Hyde United 5 – 3 Stafford Rangers

Hyde United 5 – 3 Stafford Rangers

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League | Saturday 30 March 2019

Stafford Rangers’ unbeaten run came to an end in an 8-goal thriller at Hyde United. Stafford were without Paul Bignot who was still nursing the foot injury picked up in last week’s draw with Warrington Town, which meant a recall for Sam Coulson who slotted in at right back. But Coulson had a tough time against Hyde youngster Paddy Lane and appeared to be struggling with a calf injury from the midway point, but by that time Rangers were already two goals behind.

But it wasn’t Rangers’ worst performance and they had made the brighter start against a Hyde side struggling for form. Rangers had the first chance of the afternoon on 10 minutes after a poorly taken free kick for Hyde. Ross Daly was dispossessed by Tom Thorley who picked out Joe Cuff wide on the left. Cuff cut in and forced Peter Crook into a parried save. The Hyde keeper repeated the block after Jake Charles was first to the rebound.

It was against the run of play that Hyde opened the scoring in the 12th minute. Grant Roberts sent Paddy Lane away on the left and his shot was turned into his own net by Matt Hill. Ten minutes later, it was 2-0. Daly and Lane combined on the left before the former found Roberts some 20 yards out and he fired in to Sivitier’s top left corner. Rangers were still in the match and play was evenly contested but the Boro failed to create any serious openings.

At the other end, Dean Smalley headed over from 6 yards out following Roberts’ right-wing cross. Coulson was replaced by Stoke City loanee Sim Thandi a couple of minutes before the interval but, within the minute, Hyde had added a third when a cross-shot from Tom Pratt on the right drifted unchallenged inside the far post. Stafford did most of the pressing in the early stages of the second half but long-range shots from Andy Haworth and Tom Thorley sailed high over the stand behind the Hyde goal.

Stafford’s efforts were eventually rewarded when Ben Mills – a half time replacement for Cuff – pulled a goal back on 64 mins. Mills benefitted after Theo Bailey-Jones’ shot from the edge of the area had fallen into his path after striking Charles. Nicky Platt restored Hyde’s three goal advantage when he was left unmarked 20 yards out from where he was able to net his side’s fourth via the underside of the cross bar. Stafford refused to give up and Charles made it 4-2 with a 75th minute penalty after Matty Hughes had handled the initial shot from the Stafford man.

A minute later Thandi made it 4-3 with a terrific shot after a good run down the right but Hyde weathered the late Stafford pressure and Adam O’Reilly added a fifth for the home side when he went through on a counter attack.

Hyde United: 1 Peter Crook, 2 Dominic Smalley, 3 Akeem Sands, 4 Ross Daly, 5 Matty Hughes, 6 Jordan Fagbola, 7 Tom Pratt (12 Adam O’Reilly 79m), 8 Janni Lipka, 9 Deane Smalley (14 Chib Chilaka 70m), 10 Grant Roberts (15 Nicky Platt 66m), 11 Paddy Lane. Unused Subs:16 Darren McKnight, 17 Alex O’Connor

Stafford Rangers: 1 Adam Siviter, 2 Sam Coulson (12 Sim Thandi 43m), 3 Matt Hill, 4 Luke Jones, 5 Dan Burns, 6 Andrai Jones, 7 Theo Bailey-Jones, 8 Tom Thorley, 9 Jake Charles, 10 Andrew Haworth (15 Louis Briscoe 56m), 11 Joe Cuff (16 Ben Mills 46m). Unused Subs: 14 Jack Sherratt, 17 Peter Williams

Cautions: Thandi (Stafford)

Referee: Daniel Issawi

Att: 418

Report by Chris Elsley

Calling all Stafford Rangers fans

Calling all Stafford Rangers fans

Most of you will already have heard about the sad demise of North Ferriby United. On Saturday 6th April we were due to play them at home. This is a big loss for us financially, we not only lose the income from the gate but all the money from our match sponsors and the bar takings. We do not have another home game until 20th April. We need your help, yes we are asking for money we need it. Shaun Reynolds has already started to rally the fans; he’s running a raffle for a season ticket through the Facebook group ‘Up the Boro’. Many thanks for this.

On Saturday 6th April we intend to host a fans game with one team being managed by Alex and one team managed by Andy. It will be half an hour each way. We also intend to hold a penalty shoot out between the fans and players. We ask that fans pay £10 each to play in the game and take part in the penalty shoot out.

