Stafford Rangers 0 Gainsborough Trinity 0

Oct 17, 2021 | Match Report

The Pitching In Northern Premier League

Saturday 16 October 2021

Stafford Rangers’ lack of fire power was again evident as they were held to a goal-less draw by Gainsborough Trinity on Saturday.

Rangers have scored just 16 goals in 16 games, which is the poorest record of the teams in the top half of the table. Opponents Gainsborough have an even worse record in front of goal with just 10 goals to their name. With Rangers holding the best defensive record in the league, all the ingredients were there for a nil-niller and so it proved.

Joe Kenton was back in the starting line-up after missing Tuesday’s trip to Mickleover through injury with Alex-Ray Harvey dropping to the bench. Rangers were the better of the two sides in the first half, creating the better of the few chances on show. The first fell to defender Jimmy O’Neill at the near post but he headed over from Andy Burns’ cross.

A couple of minutes later, there was a scramble in the Rangers’ area with Brad Grayson in the thick of the action, but he was crowded out by the Boro defence and, when the ball finally ran loose, Lewis Butroid fired wide. A good turn from Jake Charles produced a shot on goal for Rangers but Harvey Cartwright saved before Lewis Carr cleared the immediate danger. Rangers kept up the pressure, but Ben Woods struck his low drive straight at the Gainsborough keeper.

Charles was unfortunate to be in the way of a shot from Kenton before Alex Fletcher fired over from 25 yards as Rangers stayed on top. But chances were limited and the best they had in the remainder of the half was Luca Navarro shooting wide after being put through by Charles.

Gainsborough were more positive after the break and had a great chance when Grayson’s pass found Liam Waldock in space, but Luke Pilling kept him out with his legs. Shortly after, Alex Wollerton fired wide from distance, but the contest became a stalemate as neither defence gave way. Gainsborough did have one last chance as Grayson fired across the face of goal in the final minute, but it was a day when neither side deserved anything more than the point they got.

Stafford Rangers: 13 Luke Pilling, 2 Andrew Burns, 3 Ben Woods, 4 Luca Navarro (14 Max McCarthy 60m), 5 Ethan Stewart, 6 James O’Neill, 7 Joe Kenton, 8 Tom Tonks, 9 Jake Charles, 10 Alex Fletcher, 11 Theo Bailey-Jones (15 Alex-Ray Harvey 88m). Unused Subs: 12 Omotolani Omotola, 16 Josh Endall, 17 Michael Lennon

Gainsborough Trinity: 1 Harvey Cartwright, 2 Joe Wilson, 3 Lewis Butroid, 4 Lewis Carr, 5 Neal Bishop, 6 Charlie Jemson, 7 Isaac Rice, 8 Liam Waldock, Bradley Grayson, 10 Alex Wollerton (15 Toby Gould 75m), 11 Rio Molyneaux (16 Harry Jessop 57m). Unused subs: 12 Callum Minkley, 14 Cieron Keane, 17 Jack Gibson

Cautions: Woods (Rangers)

Referee: Mark Pearson

Att: 550

Report: Chris Elsley

Mickleover 0 Stafford Rangers 0

Oct 14, 2021 | Match Report

The Pitching In Northern Premier League
Tuesday 12 October 2021

Stafford Rangers had to settle for a point from their trip to Mickleover on Tuesday night.

The Derbyshire side showed more resilience than they had three days earlier when they were beaten 4-0 at home by Morpeth, rarely giving Rangers a look in on goal. The Boro were forced to make one change days earlier with Theo Bailey-Jones replacing Joe Kenton who had injured his knee against Scarborough three days earlier. Also still absent through injury was Jon Moran. Mickleover had the first opening when the ball fell to the veteran Pablo Mills, but he skied his shot high over the bar.

The home side also created the next chance as Lee Holmes shot wide after cutting inside Ben Woods before Rangers slowly began to find their feet and Luca Navarro tried an ambitious first-time effort but could only find Mickleover keeper Callum Hawkins.

Bailey-Jones broke into the area after a Jake Charles lay off but was closed down quickly by Liam Ravenhill while Stewart shot wide following a corner. Half chances came and went for Tom Tonks, Charles and Navarro but the best chance of the half fell to the home side on 33 minutes when Andrew Wright picked out Jake Bennett with a great cross field ball, but Luke Pilling made an excellent stop.

It was a similar story in the second half. Tonks fired over and Navarro tamely at Hawkins in the early exchanges while Rangers had a minor scare when Pilling crashed into a post as he caught a looping header from Andy Dales. Pilling was involved in the key moment of the half when Dales broke clear, but the Rangers’ keeper once again proved unbeatable with another fine save and then scrambled across to smother the ball as it came off Andy Burns.

A night of plenty of effort from both sides but also lacking the touch of class needed to secure all three points but the Rangers camp are content with the progress made so far.

Mickleover: 1 Callum Hawkins, 2 Jake Bennett, 3 Jordan Gooch, 4 Joe Bateman, 5 James Butler, 20 Pablo Mills, 7 Liam Ravenhill, 8 Andrew Wright (6 Declan Bacon 86m), 9 Andy Dales, 15 Kemy Agustien, 11 Lee Holmes (14 Bobby Battison 27m). Unused Subs: 12 Josh Satchwell, 13 Roger Lee, 16 Mason Warren

Stafford Rangers: 13 Luke Pilling, 2 Andrew Burns, 3 Ben Woods, 4 Alex-Ray Harvey, 5 Ethan Stewart, 6 James O’Neill, 7 Theo Bailey-Jones, 8 Tom Tonks, 9 Jake Charles (12 Omotolani Omotola 70), 10 Alex Fletcher, 11 Luca Navarro (14 Max McCarthy 59m). Unused Subs: 15 Josh Endall, 16 Tom Carr, 17 Michael Lennon

Cautions: Wright (Mickleover)

Referee: Luke Lazenby

Att: 345

Report: Chris Elsley