Staffs Senior Cup Quarter Final Draw
The Staffs Senior Cup Draw – Quarter Final Draw ties to be played the week commencing 4th February.
Stafford Rangers Vs Wolverhampton Casuals or Abbey Huton UTD
England School Boys Under 18’s
Congratulations to both Declan Arber & Connor Taylor (both SRFC) who have been selected England Schoolboys U18’s along with former Stafford Rangers player Carter Lycet.
The club wish them the best in their new journey.
Stafford Rangers 8 – 2 Tipton Town
An unseasonably mild night saw Rangers serve up a festive feast of football flair against tough opponents Tipton Town in the quarter final of Staffordshire FA youth cup.
Rangers raced into an early lead with the first from Declan Arber on 42 seconds, 4 minutes later first half star man Max Dixon made it 2-0 with sharp shooting Arber netting his second on 7 minutes to make it 3 to a rampant Rangers. Tipton responded battling hard in a bid to get back into the game. Tipton’s Matt Hogg floated a dangerous free kick into Rangers box forcing keeper Craig Pain to meet and punch clear, the second ball was picked up by England schools international Connor Taylor quickly switching play to right back Adam Taylor who raced forward flashing a quick ball right to left across the face of the Tipton goal.
An unfortunate foot injury on 23 minutes saw Ryan Douglas limp off to be replaced by James Black in the heart of defence.
Rangers continued to press a dogged Tipton side. Max Dixon cut in from the right threading a fine pass to Lucas Burnett who’s shot from wide hit the inside of both posts before being cleared off the line by Tipton. Dixon continued to torment the Tipton defence, on 35 minutes Dixon slid an excellent ball to Burnett who cooly recorded his first of the evening. 4-0
Tipton were not to be beaten, on 44 minutes a Tipton break saw Rangers keeper Pain race from his goal to meet the Tipton attack. The resulting clearance rebounded of several players before Tipton’s George Thorpe pounced striking into an empty Rangers net from 18 yards. A few minutes later Thorpe was quickest to another loose ball firing just wide.
4-1 at the break.
A reshuffle at half time saw Christian Blanchette replace in form Max Dixon on the wing and Tommy Wilkinson on for hard working Sam Jarvis in midfield. The second half continued with Rangers showing a fiery passion for goals. On 56 minutes Flying wing back, Tim Khayat broke down the left delivering a fizzing cross for Burnett to claim his second. 5-1.
A tired Tipton side held on to their discipline, a break through the middle earned them a free kick some 25 yards out. The kick was lifted over the wall curling away from Pain and into the Rangers net. 5-2. Rangers response was rapid. On 67 minutes Christian Blanchette latched on to a ball bobbling badly on the deteriorating surface and struck it goalward, Burnett instinctively followed the shot flicking the ball past the advancing Tom Slater for his hat trick. 6-2.
Rangers Josh Moody and Tommy Wilkinson continued to work in the middle of the park as Tipton refused to give up. Marcus Baikie switched wings with Blanchette causing Tipton’s full backs problems with Baikie cutting in and unleashing a shot just over the bar. On 67 minutes Christian Blanchette chased a 50/50 ball into the corner with Tipton’s right back and goal keeper, Blanchette flicked the ball over his head rolling around the keeper into the box before finishing in style. 7-2.
In the last seconds of the game a classy exchange between Arber and Blanchette saw Burnett released into the box to claim his fourth goal of the night. A bumper night for Rangers sees them through to the semifinal draw.
Report by Timothy Turner.
Hednesford Preview by Phil Bennett
Hednesford Preview by Phil Bennett
Its Derby day, the one now called El Chasico, as we meet our adversaries from the other side of Cannock Chase. Hednesford held the upper hand last season with two league wins, but we won the big one, beating then in the final of the Staffs Senior Cup, to finish with some silver ware.
Had it not been for the demise of Shaw Lane, then this fixture would not have occurred as Hednesford were initially put in the Southern League Central following the reorganisation of non-league football by the FA. In moving Hednesford it looked like Hednesford were effectively given Shaw Lanes fixtures, meaning that the two derby games do not feature as the big holiday fixtures drawing in bigger crowds than a Tuesday night in September and a Saturday so close to Christmas.
Steve Burr fully understands the meaning of this game as he played for both sides during his playing career. It sums it up when a few years ago on Sky TV the interviewer asked Ashley Williams the Swansea defender (at the time) about the big derby day game with Cardiff in the Premiership. His reply was that it was not as big as an Hednesford Stafford Rangers derby game. We will forgive him for that as he played for the “other” team that day.
Derby games are big fixtures for the fans, and we can only hope that Steve and his team let the players know about the need not only to win 3 points, but to do one over your local rivals, which of course will be a double for this season following our 3-1 win at Keys Park. Adam, Jack and Izak all know the importance of this fixture, and I am sure they will let their colleagues know the significance, and none more so than from Tom who has played for both sides in this clash of old. However, possible Hednesford players include former Rangers stalwarts, Jos Craddock and Sam Griffiths, so it promises a right ding dong battle.
