Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Saturday 22 December 2018

Stafford Rangers twice led but, in the end, came home from Matlock empty handed as the Derbyshire side continued their own fine run of form. Matlock just about shaded the opening exchanges, but it was Rangers who struck first on 15 mins when Joe Cuff got goal side of his man from a Josh Green throw in and clipped the ball over Ross Durrant who had come off his line and was let stranded in no man’s land.

But the lead was short lived and, just two minutes later, Craig Westcarr’s challenge resulted in George Sykes-Kenworthy dropping a high centre from Craig King on his goal-line. Luke Jones’ attempts to clear proved fruitless and the Matlock man came away claiming the goal. Any other day Westcarr would have been penalised for a foul on the Rangers keeper.

Cuff could have restored Rangers’ lead when he charged down a clearance from Adam Yates but Durrant saved with his feet then the home keeper had to take a looping header from Dan Burns just underneath his cross bar. Rangers were then denied a penalty when Cuff went to ground, but their efforts were rewarded on 36 mins with a smart move down the left. Josh Green’s ball down the line was squared first time by Cuff to Jake Chares and the unmarked forward did the rest.

Matlock were more purposeful after the break. Brad Beatson’s flick header landed on the roof of the Stafford net while Green made an important tackle to prevent Marcus Marshall getting in a shot on goal. Rangers had a number of chances of their own. Andy Haworth chose to go alone on a couple of times when there appeared better options available while a half chance for Theo Bailey-Jones swung just wide of the target.

The key moment came on 68 mins when Haworth was given another chance on goal. Durrant blocked but no Rangers player was sharp enough to react to the loose ball. Matlock cleared broke away and within seconds were back level – a fine volley from Westcarr after Luke Hinsley had knocked down Taron Hare’s centre.

Six minutes later Matlock were in front. Dwayne Wiley flicked on a corner from King and Yates stole in at the back post to score.
Late Stafford pressure saw both Cuff and Tom Thorley go close but Durrant kept out the former while Thorley’s free kick flew just over on another frustrating afternoon for the Boro.

Matlock Town: 1 Ross Durrant, 2 Taron Hare, 3 Brad Beatson, 4 Michael Hollingsworth, 5 Dwyane Wiley, 6 Adam Yates, 7 Jordan Chapell (14 Luke Hinsley 55m), 8 Cleveland Taylor, 9 Craig Westcarr (16 Tom Davie 78m), 10 Marcus Marshall (12 Lee Beevers 88m), 11 Craig King. Unused Subs: 15 Ashton Hall, 17 Jordan Pierrepont.
Stafford: 1 George Sykes-Kenworthy, 2 Sam Coulson, 3 Josh Green, 4 Luke Jones, 5 Jack Sherratt, 6 Dan Burns, 7 Theo Bailey-Jones (16 Lucas Burnett 88m), 8 Tom Thorley, 9 Jake Charles, 10 Andy Haworth (14 Lewis Banks 80m), 11 Joe Cuff. Unused Subs: 12 Declan Arber, 15 James Askey, 17 Max Dixon

Cautions: Burns, Cuff (Rangers)
Referee: Jamie O’Connor

Att: 493

Report by Chris Elsley

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Saturday 15 December 2018

Stafford Rangers marked the return of The Shed with their first win in seven league games with by thumping local rivals Hednesford Town at a rain-soaked Marston Road. The Rangers fans didn’t need an excuse to occupy their newly erected stand for the entire 90 minutes but any who felt like venturing out from under cover would surely have been put off by the persistent heavy rain that fell throughout the game.
There was an explosive start to this eagerly awaited encounter with a goal for each side in the opening 6 minutes.

Rangers were first to strike on 3 mins when Jake Charles tapped home after Andy Haworth’s shot had been parried by Josef Bursik.
Joe Cuff missed a chance to extend the lead but Hednesford were soon back on level terms. A long clearance downfield from Bursik sent Michael Howard clear and he fired past George Sykes-Kenworthy in the Stafford goal.

Cuff then missed another chance for the home side when he hit the post before Andy Haworth sliced wide when well placed. A poor back pass from Charlie Gatter put Cuff in once more but the winger’s shot swung away. A minute later a flick from Theo Bailey-Jones put Cuff in behind the Hednesford defence but a poor first touch allowed Bursik to get to the ball first. Two more chances had gone begging.

Cuff finally got his goal just before half time but not before Hednesford thought they had taken the lead in what was one of the key talking points of the first half. Romario Martin’s long-range effort bounced awkwardly just in front of Sykes-Kenworthy who failed to gather cleanly.

The ball spilled loose and Dan Cockerline raced in. The Rangers keeper pounced on the ball but seemingly slid over the line. Neither referee nor his assistant were in a position to award the goal although Steve Burr said afterwards that the referee had stated Cockerline would have been penalised for a foul had the ball definitely crossed the line.

Having survived that let off, Rangers took advantage five minutes before half time when Tom Thorley found Cuff who cut inside Kieron Dawes and advanced to fire the home side back in front. Rangers had chances to add a couple more before the interval as Charles went just wide then when Luke Jones’ header was blocked on the line neither Charles nor Dan Burns was able to apply the finishing touch.

The second half didn’t produce anywhere near the same number of chances but those that came fell largely to Rangers and more importantly Charles converted two of them. He made it 3-1 in the 57th minute turning in Haworth’s corner at the near post then completed his hat trick 10 minutes later after Thorley was the supplier.

Charles went close to a fourth goal with a lob over Bursik that drifted just wide while Thorley’s 35 yarder went over.
Apart from a Jack Hallinan effort which just cleared the Stafford bar, Hednesford never really looked like reducing the deficit as Stafford completed a league double over their arch rivals.

Stafford: 1 George Sykes-Kenworthy, 2 Sam Coulson, 3 Josh Green, 4 Luke Jones, 5 Dan Burns, 6 Andrai Jones (15 Jack Sherratt 46m), 7 Theo Bailey-Jones, 8 Tom Thorley, 9 Jake Charles, 10 Andy Haworth (17 Harry Benns 78m), 11 Joe Cuff (12 Izak Reid 82m). Unused Subs: 14 James Askey, 16 Lewis Banks
Hednesford: 1 Josef Bursik, 2 Kieron Dawes, 3 Nathan Fox, 4 Jack Hallahan, 5 Rudy Misambo, 6 Charlie Gatter, 7 Jed Davies (16 Matt Dodd 64m), 8 Ryan Shaw (15 Reece King 78m), 9 Dan Cockerline, 10 Romario Martin, 11 Michael Howard (17 Joel Logan 65m). Unused Subs: 12 Jose Veiga, 14 Osebi Abadaki

Cautions: Cuff, Haworth, L Jones, Sherratt (Rangers) Hallahan, Gatter (Hednesford)
Referee: Greg Rollason

Att: 668

Report by Chris Elsley