Rushall Olympic 1 – 2 Stafford Rangers

Feb 21, 2018 | Club News

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League

Tuesday 20 February 2018

Stafford Rangers finally laid one of their bogey teams to rest on Tuesday night by beating Rushall Olympic in a league game. It was the 10th time that the two sides had met in league action and though Rangers had a good record against the Pics in cup ties, they had lost seven of the previous nine encounters in the Northern Premier League. Rangers had Robert Thompson-Brown back after suspension and also recalled Levi Reid to the starting line up with Jack Sherratt and Joe Thomas dropping to the bench.

The game got off to a scrappy start with players losing their footing frequently. After a couple of half chances at either end it was Boro captain Josh Craddock who had the first meaningful effort on goal when he fired over from around 15 yards after a scuffed shot from Levi Reid. Andre Landell did well to get in a shot on the turn following a Josh Webb free kick but Adam Whitehouse was able to claim the ball just inside his near post.

Stafford’s Thompson-Brown and Rushall’s Joshua Sermento both had shots deflected for corners while Jordaan Brown had to act to prevent Daniel Dubidat closing in on goal but neither keeper was being really tested. Then, Kyle Perry played Izak Reid in behind the defence but Rushall keeper Joe Slinn – on loan from Port Vale – came off his line quickly to block.

In the final minute, Rushall had a golden opportunity to open the scoring when Josh Hawker’s free kick picked out Simeon Maye but his outstretched foot could only steer the ball through to Whitehouse. It was an expensive miss as Rangers countered immediately on the right and when the ball fell kindly to Izak Reid, he made no mistake in firing past Slinn from around 12 yards.

The lead was nearly thrown away early in the second half when a poor back pass from Josh Craddock nearly put Dubidat in but Whitehouse was alert to the danger and raced off his line to clear. Seconds later, Dubidat headed over. At the other end, Slinn made a good block to deny Massiah McDonald who had been played in by Thompson-Brown.

Sherratt – on for the injured Craddock – was causing Rushall problems in midfield and forced an error from Hawker but McDonald was unable to take advantage. Midway through the second half, Rushall got back on level terms. A soft free kick conceded on the Rangers left saw Hawker’s in swinging kick met by the glancing header of Maye, beating Whitehouse to his left.

But Rangers were soon back in front. On 71 mins, Sherratt won possession just inside the Rushall half, McDonald flicked on and Perry drove home from the just inside the area for his first goal since rejoining the club. Izak Reid almost added a third a couple of minutes later but Slinn turned it around the post for a corner. Rangers looked largely in control although Maye wasted a great chance to level when he got behind Kieren Westwood only to pop a tame shot into the arms of Whitehouse.

Rushall: 1 Joe Slinn, 2 Joshua Webb, 3 Brian Smikle, 4 Simeon Maye, 5 Joe Hull, 6 Sam Whittall, 7 Joshua Sermento (14 Gurjit Singh 58m), 8 Joshua Hawker, 9 Daniel Dubidat (17 Lewis Archer 65m), 10 Andre Landell (15 Jordan Sangha 65m), 11 Daniel Waldron. Unused Subs 12 AJ Adelekan, 16 Mathis Fonovich

Rangers: 1 Adam Whitehouse, 2 Dan Vann, 3 Kieren Westwood, 4 Kieran Morris, 5 Jordaan Brown, 6 Josh Craddock (12 Jack Sherratt 56m), 7 Izak Reid, 8 Levi Reid, 9 Kyle Perry, 10 Robert Thompson-Brown, 11 Massiah McDonald (17 Sam Griffiths 90+3m). Unused Subs 14 Joe Thomas, 15 Dan Westwood, 16 Richard Platt

Cautions: Hawker (Rushall)

Ref: Darren Wilding

Att 266

Report: Chris Elsley

Farsley Celtic 1 – 0 SRFC

Feb 18, 2018 | Club News

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Saturday 17 February 2018

A goal early in the second half sent Rangers to defeat at promotion hopefuls Farsley Celtic. The home side had the better of the opening half although Rangers were not without chances of their own, but they were too few and lacking potency.

Farsley were first to show when Nathan Cartman hit the post from 20 yards after spotting Adam Whitehouse off his line then Nathan Turner saw his header land on top of the Stafford net.

Luke Parkin was next to try his luck with a shot that flew across the face of the Stafford goal. Rangers’ first sighter was a tame header from Jordaan Brown that as comfortably saved by Graeme McKibbin then Kyle Perry found himself clear but McKibbin kept him out.

It was to be Rangers’ best chance of the game and it was the home side who looked the most threatening as Adam Clayton and Danny Ellis both missed out when well placed. The former looked set to score from Parkin’s centre while Ellis fired over from 10 yards.

At the other end, Joe Thomas curled one wide after an error from William Wells then Izak Reid sent his header high and wide from a Jack Sherratt corner. Shortly before half time, Whitehouse twice came to Stafford’s rescue firstly keeping out Ryan Watson’s volley then saving well from Cartman as the sides went in on level terms.

It was Watson who grabbed what proved to be the winner striking home a free kick from the edge of the D, seven minutes into the second half, the ball taking a wicked deflection off the Stafford wall, leaving Whitehouse rooted to the spot.