Another big one for the fans is that the game should see the unveiling of the new shed end. A great effort by the organising team and the fans for putting up the funds, to allow the fans to have a “covered home” again to hopefully get the echoing sound to become the 12th man.
El Chasico league games this century highlights how close we are to each other, with fixtures at Stafford in the main very close. Here are the results for the Stafford home game this century:
2001/02 3-0 SPL
2002/03 1-1 SPL
2003/04 1-1 SPL
2005/06 1-1 Conf N
2011/12 0-1 NPL
2012/13 0-1 NPL
2016/17 2-1 NPL
2017/18 0-1 NPL
This game therefore needs no introduction and it’s a game all fans want to see, so please get on down to Marston Road to see the opening of the new Shed end cover, followed by 3 well-earned points.
Games played on December 15 this century
2001 Chelmsford A 0-0 Southern League
2007 Ossett Town H 3-1 F A Trophy round 1
2010 Market Drayton A 4-1 Staffs Senior Cup
2012 Kendal H 5-1 Northern Premier League
Please note:
This is a segregated match
Away turnstiles will open at 1.30pm there will be no access for away fans through the main social club doors. Once through the away turnstiles away fans will have access to the bar and food van.
For disabled fans and for those wishing to watch the match seated please go to our Match Day Reception Office.
Admission prices :
Adults £10.00 | Concessions £7.00 | Juniors £2.00
Stafford Rangers 2-2 Stalybridge Celtic
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Saturday 8 December 2018
Stafford Rangers let slip a two-goal lead as they were held to a draw on a wet and windy afternoon at Stalybridge Celtic.
Manager Steve Burr made several changes to the starting line up with keeper Adam Whitehouse and full backs Lewis Banks and James Askey notable absentees. Replacing Whitehouse was 19-year-old George Sykes-Kenworthy, signed on loan from Bradford City, while Sam Coulson and Josh Green filled the defensive slots. Stafford were positive from kick off and after a couple of half chances went begging they were rewarded in the 12th minute when Theo Bailey-Jones headed in Andy Haworth’s left-wing cross.
Rangers looked to build on their early advantage and Joe Cuff flashed a low centre across the face of the home goal then Jake Charles should have done better after being put through by Haworth. Andrai Jones advanced after pouncing on a loose ball in midfield but sent his shot rising over the Stalybridge goal before Charles was denied by the boot of Ross Dent from a Bailey-Jones cross.
Haworth’s 25 yarder also went over as Rangers continued to dominate and only a number of saves from Turner just before half time kept Stalybridge in the contest – the home keeper denying Bailey-Jones, Charles and Luke Jones in a five-minute spell. Rangers started the second half brightly and Tom Thorley extended the lead on 57 minutes when he headed in Bailey-Jones’ cross although it needed the referee’s assistant to confirm the ball had crossed the line as Turner attempted to save.
Five minutes later, Joe Cuff missed a great opportunity to wrap the game up when he failed to control in the area after a good approach involving Charles and Green. Stalybridge needed to do something to get back in the contest and Andy Scott took charge when he tried his luck from 30 yards – the ball floating just wide of the top corner.
The Celtic no10 was not to be denied and with 18 mins remaining he reduced the arrears with a free kick from a similar distance that went in via the underside of the bar. Chris Smalley headed wide a few minutes later and it looked as though Rangers would hold on for their first league win in seven outings.
Then, with the game in the third minute of added time, Stalybridge launched an attack down their right with a throw in. Sykes-Kenworthy came out to the edge of his area intending to clear but then hesitated, allowing Neil Kengni to float the ball over the out of position Stafford keeper and give Stalybridge an unlikely equaliser.
Stalybridge: 1 Jake Turner, 2 Joshua Solomon-Davies, 3 Elliot Cooke, 4 Liam Tongue (16 Gregory Wilkinson 67m), 5 Chris Smalley, 6 Michael Clarke, 7 Jamal Crawford (15 Michael Jones 46m), 8 Ross Dent, 9 Scott Bakkor, 10 Andy Scott, 11 Neil Kengni. Unused Subs: 12 Danny Brady, 14 Matthew Wolfenden, 17 Aidan Winterbottom (gk).
Rangers: 1 George Sykes-Kenworthy, 2 Sam Coulson, 3 Josh Green, 4 Luke Jones, 5 Dan Burns, 6 Andrai Jones, 7 Theo Bailey-Jones (14 Lewis Banks 89m), 8 Tom Thorley, 9 Jake Charles, 10 Andy Haworth (12 Harry Benns 69m), 11 Joe Cuff (15 Jack Sherratt 76m). Unused Subs: 16 James Askey, 17 Adam Whitehouse
Cautions: Dent (Stalybridge) Benns (Rangers)
Ref: Jon Kenny
Att: 347
Chris Elsley
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