Oct 11, 2017 | Club News
Stafford Rangers 1 Mickleover Sports 1
Evo-Stik League Premier Division
Tuesday 10 October 2017
Rangers and Mickleover battled out an uninspiring draw at Marston Road in front of an equally disappointing crowd of just 417.
Rangers made one change from the side that beat Grantham on Saturday with Osebi Adabaki returning to the starting line up in place of Mat Bailey.
Both the goals came in the opening quarter of the game with Richard Gregory opening the scoring for the Boro on 11 minutes before a soft goal credited to Mickloever’s Alex Morris midway through the half brought the scores level.
The game got off to a decent start as Louis Briscoe tried his luck hooking the ball over his shoulder but his effort was straight at Sports’ keeper Lewis King.
A couple of minutes later, Sports went even closer when Pablo Mills struck the Rangers bar from around 20 yards after Rangers had failed to clear a free kick then Andy Dales fired wide after Jack Sherratt had lost the ball in midfield.
There was little to choose between the two sides in the opening 10 minutes but Rangers then established a foothold with a well taken goal from Richard Gregory.
Jordaan Brown was the architect with a strong run down the inside left channel down to the by-line. From there, he picked out Gregory. The Rangers forward still had plenty to do but with tidy control and a sharp turn he fired the ball past King to put the Boro one up.
Kieren Westwood went close to making it 2-0 a couple of minutes later when he exchanged passes with Gregory but King saved with his foot.
With Rangers now on top, they will be disappointed with the goal that brought Mickleover level on 22 minutes.
A free kick was awarded in a dangerous position around 20 yards out after a handball decision was given against Kieran Morris but the immediate danger was averted as Adam Whitehouse turned John McGrath’s dead ball around the post. But, from McGrath’s subsequent corner, the ball glanced off Mills’ head and appeared to deflect off Alex Morris and find its way inside Whitehouse’s right hand post.
With their tails now up, Mickleover sought a second and nearly got it just a couple of minutes later when Mills was given time and space around ten yards out but Westwood headed off the line.
Whitehouse then saved well, tipping over from Andy Dales when the Sports’ midfielder broke through on goal – a chance he really should have taken – then, on the stroke of half time, Lewis Belgrave went wide from around 20 yards.
Rangers began the second half with revived vigour as Briscoe dispossessed McGrath and was only halted when Morris tripped him just outside the area – a foul that earned the Mickleover defender a caution. Gregory’s free kick was comfortably taken by King.
But then the game went flat and the next half hour was pretty much a non event. Mickleover packed their defence and, to their credit, rarely looked like being breached.
In fact, the visitors had the best chance to snatch the points when sub Tevahn Tyrell pounced on an error from Kieran Morris but with just Whitehouse to beat, he inexplicably lifted the ball over both the Rangers keeper and, to the relief of the home camp, the Rangers crossbar.
Rangers’ best chance of the half came soon after when Josh Craddock’s header was blocked on the line by Reece Horne while Whitehouse made a stoppage time save to keep out a long range drive from former Boro midfielder Jimmy Phillips in added time.
Rangers: 1 Adam Whitehouse, 2 Sam Griffiths, 3 Kieren Westwood, 4 Kieran Morris, 5 Jordaan Brown, 6 Josh Craddock, 7 Osebi Abadaki (12 Dan Westwood 84m), 8 Jack Sherratt, 9 Richard Gregory, 10 Izak Reid, 11 Louis Briscoe (17 Richard Batchelor 58m). Unused subs 14 Levi Reid, 15 Joe Thomas, 16 Kai Davis
Mickleover: 1 Lewis King, 2 Kevin Grocott, 3 Reece Horne, 4 John McGrath, 5 Pablo Mills,
6 Alex Morris, 7 Andy Dales, 8 Lewis Belgrave (17 Tevahn Tyrell 67m), 9 Tom Burgin, 10 Evan Garnett, 11 Jimmy Phillips. Unused subs 12 Ben Morris, 14 Morgan Williams, 15 William Norcross, 16 Clinton Morrison
Cautions: Brown, Briscoe (Rangers) Mills, Morris (Mickleover)
Referee: Darren Wilding
Att: 417
Chris Elsley
Oct 9, 2017 | Club News
STAFFORD Rangers made it back-to-back league wins for the first time since the start of the season as they quickly overcame the disappointment of their FA Cup exit with victory at Grantham Town on Saturday, writes DAVID BROOME.
It was as good an away performance as you could hope for against a side who had won their last two home games 6-1 and 7-1 as they prevented their hosts from putting too many passing moves together, hit them on the break and could even have scored more.
The two goals they did score were taken by Jack Sherratt, after a good solo run, and Izak Reid, netting after a goalmouth scramble.
Grantham were left to rue their missed chances, as they were beaten despite dominating possession and chances, and winning two penalties.
The first of those came towards the end of the first half, but Adam Whitehouse kept it out. The second was won and converted by Lee Shaw with five minutes to go, setting up a nervous finish, but Boro held out.
In between those spot-kicks, Neil Kitching was sent to the stands for some words exchanged with the referee, but any personal grievances would surely have been assuaged by the hard-fought win.
Oct 4, 2017 | Club News
Emirates FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round Replay
Tuesday 3 October 2017
There was a feeling that Rangers might have missed their chance to progress further in this season’s FA Cup competition in Saturday’s first meeting and so it proved as they succumbed to National League North side Telford United in Tuesday’s replay.
The home side went at Rangers from the off and a corner from Henry Cowans caused problems in the Boro area until Elliot Newby shooting wide.
The Bucks’ positive start produced early rewards when another Cowans corner was hammered in from close range by Marcus Dinanga to put Telford ahead after just 6 mins.