Parkin fired wide for Farsley soon after but a disappointing half was largely devoid of chances at either end. Farsley did create a couple in the closing stages as Ben Atkinson fired wide and Whitehouse denied Cartman but Watson’s earlier free kick had done the damage. Rangers have now made three visits to Farsley and are still to score.

Players from both sides clashed after the full time whistle with Farsley’s match winner Watson and Boro’s Levi Reid receiving cautions for their involvement.

Farsley: 1 Graeme McKibbin, 2 William Wells, 3 Lewis Turner, 4 Chris Atkinson, 5 Danny Ellis, 6 Adam Clayton, 7 Ryan Watson, 8 Nathan Turner, 9 Paul Walker (12 Cameron Murray 88m), 10 Nathan Cartman, 11 Luke Parkin (14 Ben Atkinson. Unused subs: 15 Kurt Harris, 16 Mark Bett

Rangers: 1 Adam Whitehouse, 2 Dan Vann, 3 Kieren Westwood (14 Dan Westwood75m), 4 Kieran Morris, 5 Jordaan Brown, 6 Josh Craddock, 7 Izak Reid, 8 Jack Sherratt (12 Levi Reid 79m), 9 Kyle Perry, 10 Massiah McDonald, 11 Joe Thomas. Unused subs: 15 Sam Griffiths, 16 Richard Platt, 17 Brad Caswell

Cautions: Wells, Watson (Farsley), Morris, I Reid, McDonald, Thomas, L Reid (Boro)

Ref: Lindsey Robinson

Att: 246

Report: Chris Elsley

New Loan Signing

Feb 9, 2018 | Club News

Stafford Rangers have secured the loan signing of Daniel Vann from Walsall. As a central defender he may make his debut against Whitby replacing suspended Kieran Morris. Daniel joined Walsall in 2014 and has progressed through the youth system to signing a professional contract and has squad number 34.

Stalybridge Celtic 2 – 0 Stafford Rangers

Feb 7, 2018 | Club News

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League

Tuesday 6 February 2018

A mad 5 minutes cost Stafford Rangers as they slipped to defeat against fellow strugglers Stalybridge Celtic. Apart from the home side scoring twice in the second half spell, there wasn’t too much to separate the two sides. With Karl Hawley having joined Sutton Coldfield Town and Massiah McDonald suspended, Rangers had Kyle Perry in attack following his return to the club from Stourbridge with Dan Westwood his partner.

Rangers just about edged the first half but the two defences ruled the show, closing down the opposition as soon as there was a hint of an opening. In such a game, chances need to be taken but Dan Westwood missed the one that came his way in the 9th minute, steering the ball wide from Perry’s header on.

Earlier, Jack Sherratt had fired a 25 yarder on target but it was a comfortable save for Jack Walton underneath the crossbar. The home side responded through Liam Dickinson but Jordaan Brown was there to cut out the shot. Stalybridge’s best effort came from Alex Honeyball who jinked his way past three Boro defenders only to be denied by Adam Whitehouse who saved well to his left.

Shortly before the break, Dan Westwood touched Robert Thompson-Brown’s ball into the path of Sherratt but Tom Brown made an excellent tackle to ensure the stalemate remained at half time. After a fairly even first half, it was the home side who were most threatening who were most threatening at the start of the second and they got their breakthrough on 58 mins when Connor Hughes got a favourable bounce after his initial shot was blocked and he fired past Whitehouse.

Rangers made a double substitution with Izak Reid and Joe Thomas replacing Osebi Abadaki and Dan Westwood but it was Stalybridge who struck again on 63 mins when Oli Roberts squared for the unmarked Hughes to tap in his second of the night. Rangers had the better of the final 20 mins but found it hard to break down the home defence. Thompson-Brown fired wide and Sherratt went over while Thomas struck a shot straight at Walton but they were all long range efforts. Stalybridge could have added a third after Chris Gallagher combined with Dickinson but he shot wide when he should have done better.

Stalybridge: 1 Jack Walton, 2 Oliver Crowley, 3 Alex Honeyball, 4 Tom Brown, 5 Luke Ashworth, 6 Danny Morton, 7 Theo Bailey-Jones (17 Josh Ramsden 89m), 8 Oli Roberts (12 Chris Gallagher 73m), 9 Liam Dickinson, 10 Matty Wolfenden (14 Greg Wilkinson 69m), 11 Connor Hughes. Unused subs: 15 Jake Charles, 16 Jack Taylor

Rangers: 1 Adam Whitehouse, 2 Sam Griffiths, 3 Kieren Westwood, 4 Kieran Morris, 5 Jordaan Brown, 6 Josh Craddock (12 Levi Reid 64m), 7 Osebi Abadaki (15 Joe Thomas 61m), 8 Jack Sherratt, 9 Kyle Perry, 10 Dan Westwood (14 Izak Reid 61m), 11 Robert Thompson-Brown. Unused subs: 16 Lucas Burnett, 17 Taylor Allen

Cautions: Dickinson, Gallagher (Stalybridge), D Westwood (Rangers)

Ref: Andrew Smith

Att: 173

Chris Elsley