Rangers win 4-2 on penalties

FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round
Saturday 3 October 2020

Stafford Rangers reached the 3rd qualifying round of the FA Cup after a penalty shoot-out win at a very wet Buxton. Rangers were without Tom Thorley and Ben Forrest from the side that drew at Grantham in midweek while Cieron Keane was left out of the starting XI for the first time this season.

In came John Welsh for his debut after injury had kept him out of contention since pre-season while Liam Langford – a pre-season triallist – made his debut after a return to fitness. Josh Williams made his first start, but it was to last only 39 minutes before a neck injury forced him off with Keane coming on as a direct replacement.

Much of the first half action took place in the Stafford half with Buxton pressing from the off, winning a corner inside the first minute. But Rangers created three excellent chances of their own with Joe Cuff sending two shots wide of the far post while Callum Coyle missed the best of the lot just before half time.
New signing Liam Langford almost gave Rangers an early lead when his shot deflected wide off a Buxton defender then Cuff missed the first of his chances after pouncing on an error from Sam Wedgbury. But it was the home side who looked the most likely to grab the advantage.

Penalty appeals were turned down when Warren Clarke’s shot struck a Stafford defender at close range then Tommy Elliott found himself in the book for a dive following a well-timed tackle from Langford. A free kick, just a yard outside the Stafford area, created more problems but, after John Welsh had taken the full force of Diego De Girolamo’s initial shot, the best Buxton could manage was a corner.

De Girolamo had another effort cleared off the line by Sam Coulson with King out of position but Rangers finished the half on top as Cuff sent a shot across the face of goal after being put through by Coyle then, on the stroke of half time, Coyle missed the target after Mo Sebbeh-Njie had sent him clear. The injured Coyle failed to appear for the second half with another newcomer – Ryan Nesbitt – taking his place.
Chances at either end were limited. Stafford’s best came via Keane’s left-wing cross but both Cuff and Joe Kenton went for the same ball and Buxton scrambled it clear. The home side had a couple of chances come their way with a free kick from Diego De Girolamo going over the intersection.

The home side introduced James Walshaw into the attack with 20 minutes remaining and he nearly won it with seven minutes remaining, but Lewis King kept him out then saved the follow up from De Girolamo.
As the clock reached 90 minutes, Walshaw had a golden opportunity but planted his header straight into the path of the Rangers’ keeper. Then, with virtually the last action of the game, Elliott raced into the area and was body checked by Sam Coulson. Everyone looked to the referee for the anticipated penalty but the man in black was the only one who thought not, and the full-time whistle followed shortly afterwards with the game to be decided on penalties.

Buxton manager Gary Hayward took his protests too far and was shown the red card before the shoot-out could commence. Bizarrely, it was the third red card shown to a manager in Rangers’ two FA Cup ties this season after Jody Banim and Worcester’s Ashley Vincent were dismissed at half time in the previous round. And so, to penalties. Jamie Sleigh put Rangers in front with the first spot kick and King reinforced the advantage by keeping out De Girolamo. The two sides were both successful with their next kicks – Nesbitt netting for the Boro – but Keane skied his and Steve Brogan levelled. Welsh scored but King again denied Buxton by saving from Sam Wedgbury, leaving Sam Coulson to send Rangers through.

Buxton: 1 Tommy Taylor, 2 James Hurst (14 Connor O’Grady 54m), 3 Steve Brogan, 4 Sam Wedgbury, 5 Josh Granite, 6 Shane Killock, 7 Chris Dawson (12 James Walshaw 71m), 8 Reece King, 9 Diego De Girolamo, 10 Tommy Ellioitt, 11 Warren Clarke. Unused Subs 15 Godwin Abadaki, 16 Casper Nicholson, 17 Connor McMillan, 18 Kyle Campbell, GK Grant Shenton

Stafford Rangers: 1 Lewis King, 2 Michael Williams, 3 Josh Williams (17 Cieron Keane 39m), 4 Sam Coulson, 5 Liam Langford, 6 John Welsh, 7 Mo Sebbeh-Njie (14 Jamie Sleigh 81m), 8 Alex Ray Harvey, 9 Joe Cuff, 10 Callum Coyle (12 Ryan Nesbitt 46m), 11 Joe Kenton. Unused Subs: 15 Matt Hill, 16 Reece Jones

Ref: Matthew McQuillan
Cautions: Elliott (Buxton); Coulson, Langford, Welsh (Rangers)
Attendance: 401
Report by Chris Elsley