Rangers make the long trip north to Whitby Town this Saturday for our 17th league game of the season.
Just one point separates the two teams with Rangers one point ahead of Whitby but with 4 games in hand. The form guide shows that Whitby are unbeaten in 5 games at home, whilst Boro’ are unbeaten in 4 away, having picked up 10 of the 12 points on offer.
A long journey awaits the Rangers players and fans but hopefully the current good run of results will continue.
Jack Langston has now left the club and has signed for Chasetown FC. We thank Jack for his contribution whilst at the club and wish him well for the future.
Following South Shields 4-3 win after extra time against Farsley Celtic last night, Rangers will now face South Shields at Marston Road on Saturday 11th November. Kick off 3pm
Stafford Rangers 1 Barwell 0
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Tuesday 31 October 2017
Kieran Morris’ second goal in two games was enough to give the Boro victory over Barwell on Tuesday night.
It was a tight game that, in the first half in particular, lacked quality in the final third as the defences reigned supreme.
Rangers were unchanged from the side that thumped St Ives in the FA Trophy on Saturday. Barwell had ex Boro midfielder Jake Heath in their ranks but were without suspended defender Michael Townsend and another former Boro man Kyle Perry who had left to join Stourbridge last week.
The visitors made most of the running in the opening stages and went close to a spectacular opening goal on 11 mins when Adam Whitehouse had to make an excellent save to keep out an acrobatic volley from Matthew Stenson.
The chance came from Ben Baker’s cross and the pacey right winger looked to be Barwell’s most likely source of a breakthrough though forward Luke Barlone seemed more interested in his ongoing dialogue with sections of the Rangers’ crowd.
Moments after Whitehouse’s spectacular save the Rangers keeper nearly turned villain with a poor punched clearance that kept his side under pressure from a corner but he was let off when Liam Kay hooked his shot wide.
Barwell keeper Liam Castle saw his first real action on 15 mins when he had to dive to his left to turn away a long range drive from Kieren Westwood.
Rangers’ new signing Massiah McDonald – scorer of two goals on Saturday – looked to add to his account with a well struck shot from around 20 yards but the ball thumped into the midriff of Castle who held comfortably.
At the other end, Barlone missed out twice, heading one effort at Whitehouse then putting another high over the Rangers bar but the best chance of a first half breakthrough fell to Boro’s Richard Gregory in the last minute when he headed against the bar from Alex Fletcher’s corner.
The stalemate continued into second period until the 57th minute when Rangers had a corner on their left. Fletcher sent his flag kick deep to the back post where Morris climbed highest to head the ball goalwards. Desperate efforts from Barwell to clear proved in vain as the referee’s assistant flagged to indicate the ball had crossed the line.
Barlone nearly levelled for Barwell a couple of minutes later with a shot that Whitehouse could only parry but he sliced the rebound well wide.
But, with their noses in front, Rangers increasingly looked the stronger side and an error in the Barwell back line forced Castle to race out of his area to clear from Kieren Westwood then a slip from Liam Kay nearly let in Richard Gregory.
Two headers from Mat Bailey went wide before McDonald had his first run at the Barwell defence but fired inches wide while Fletcher and sub Dan Westwood were also just off target.
But the one goal was always going to be a nervy lead and in the closing stages Whitehouse saved well to his left to keep out a deflected shot from Nigel Julien, Morris made a crucial challenge to deny Barlone as he shaped to shoot then with virtually the last kick of the game, Whitehouse saved again – keeping out Craig Stanley – as Rangers held on to record their first ever victory over Barwell at the fifth attempt.
Rangers 1 Adam Whitehouse, 2 Sam Griffiths, 3 Kieren Westwood, 4 Kieran Morris, 5 Mat Bailey, 6 Jordaan Brown, 7 Josh Craddock, 8 Alex Fletcher, 9 Richard Gregory (12 Dan Westwood 75m), 10 Massiah McDonald, 11 Louis Briscoe (16 Jack Sherratt 67m). Unused subs 14 Izak Reid, 15 Joe Thomas, 17 Osebi Abadaki
Barwell: 1 Liam Castle, 2 Elliot Percival, 3 Edward Nisevic, 4 Craig Stanley, 5 Liam Kay, 6 Nigel Julien, 7 Ban Baker (14 Tom Bates 87m), 8 Declan Towers, 9 Luke Barlone, 10 Jake Heath (12 Michael Tweed 73m), 11 Matthew Stenson. Unused Subs: 13 Michael Turner, 15 Owen Story
Cautions: D Westwood, McDonald (Rangers), Barlone (Barwell)
Referee: Richard Price
Att: 376
Chris Elsley
Rangers have signed Christophe AZIAMALE from Welsh Premier League side Bangor City
German-born forward Aziamale was released by Bangor City at the end of the 2016/17 season, having played his part in the Citiziens end of season run into the Europa League.
The striker began the 2016/17 season at Rhyl, but moved to Bangor City in January 2017. A much-travelled forward who started his career in the junior clubs of Mold and Penycae, before playing academy football at Rhyl, Cefn Druids and TNS.
He rejoined Rhyl for the 2016/17 season, before his move to Bangor City where he registered for both the first team and the youth team.
Rangers have been drawn at home in the second qualifying round of the Buildbase FA Trophy to the winners of the replay of the South Shields v Farsley Celtic tie.
The tie is scheduled for Saturday 11th November 2017
South Shields are currently having a good season, lying 2nd in the Evostik North League, level on points with the league leaders on goal difference with 3 games in hand. They have currently played 11, won 10 with just 1 defeat.
Farsley Celtic are lying 4th in the Evostik Premier League, 10 points ahead of the Boro’ having played 4 games more.
Farsley are due to visit Marston Road a week later in the league.