Itinerary for Saturday 6th April

10:45 – 12:15      First team players will be training on the pitch

12:15 – 1:00        Penalty competition between players and fans

1:15                       Fans match

 We would like you to come into the social club afterwards where you can enjoy a pint at the special match day price of £2.70. Pies will also be available.

Please take part or just come down to watch and enjoy the fun and have a drink in the bar afterwards.

John Bromley

Hyde United Preview

This Saturday the leagues draw specialists take our 13 drawn games into the tigers Den of Hyde who in their 18 home games have only drawn Two. Parity however sees them win 8 and 8 losses. Looks odds on for yet another draw, but you never know, so let’s get to Hyde and help the Rangers improve on our illustrious run.

Historically, Hyde FC will always be remembered for the record 26-0 FA Cup defeat suffered at the hands of Preston North End in 1887. Hyde are nicknamed the Tigers, a name adopted at the end of the 1960s when they were founder members of the Northern Premier League. In 1986, Hyde took the radical step of selling Ewen Fields to Tameside Council so that a synthetic Baspograss pitch could be laid. This was in the days of very hard synthetic pitches, nothing like todays examples so grass was reinstated in 1995. Hyde won the NPL title in 2004-05 giving them promotion to the National League North. In 2010, Hyde agreed a deal for Manchester City’s elite development squad to use Ewen Fields, the money secured the club’s immediate future but a decision to revert to the old name of Hyde FC, and to stop wearing red shirts, divided the fans. 2011-12 saw Hyde promoted to the top flight of non-league football beating clubs such as Wrexham, Hereford United, Luton Town and Grimsby Town. Unfortunately, Hyde were unable to continue competing at such a high level and suffered back-to-back relegations which have taken them back to the NPL, and eventually into Northern Premier League Division 1. Hyde secured funding from Tameside Council in March of 2016 with the investment used to help fund a programme to transform the ground and its connections with the local community by laying 3G pitch. The 2017/18 season was one of the best seasons the club has experienced in recent years, and with the restructure of the non-league Hyde gained an automatic promotion from 3rd place.

We will be looking to avenge our 3-1 defeat from October. That was our third successive 3-1 home defeat, but our recent transformation could be due to the fact that of that 16-man squad, only 9 remain.

Car travellers need to set sat naves to SK14 5PL with a journey time around 1.5 hours. Train journey times are about 1 hour 40 minutes with a return fare around £25. You change at Manchester Piccadilly and need Newton for Hyde station which is about half a mile from Ewan Fields.

Games played on 30th March this century

2002 Kings Lynn H 3-2 Southern League
2013 Witton Alb A 1-3 Northern Premier League

Due to a number of players making their own way to Hyde there are a few spaces on the team coach which we can offer to supporters.
If you would like to travel on the team coach to this match please contact Ken, Roy or Carol on 01785 602430.

Cost will be £12.00 per head.

New Presidents Elected

New Presidents Elected

It is with great pleasure that Stafford Rangers Football Club have appointed Ken Hunt and Diane Downing to the office of Joint Presidents. Ken has been a supporter of the club since the early 1960’s and has been involved with the football club as Commercial Manager since 1989, both as an employee and more recently as a volunteer. He is currently Chairman of the Non Executive Committee and his knowledge and experience at the club is invaluable.

Ken said “I am extremely honoured to have been appointed as President of this wonderful club and to follow in the footsteps of my very good friend Jon Downing. I will continue to work hard for the club and uphold the values set by Jon”.

Diane Downing is the wife of the late Jon Downing who was a Director and the last President of the Club. Diane is a major shareholder and is still extremely involved with the Football Club and a regular attendee, both at matches and social functions. She has recently been instrumental in her support of the Jon Downing Charity Day in April. Diane commented “ This is a wonderful gesture by the football club. Jon was very passionate about his football and about Stafford Rangers in particular. I am honoured to carry on where Jon left off and am looking forward to continuing a liaison with the club”

Alex and Andy to remain.

Alex and Andy to remain.

Stafford Rangers Football Club are pleased to announce the appointment of Alex Meechan and Andy Fearn as joint Managers for the remainder of this season and for the 2019/2020 season.

Our results since the start of the year when Alex and Andy took control of the first team have shown their ability to progress the team. Their enthusiasm has engendered a good spirit both in the dressing room and on the field and they have convinced the Board of their long term commitment to the football club. 

Chairman, John Bromley said “Alex and Andy have proved themselves over the last few months and the Board have taken this step to ensure continuity and to enable them to move forward with their plans for next season”.