Basford United 1 Stafford Rangers 0

Oct 21, 2020 | Match Report

Northern Premier League
Tuesday 20 October 2020

It was a familiar story for Stafford Rangers as they slipped to their fifth league defeat in six outings – a record that sees them stuck at the bottom of the table. The inability to score goals once again proved Rangers’ undoing in a game where they dominated play for 75 minutes.

In contrast to the poor showing against FC United three days earlier, Rangers looked positive from the off with a good passing game that saw them create a number of chances but they failed to make possession count and pretty football will get you nowhere without an end product. Joe Cuff was the first to try his luck with a 25 yarder, but it was straight at home keeper Jordan Pierrepont.

A couple of minutes later, Cuff sent a ball flying across the face of the Basford goal with no Stafford player on hand to add the finish. After Liam Langford had headed over from a corner, Joe Kenton tested the keeper following his run from midfield and though Pierrepont spilled the shot, he was able to recover before Mo Sebbeh-Njie could get in.

The best chance of the half fell to Jamie Sleigh at the back post, but he was at full stretch and unable to convert Kenton’s cross. Twice the home keeper had to come out of his area as Rangers threatened to open the scoring – firstly just beating Cuff to a ball over the top then clattering into Sleigh, leaving the Stafford man requiring treatment.

Basford looked sharper at the start of the second half without really posing a threat to the Stafford goal – a glanced header from Niall Towell going across goal then a shot high over from Kyle Dixon being the nearest they came. Rangers should have gone ahead on the hour when Mo Sebbeh-Njie put Cuff through after dispossessing Callum Chettle, but Cuff declined to shoot, instead trying a return pass and the chance was lost.

Sebbeh-Njie produced Rangers’ best effort of the game after Cieron Keane’s centre was only half cleared but Pierrepont managed to tip the ball onto the post. Chettle and sub Alex Howes both wasted good chances for Basford before captain Stef Galinski powered home a 71st minute header from Ryan Wilson’s corner. Rangers threw on Fis Adarabioyo and debutant Aaron Cole in an attempt to get back level, but the Basford defence denied them a look in as the winless streak was extended to six games.

Basford United: 1 Jordan Pierrepont, 2 Dom Roma, 3 Ryan Wilson, 4 Declan Dunn, 5 Stef Galinski, 6 Lewis Carr, 7 Kyle Dixon (15 Brad Gascoigne 83m), 8 Callum Chettle, 9 Niall Towell (18 Alex Howes 65m), 10 Kane Richards, 11 Rev James (16 Wayde Hines 90m). Unused Subs 12 Matt Thornhill, 14 James Clifton

Stafford Rangers: 1 Lewis King, 2 Michael Williams, 3 Cieron Keane, 4 Sam Coulson, 5 Liam Langford, 6 John Welsh (16 Aaron Cole 79m), 7 Mo Sebbeh-Njie, 8 Alex-Ray Harvey, 9 Jamie Sleigh (14 Fis Adarabioyo 74m), 10 Joe Cuff, 11 Joe Kenton. Unused Subs 12 Reece Jones, 15 Callum Coyle, 17 Ben Forrest

Ref: Ruebyn Ricardo

Cautions: None

Goals: Galinski 71m

Attendance: 257

Report by Chris Elsley

FC United of Manchester 2 Stafford Rangers 1

Oct 18, 2020 | Match Report

Northern Premier League

Saturday 17 October 2020

Stafford Rangers are still looking for their first league win of the season after going down in a largely disappointing display away to FC United on Saturday. Rangers were unable to follow up on the performance that saw them beat Hereford in the FA Cup four days earlier and for much of the game they were on the defensive as the home side did most of the pressing.

A slip inside the first minute for Michael Williams set the tone for the afternoon. The defender picking up a caution for a foul on Regan Linney after the FC wide man looked set to take advantage. The free kick went harmlessly through to Lewis King but United were on the hunt for an early breakthrough, but Dan Cockerline was unable to get any direction on his header while Aaron Morris fired wide from 20 yards.

Williams made an excellent tackle to halt a threatening run from Linney but, seconds later, Fin Sinclair-Smith broke clear only for King to come out quickly and make the block. Paul Ennis struck a free kick into the Stafford wall and saw the deflected follow up bounce up and just over.

After a quick team talk while Williams was receiving treatment for injury, Rangers created their first real opening with Mo Sebbeh-Njie’s shot going out for a corner off Michael Potts. And it was the Boro who took the lead on 27 minutes when Joe Kenton found space on the right and delivered a low centre which Sebbeh-Njie converted at the near post.

But the visitors failed to build on the lead and Williams was forced into a vital tackle to halt Linney before King pulled off a stunning save to deny Michael Donohue when his header looked a goal all the way. King punched away another header – a looping effort from Curtis Jones – before keeping out a 35th minute penalty from Ennis, controversially awarded against John Welsh for a trip on the latter.

But luck finally turned against Rangers and the home side levelled on 40 minutes when Fin Sinclair-Smith’s cross deflected up and the 6’ 4” Dan Cockerline got in before King to send a back header in to the net. The home side then produced a couple of chances to give themselves an interval lead, but it was all square at the turn around.

FC United still held the upper hand in the second half as Williams blocked Linney and Cockerline poked over from 6 yards as he stretched to meet Adam Dodd’s centre. Cockerline was in again from Aaron Morris’s ball through the defence but this time it was Joe Kenton who made the vital intervention before Michael Fowler hit the side netting.

The warning signs were clear, but Rangers didn’t see them, and Fowler was left unchallenged on 71 minutes to head FC United in front from Dodd’s left-wing cross. The home side were content with their lead while Rangers never threatened to get back on level terms and there were few chances to add to the score in the final 20 minutes.

FC United: 1 Dan Lavercombe, 2 Aaron Morris, 3 Adam Dodd, 4 Michael Donohue, 5 Chris Doyle, 6 Curtis Jones, 7 Fin Sinclair Smith (12 Morgan Homson-Smith 81m), 8 Michael Potts, 9 Dan Cockerline, 10 Paul Ennis (14 Michael Fowler 59m), 11 Regan Linney (15 Morgan Penfold 81m). Unused Subs: 16 Joseph White, 17 Kain Dean

Stafford Rangers: 1 Lewis King, 2 Michael Williams, 3 Cieron Keane, 4 John Welsh, 5 Sam Coulson, 6 Mo Sebbah-Njie, 7 Joe Kenton, 8 Alex-Ray Harvey, 9 Jamie Sleigh (14 Fis Adarabioyo 66m), 10 Callum Coyle (12 Reece Jones 59m), 11 Joe Cuff. Unused Subs 15 Ben Forrest, 16 Matt Hill – only four subs named

Ref: Jamie O’Connor

Cautions: Donohue, Potts, Linney, Fowler (FC United); King, Williams, Keane (Rangers)

Goals: FC United: Cockerline 40, Fowler 71; Rangers: Sebbeh-Njie 27

Attendance: 600

Report by Chris Elsley