Rangers nearly got back level when Jasbir Singh dropped a cross from Jack Sherratt but Dan Westwood’s shot was cleared by Jonathan Royle.
Telford looked threatening every time they pressed forward while Rangers looked unconvincing in clearing their lines but they survived another attack when Jordaan Brown blocked John Marsden’s shot before Newby headed wide.
Then Rangers grabbed a 15th minute equaliser. Listen Westwood picked out Jack Sherratt who played in Richard Gregory and he calmly side stepped Singh to bring the sides level.
A couple of Telford corners put Rangers under pressure again but Marsden, then Shane Sutton put their efforts over the top. Soon after, Adam Whitehouse saved from Marsden when the Telford man was well placed.
Rangers had their openings but Dan Westwood and Osebi Abadaki found their way to goal quickly closed down as half time came with the two sides still on level terms.
Gregory sent a 25 yard free kick just over the Telford bar early in the second half but when Telford struck twice in quick succession, the contest was all but over.
The Bucks went ahead on 56 minutes when Mat Bailey sliced the ball into his own net when trying to clear Dinanga’s header which looked to be missing the target then, six minutes later, the ball rebounded into the net off Anthony Dwyer after Dinanga’s initial header had been blocked.
Any lingering hopes Rangers had were well and truly extinguished on 78 minutes when Henry Cowans played in Jordan Murphy and the Telford sub calmly slotted past Adam Whitehouse to send the home side through.
Telford 1: Jasbir Singh, 2Ross White, 3 Jordan Gough, 4 Connor Johnson, 5 Shane Sutton, 6 Jonathan Royle, 7 Anthony Dwyer (16 Jordan Murphy 63m), 8 Henry Cowans (15 Jordan Lussey 84m), 9 Marcus Dinanga, 10 John Marsden (14 Louis McGrory 76m), 11 Elliot Newby. Unused subs: 12 Aaron Hayden, 13 Sheridan Martinez, 17 Matthew Barnes-Homer, 18 Will Marsh
Rangers: 1 Adam Whitehouse, 2 Sam Griffiths, 3 Kieren Westwood, 4 Jordaan Brown, 5 Mat Bailey, 6 Levi Reid (15 Joe Thomas 65m), 7 Osebi Abadaki (16 Izak Reid 65m), 8 Jack Sherratt, 9 Dan Westwood (14 Louis Briscoe 77m), 10 Richard Gregory, 11 Richard Batchelor. Unused Subs: 12 Kai Davis, 13 Brad Caswell, 17 Kieran Morris
Cautions: Sutton, Dwyer (Telford), Abadaki (Rangers)
Referee: Leigh Doughty
Att: 869
Chris Elsley
Oct 2, 2017 | Club News
The draw for the 4th Qualifying round was made at 1.15pm today and the winners of Tuesday nights replay at AFC Telford United have been handed a home tie against the winners of the replay between Stockport County and FC United.
Oct 1, 2017 | Club News
The Emirates FA Cup 3 Q round replay will take place at Telford on Tuesday 3rd October. Kick off 7.45 pm. In consequence the scheduled League match away to Sutton Coldfield is postponed.
Sep 30, 2017 | Club News
Emirates FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round
Saturday 30 September 2017
Old rivals Stafford Rangers and Telford United could not be separated in this tight local derby.
Stafford got off to a perfect start when Richard Batchelor headed in Jack Sherratt’s free kick on 9 mins. Neither side threatened too much in the following 20 mins but then Telford’s Marcus Dinanga got on the end of Jordan Gough’s cross only to put his volley across the face of goal.
Gough had a couple of chances himself but was kept out, first by Mat Bailey then Adam Whitehouse. In between, Keiren Westwood’s excellent challenge halted Dinanga’s advance as Stafford took their lead into the interval. Telford had the better of the exchanges at the start of the second half though it was Stafford who were first to threaten when Richard Gregory’s shot deflected into the side netting.
Gough then missed out at the other end before a slip from Kieren Westwood let in Anthony Dwyer but the former Stafford player went wide going for glory with better options at his disposal. On 70 mins, an off the ball clash with Gregory resulted in Telford defender Aaron Hayden being dismissed after referee Thomas Parsons had consulted his assistant. Gregory was cautioned for his part.
But the Shropshire side fought back to level when John Marsden fired home on 84 mins following Dinanga’s cut back from the by-line. Stafford had two great chances to win it in added time through Louis Briscoe and Sherratt but both fired over.
Stafford: 1 Adam Whitehouse, 2 Sam Griffiths, 3 Kieren Westwood, 4 Jordaan Brown, 5 Mat Bailey, 6 Levi Reid, 7 Osebi Abadaki (14 Izak Reid 64m), 8 Jack Sherratt, 9 Dan Westwood (12 Kai Davis 77m), 10 Richard Gregory (15 Louis Briscoe 86m), 11 Richard Batchelor. Unused subs: 13 Brad Caswell, 16 Joe Thomas, 17 Kieran Morris
Telford: 1 Jasbir Singh, 2 Ross White, 3 Jordan Gough, 4 Aaron Hayden, 5 Shane Sutton, 6 Jon Royle, 7 Jordan Lussey (15 Elliot Newby 46m), 8 Henry Cowans, 9 Marcus Dinanga, 10 John Marsden, 11 Anthony Dwyer (16 Matthew Barnes-Homer 86m). Unused subs: 12 Louis McGrory, 13 Sheridan Martinez, 14 Jordan Murphy, 17 Will Marsh, 18 Reece Taylor.
Cautions: Griffiths, Gregory (Rangers)
Sent off: Hayden (Telford)
Referee: Thomas Parsons
Att: 1,137
Chris Elsley
