Evo-Stik Northern Premier League | Saturday 23 March 2019

Stafford Rangers earned themselves another crucial point in their battle to climb away from the relegation and, for the second year running, put a dent in Warrington’s title chances. Joe Cuff returned to the starting line up in place of Jack Sherratt who was still suffering from an injury picked up at Witton Albion in midweek. It was an entertaining affair with both sides playing positive football from the start although it took some time before either goal came under threat.

The first attempt came from the visitors after Jack Dunn spotted a run from Tony Gray on the left. He crossed for Dylan Vassallo, but his volley went into the ground and bobbled wide. Stafford responded and shortly after Joe Cuff worked an opening after cutting in from the left but skewed his shot high and wide.

Warrington’s Josh Amis proved a constant threat throughout and saw his first shot of the game take a deflection off a Stafford defender on its way wide of the far post. Seconds after falling theatrically in the area in a vain attempt to win a penalty, Amis went close again with a rising shot after a smart turn, but Adam Siviter tipped over. After Matt Hill had been just off target for Stafford with a 35-yard free kick, Amis rolled another effort across the face of the Stafford goal – the angle proving too tight.

Siviter kept out a Dunn free kick and a header from Wires’ skipper Mark Roberts, but it was Stafford who went in at the break with the advantage when Andrai Jones scored from close range in the 45th minute from Andy Haworth’s corner. Tony McMillan saved well from Dan Burns’ initial effort, but the Luke Jones rolled the rebound to his namesake who finished off. Stafford had several chances to add to their lead in the second half but were unable to take any of them. A slip from Roberts let in Haworth but McMillan saved well from Jake Charles. The Stafford man then hooked wide after good work from Haworth on the left.

Another defensive error from the visitors – this time from Mitch Duggan – gave Joe Cuff a run on goal but again McMillan saved. And Rangers were made to pay when Warrington levelled on 61 minutes. They looked to have wasted an opportunity when Tom Thorley cut out a poor free kick but, in turn, also gave away possession. Amis found Gray on the right who crossed to the back post giving Dunn a chance he could not miss.

Following the equaliser, Warrington had their best period of the game and sub Jack Mackreth missed a great chance to put them in front when he shot wide with just Siviter to beat after a good ball over the defence from Gray, then Robbie Evans produced an air shot on the edge of the area. But Stafford kept pushing forward themselves. McMillan tipped over a Theo Bailey-Jones header then gathered an overhead kick from Charles who was then halted by a well-timed tackle from Mark Roberts after linking well with Cuff. Warrington’s Russell Benjamin almost had the final say but Siviter was equal to his long-range effort.

Stafford Rangers: 1 Adam Siviter, 2 Paul Bignot (12 Sam Coulson 81m), 3 Matt Hill, 4 Luke Jones, 5 Dan Burns, 6 Andrai Jones, 7 Theo Bailey-Jones (17 Peter Williams 88m), 8 Tom Thorley, 9 Jake Charles, 10 Andrew Haworth (15 Louis Briscoe 70m), 11 Joe Cuff. Unused Subs: 14 Jed Davies, 16 Ben Mills,

Warrington Town: 1 Tony McMillan, 2 Mitch Duggan (14 Bohan Dixon 80m), 3 Alex Whittle, 4 Russell Benjamin, 5 Mark Roberts, 6 David Raven, 7 Dylan Vassallo (16 Jack Mackreth 68m), 8 Robbie Evans, 9 Tony Gray (12 Marcus Cusani 87m), 10 Josh Amis, 11 Jack Dunn. Unused Subs: 15 Adam Hughes, 17 Connor McCarthy

Cautions: Thorley (Stafford), Evans (Warrington)

Referee: Scott Tallis

Att: 759

Report by Chris Elsley

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League | Tuesday 19 March 2019

Stafford Rangers are becoming hard to beat and so it proved again at Witton Albion on Tuesday night although it needed a last gasp goal from Paul Bignot to extend their unbeaten run to six games. It wasn’t one of Rangers’ best performances. They were wasteful in possession and too often delivered balls into the area that were meat and drink to Witton’s tall central defensive pairing. The Stafford side showed one change from the starting XI that defeated Warrington on their last league outing 10 days earlier with Andrai Jones coming in for Joe Cuff. Witton, meanwhile, went in to the games as the league’s leading form side having won five of their last six matches.

