill, 6 Josh Craddock, 7 Theo Bailey-Jones, 8 Tom Thorley, 9 Ben Mills (15 Jake Charles 56m), 10 Max Dixon (14 Jed Davies 53m), 11 Lewis Banks. Unused Subs 16 Lucas Burnett, 17 Declan Arber

Farlsey: 1 Kyle Trennery, 2 Lewis Turner, 3 Isac Baldwin, 4 Jack Higgins, 5 Danny Ellis (16 Romi Rehman 80m), 6 Danny Clayton, 7 Dave Syers (15 Mark Bett 84m), 8 Chris Atkinson, 9 Paul Walker, 10 Nathan Catman (14 Asa Mitchell 69m), 11 Luke Parkin. Unused subs: 12 Will Hayhurst, 13 Mark Bower (gk)

Cautions: Williams (Rangers) Baldwin (Farsley)

Ref: Richard Eley

Att: 149

Report: Chris Elsley

Lancaster Preview

To steal the famous words of Lord Kitchener, “Your football club needs you”. Saturday’s game sees the dictionary definition of a 6 pointer. 19th plays 18th and a win either way moves that club a little way from the relegation trap door while a defeat could see the loser dropping into the bottom 3. The battle to avoid relegation is getting tougher as some of the clubs (including ourselves) have picked up points recently meaning that only 3 points separate the battling teams up to 14th placed Witton Albion, and in theory any one in the bottom half of the table must be casting a look over their shoulder at the relegation battle. That is why your support is much needed to ensure the run in the league that Andy and Alex have put together continues. Obviously, we must discount our reverse on Tuesday as we bowed out of the Integro Cup.

On their travels in the league Lancaster have picked up 4 wins, at Buxton, Grantham, Hednesford and North Ferriby and gained a recent 1-1 at Warrington with Warrington equalising very late. They have picked up points recently too winning 8 points from a possible 15 in January and are unbeaten since their last defeat on New Year’s Day, so you could argue that they have picked up 8 points from the last 12 on offer. This is a complete reversal of form when you consider they lost their first 4 games of the season and it took to the last game of September to register their first league win. Therefore, this Lancaster team cannot be taken lightly as we look to improve on our 0-0 draw back at Giant Axe last November.

While we need to take that into account, we should not forget that Andy and Alex are trying to build on our own run to safety and apart from the Integro game, they have yet to taste defeat in the league with two draws and a win, the most recent two games seeing then come away from a demolition act on Grantham to beat them 5-0 and a well-earned point with a 1-1 draw at promotion chasing Gainsborough. Following on from those two good away performances we need to start making Marston Road a fortress and with your support we can start this process on Saturday. We need to be aware of three other games on Saturday that could be significant in movement in the lower half. Grantham entertain Workington, Marine play Scarborough and we hope South Shields can go home from Mickleover with a win to keep Mickleover in the bottom 3. I forecast many similar weekends to come as the season draws to a close.

 

Games played on February 2nd this century.

2002      Welling                H            2-1         Southern League

2008      Tamworth           H            2-2         FA Trophy round 3 (lost the replay 1-2)

2013      Ilkeston                A             2-0         Northern Premier League

PLAYER DEPARTS

James Askey has asked for his registration to be cancelled and has left the club.

James joined Rangers at the start of the season and has made 20 appearances.

We thank James for his hard work this season and wish him well for the future.

Farsley Celtic match preview – Phil Bennett

Stafford Rangers don’t do League Cups, so why go to Tuesday’s game. Well, since the managerial change the Rangers are now producing some good football, which has seen a 5-0 away win and a very good draw away to 6th placed Gainsborough.

 

So, do we fear 3rd placed Farsely? We now get the chance to get revenge on our 3-1 home league defeat in October and assess if we have a squad capable of not only having a good cup run but show the battle needed to climb away from the relegation trap door. The fans who have witnessed the 2 away games will certainly tell you that this is a new Rangers side worth watching, so even if a cold night, I am sure you will be warmed by the game.

League Cup football appears to elude Rangers with only two triumphs in recent history. 1968 saw us contest the Cheshire League Cup final with Runcorn. We took a 3-2 first leg to Canal Street when a Roy of the Rovers storyline took place. Missing vital players, a rapid team change took place with central defender George Machin taking the goalies jersey. George performed heroics but was beaten just before half time to bring the aggregate scores level. In the second half Bird equalised to bring the cup home to Stafford. Different heroics took place in 1986 when a Bob Mountain wonder goal at Barnet’s old Underhill ground helped us win the Bob Lord Trophy. So, could we be looking for some more heroics should we progress to the final. I stand to be corrected regarding prize money bur we at least receive £250 for being quarter finalists. Other ties are, Buxton v Marske United, Bamber Bridge v Belper Town and Runcorn Linnets v Trafford, so there is a possibility if we win of getting a division 1 side in the semi final to guarantee £500. The final, usually played on a neutral ground will see the winners receive £2k and the losers £1k. Lets keep our fingers crossed for a money-spinning cup run.

 

Games played on January 29th this century

 

2000       Cinderford          H             3-1          Southern League Division 1 West

2011       Blyth Spartans    A             2-3          Conference North

2013       Hednesford         A             0-3          Staffs Senior Cup