I am not an historian to go back to early Cheshire League days, but I am not aware of any competitive games with Warrington until our promotion back to the Northern Premier League for season 2016/17. Our first encounter was a 2-2 draw at home on 5th November 2016. The return fixture was to be played on17th December. We started brightly and quickly got into a 2-0 lead when brightness was the concern. Warrington’s pitch runs alongside the Manchester Ship Canal and as the game developed so too did the fog. The referee allowed no leeway and once visibility made it impossible to continue, he abandoned the game. Had he waited about 30 minutes he would have seen the fog clear, but sadly too late. The game was eventually replayed on 8th April and justice was seen to be done as we won 2-1. Last season we lost 1-0 away and drew 0-0 at home. Therefore, our record with Warrington is won 1, drawn 2 and lost one, but with us leading the abandoned game we will take that as a win to give us the edge over Warrington.

Warrington away we all know will be a difficult game. They are top of the league with a home record of won 10, drawn 4 and lost only 2 home league games. Warrington had a shaky start losing their first home to Farsley Celtic and draws with Stalybridge and Bamber Bridge. There only other defeat was in October when Matlock were the winners. They have since drawn with Basford and Lancaster. You never know how a football game will finish and with the right attitude who knows what could happen. As Jimmy Greaves often said, “football is a funny old game”. To sum this up, you only have to look at last Saturday’s National League South Division when bottom of the table Weston Super mare won at top of the league Torquay.

I hope that has whetted your appetite for a short tip up the M6 into Cheshire to see if we can pull off a shock. If travelling by car you need to tolerate the M6 road works through Cheshire to get to Canteliver Park on Common Lane, post code WA4 2RG. Trains are roughly every hour changing at Crewe for Warrington Bank Quay. Do not go to the Halliwell Jones stadium as you may end up watching the “egg chasers”.

Games played on March 9th this century

2002       Tamworth           H             0-1          Southern League

2004       Welling                 H             3-2          Southern League

2013       Buxton                 A             1-2          Northern Premier League

This Saturday we welcome Marine to Marston Road in what is yet another “6 pointer fixture”.
Marine are only 4 points above us, yet they had been putting a very good run of results prior to their home defeat to relegation threatened Workington.

We need you as the 12th man to help us to another 3 points as we attempt to move away from the drop zone.
Two weeks ago, we were overjoyed as our win over Bamber Bridge gave us not only 3 points but all the sides around us all dropped points. However, the reverse occurred last Saturday when after our hard-earned deserved point at Basford was overshadowed by all those around us picking up points. This shows how tight this league is and how “strange” results will happen over the next two months.
As the season develops, we will often look back at what if’s, and our defeat at Marine last October certainly emphasises that. The game was heading towards a 0-0 draw when with a few minutes to go we were awarded a penalty and the chance to take 3 points. That spot kick did not go in, so it looked like we had lost 2 points. Sadly not, as a last-minute penalty to Marine saw us go home empty handed. In just a few minutes we had all the highs and lows as we had 1 point, then possibly 3, back to 1 and finally nil.
March could be a pivotal month for Stafford Rangers, as in the month we play the current leaders Warrington, home and away, go away to second placed Farsley and away to mid table Witton and Hyde. Therefore the 3 points we are after on Saturday could become essential. So please spread the word and lets get another big gate to cheer on the lads to the safety of mid table.

Games played on March 2nd this century

Note the fixture from 2013

2002       Welling                 H             2-1          Southern League

2010       Redditch              H             0-1          Conference North

2013       Marine                 H             0-0          Northern Premier League

Next Saturday we travel to Basford, a suburb in North West Nottingham. How can I persuade fans to travel to this game? 1. They play on a synthetic pitch. 2. They have already beaten us 4-0 on that pitch in this seasons F A Trophy. That aside we will travel in hope of getting something out of this game, so there is every reason to travel to this game to support the team.