Injury hit Witton could only name two substitutes and their situation became worse shortly before kick off when Danny McKenna picked up an injury. A quick reshuffle left them with just one in reserve. The home side were first to show with both Billy Smart and James Foley having shots blocked inside the opening three minutes. Rangers soon got into the game and enjoyed decent ten-minute spell, but their attacks were unproductive. Former Rangers man Osebi Abadaki forced Adam Siviter into the first save of the evening on 13 mins and Luke Jones felt the full force of Will Jones’ follow up. A couple of minutes later, Siviter was in action again after Rob Hopley and Tom Owens linked well, the Rangers’ keeper saving well from the Owens.

A Stafford counter attack produced their first shot on goal, but Andy Haworth ended a good move with a shot wide of the near post. Siviter denied Abadaki again with a save at his near post but it was Stafford who were now asking more of the questions. Their best opening came when Tom Thorley put Haworth in, but his first touch gave Matty Devine the opportunity to hack clear. Dan Burns and Matt Hill both went wide for Stafford while Luke Jones had his shot saved by Greg Hall.

Witton were increasingly frustrated at the lack of decisions in their favour but it was from a free kick that they got the breakthrough a couple of minutes before half time. The ball into the area was cleared out to Cesaire Lingouba whose returned it back to the danger zone. Will Jones flicked it out to Josh Wardle who squared for Ben Harrison to slot home. Hopley came close to adding a second a minute later after Hill had lost the ball to Abadaki on the left but Luke Jones cleared the lines. Rangers needed to inject some life into their game and made a double substitution ten minutes into the second half with Cuff and Ben Mills replacing Andrai Jones and Haworth.

Cuff was soon involved as his low centre resulted in Tom Thorley getting in a low drive, but Hall saved low to his left and Cuff himself had a low drive deflected wide. Stafford’s Peter Williams came on for Jack Sherratt who had received a kick in the first half while Witton were forced to use their one substitute on when Devine went off with a dislocated shoulder. Williams had a shot blocked and penalty appeals for hand ball were turned down. Further penalty appeals were rejected after Luke Jones’ shot struck Wardle. Stafford increased the intensity as time pressed on, but Thorley wasted a good chance by sending his free kick high over the stand while Hill was denied by Hall.

Witton sub Owen Wynne had a chance to double his side’s lead when he beat the offside trap, but he was forced to shoot from near the right touchline and Luke Jones was able to get back to clear. Witton then had two of their own penalty appeals turned down. Cuff missed another golden chance for Stafford, but they finally got their goal three minutes into added time when Bignot fired through the crowd from around 15 yards.

Witton: 1 Greg Hall, 2 Cesaire Lingouba, 3 Matty Devine, 4 Josh Wardle, 5 Ben Harrison, 6 Billy Smart, 7 Osebi Abadaki, 8 Tom Owens, 9 Rob Hopley, 10 Will Jones, 11 James Foley. 12 Owen Wynne

Rangers: 1 Adam Siviter, 2 Paul Bignot, 3 Matt Hill, 4 Luke Jones, 5 Dan Burns, 6 Jack Sherratt, 7 Theo Bailey-Jones, 8 Tom Thorley, 9 Jake Charles, 10 Andrai Jones, 11 Andy Haworth. Unused Subs 12 Joe Cuff, 15 Sim Thandi, 15 Louis Briscoe, 16 Ben Mills, 17 Peter Williams

Cautions: Smart (Witton)

Referee: Nik Storey

Att: 307

Report by Chris Elsley