Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Tuesday 10 April 2018
A goal after just 6 minutes sent Stafford Rangers to defeat at promotion hopefuls Ashton United on Tuesday night.
Rangers made three changes from the side that drew with Halesowen Town. Missing was Jordaan Brown (unwell). Dan Vann moved inside to partner Kieran Morris in the centre of defence with Sam Griffiths returning to right back. The other change saw Tyrell Waite in for Kyle Perry. The Boro had a couple of good openings early on but Jack Sherratt hit an air shot while Ashton keeper David Carnell did just enough to force Waite to run the ball out of play after the forward had pounced on an error in the Ashton defence.
But Ashton struck with their first attack of the game. Robert Thompson-Brown lost possession inside the Ashton half and the pacey Daniel Mooney made a diagonal crossfield run before getting in a centre for the unmarked Deane Smalley to head home. Rangers looked for a quick response. Osebi Abadaki hit the side netting and Carnell kept out Waite with his right foot but, after some sloppy defending, Nicky Platt almost doubled Ashton’s lead with a 25 yarder that came back off Adam Whitehouse’s right hand post.
Whitehouse made an excellent save to deny Deane Smalley then Jack Sherratt blocked from Dominic Smalley as Ashton failed to take a great chance. Whitehouse denied the home side again when Nic Evangelinos got clear and Lewis Baines fired across the face of goal as Ashton finished the half strongly although Josh Craddock warmed Carnell’s hands with a powerful shot from the edge of the area.
Rangers started the second half the brighter of the two sides with two chances falling to Abadaki but neither was taken; the first shot swinging so wide it went for a throw in while Carnell was off his line quickly to block the second. But the threat diminished and Rangers were on the defensive for large parts of the second half though it wasn’t until the final 20 mins that they looked like adding to the score.
The best chances fell to Liam Tomsett.
First, a header from Mark Lees put the Ashton sub in but he stabbed his shot straight into Whitehouse. Two minutes later, Tomsett fired wide after a ball over the top from Aaron Chalmers. The best chance came four minutes from time when Mooney squared across Whitehouse. Tomsett slid in at the back post but somehow managed to hit the bar from two yards out when it seemed easier to score.
Rangers’ last chance of salvaging a point fell to Perry in added time but the sub – on for Abadaki – was denied as Carnell came out to block.
Ashton: 1 David Carnell, 2 Dominic Smalley, 3 Lewis Baines, 4 Josh Granite, 5 Aaron Chalmers, 6 Sam Sheridan, 7 Nicky Platt (14 Liam Tomsett 63m), 8 Mark Lees, 9 Deane Smalley, 10 Daniel Mooney, 11 Nic Evangelinos. Unused subs: 12 Simon Woodford, 15 John Roberts, 17 Josh Ollerenshaw – only four subs named
Rangers: 1 Adam Whitehouse, 2 Sam Griffiths, 3 Kieren Westwood, 4 Kieran Morris, 5 Dan Vann, 6 Josh Craddock, 7 Massiah McDonald, 8 Jack Sherratt, 9 Tyrell Waite, 10 Robert Thompson-Brown, 11 Osebi Abadaki (12 Kyle Perry 71m). Unused subs: 14 Levi Reid, 15 Kai Davis, 16 Ben Chilcott – only four subs named
Cautions: Baines (Ashton)
Ref: Ian Johnston
Att: 138