 Basford lie 7th in the league with 47 points from their 30 games. At home they have won 11 and lost 4. They have yet to register a home draw. I think many of us would be happy with a point. Strangely, Basford have scored 67 goals but conceded 55. We too have conceded 55 so while they tend to win well at home they do not appear to travel well as our 3-1 win in September over them will testify. It would be a great result if we could break our duck on synthetic pitches, especially as we still to travel to Hyde.

Basford started this season, their first at step 3 in very good form but experienced a blip either side of Christmas. December saw 2 wins and 3 defeats in the league while January saw 1 win and 4 defeats. Their one win was a 2-1 at North Ferriby while one of the defeats was an alarming 8-3 reverse at home to Hyde. Sadly, as we arrive, they have won both of their February games.

Although a very young senior non-league club, Basford were formed in 1900, but played mostly in local Nottinghamshire Leagues. 1991 Basford moved to their current ground. In 2006 they joined the Notts Senior League. In their first season they finished 3rd. The next few seasons saw them come 5th, 3rd, 2nd and 2nd. In 2011-12 they won the Central Midlands League South in their first season in the competition and this success earned them promotion to the East Midlands Counties League for 2012-13 where they again ran out champions, setting a record points total as well as becoming the first club to complete the EMCL League and Cup double. That saw promotion to the Northern Counties East League Premier Division, where they finished in a creditable fifth place in 2013-14. That was to be their only season in the NCEL as they were moved into the newly formed Midland League Premier Division for 2014-15. This was to prove a memorable season for the club as they won the Premier Division in some style, finishing six points clear of their nearest challengers and winning the Notts Senior Cup for the first time in 27 years. The Midland League success earned the club promotion to the Northern Premier League Division One South, and then a further promotion to the Northern Premier League.

Other than the FA Trophy game this season our only other visit to Basford was our league 1 championship season of 2015/16 when we played out a 1-1 draw. Again, such a score would go down well with us this season. So, get behind the team and travel to this fixture. Our synthetic pitch hoodoo must come to end sometime. Basford play at Greenwich Avenue, Nottingham, NG6 OLD. Admission is, Adults £9, Concessions £6, and under 16s £2. For those travelling by train there are frequent services taking about 90 minutes changing at Tamworth for around £30 return. To get to the ground from the city centre take any tram to Phoenix Park or Hucknall and alight at Highbury Vale tram stop for a short walk to the ground.

Games played on February 23rd this century

2002       Folkstone                            A             1-2          Southern League

2008       Halifax                                  A             0-0          Conference

2009       Hinkley                                 A             0-4          Conference North

2015       Norton                                 A             0-0          Northern Premier League Division 1

While Bamber Gascoigne will give you a starter for 10, Bamber Bridge will give Stafford Rangers a starter for 13. Yes, we now have unlucky 13 league games to play as we attempt to pull away from the relegation trap door, and yet again it is a potential 6 pointer fixture. Bamber Bridge lie 13th but only 5 points above Stafford Rangers. This highlights the narrow gap in place and the effect a win for the Rangers can have on league placings. Therefore, your support is very much needed to be the 12th man in the Shedend to help us to 3 precious points and send Bamber Bridge back up the M6 to Preston pointless. Bamber Bridge are a relatively “new” football club in the non-league pyramid and as far as I am aware, this will be their first visit to Marston Road.

On their travels in the league, Bamber Bridge have won only once, that being on the artificial pitch at Buxton. They have drawn 7 and lost 6 of their other away games. Their most recent away game last Saturday saw them to become the first side to stop South Shield’s 100% home record with a very creditable 3-3 draw. Bamber Bridge will therefore arrive next Saturday in fine form and looking to add to their 6-1 demolition job they did on us on September 29th. That day Alistair Waddicar scored 4 goals and Andy Haworth scored their second goal on 27 minutes. Let’s hope Andy can repeat his goal in this fixture, obviously this time scoring for us.

Games played this century on 16th February

2008 Forest Green A 2-1 Conference
2010 Chasetown H 0-4 Staffs Senior Cup
2013 North Ferriby A 1-1 Northern Premier League