Match Report: Workington 0-0 Stafford Rangers.
Stafford Rangers maintain their unbeaten away record for the season as they keep a clean sheet in a tough trip to AFC Workington which included a superb performance from young goalkeeper Brad Caswell, who stepped up to the challenge impressively with Adam Whitehouse unavailable.
Boro had the first chance after a quiet opening to the game, Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson was unlucky not to score as he was just short of reaching the ball at the back post, as a cross came in from the right by Rangers striker Dan Westwood.
Workington then had the best chance of a quiet first half, the hosts had a free kick in the 27th minute which was swung into the area missing everyone except Caswell who’s finger tip save kept the score line level.
Workington carried on pressuring the visitors when a swirling effort from Symington from long rage, but the Stafford keeper on debut was level to the shot.
Dan Westwood nearly made it 6 goals in 5 games, as the ball deflected into the path of the striker off a Workington defender, however Westwood was unable to get full control of the ball before the Workington keeper was able to claim it.
The last chance of the game came from the visitors, Kieran Morris’ header was just wide of the target.
Attendance: 419.
Mickleover Sports 0 Stafford Rangers 2
Evo-Stik League Premier Division
Tuesday 22 August 2017
Dan Westwood made it five goals in four games as Rangers bounced back from Saturday’s defeat at home to Buxton to go top of the league with victory at Mickleover.
Rangers made three changes with Richard Batchelor returning and first starts for Jack Sherratt and Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson.
Mickleover shaded a frenetic start and were the first to threaten when Clinton Morrison and Ben Turner linked to set up Jimmy Phillips whose low drive was turned away for a corner by Adam Whitehouse.
Rangers were struggling to retain possession or make any real advance into the Mickleover half and when they did, the final ball was lacking.
Dan Westwood nearly worked an opening, forcing Pablo Mills to hack the ball clear from the 6 yard box.
With chances at both ends at a premium, Bradley Grayson should have done better when given time and space on the edge of the Rangers area. Instead, the Mickleover forward sent the ball high over the bar.
Grayson was in again a couple of minutes later when he beat the offside trap but Jordaan Brown defended well to clear the immediate danger.
The game badly needed a goal and it came in the 50th minute to that man Westwood.
Mat Bailey got his head to a Louis Briscoe corner and Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson nipped in to square for Westwood who tapped in from close range.
Morrison fired just wide and a Mills header was just off target as Mickleover looked for an instant response
Adam Whitehouse saved from Andy Dales and then kept out a close range effort from Mills before Grayson sent a free kick over the Rangers bar as Mickleover kept up their search for an equaliser.
Jack Sherratt blazed over with better options at his disposal while Westwood went over from distance and Mat Bailey headed wide as Rangers aimed to put some daylight between the two sides.
Mickleover sub Ben Morris forced a good save from Whitehouse just moments after coming on while Tom Burgin missed out twice going wide each time.
Rangers made certain of the points four minutes into added time with a breakaway goal. Izak Reid’s crossfield ball picked out brother Levi on the right and his cross was met by Westwood who headed in his second of the night.
Mickleover Sports: 1 Nick Draper, 2 Kevin Grocott, 3 Ben Turner, 4 Jimmy Phillips (16 Jermaine Palmer 83m), 5 Pablo Mills, 6 Tom Burgin, 7 Andy Dales, 8 Clinton Morrison (15 Ben Morris 75m), 9 Bradley Grayson, 10 Evan Garnett (17 Zeph Thomas 75m), 11 Danny Gordon. Unused Subs: 12 Morgan Williams, 14 Will Norcross
Rangers: 1 Adam Whitehouse, 2 Kai Davis, 3 Jordaan Brown, 4 Kieran Morris, 5 Mat Bailey, 6 Jack Langston (15 Levi Reid 75m), 7 Jack Sherratt, 8 Louis Briscoe (14 Kyle Perry 90+5m), 9 Dan Westwood, 10 Bradley Fortnam -Tomlinson (16 Izak Reid 85m), 11 Richard Batchelor. Unused subs: 12 Exodus Geohagon, 17 Joe Thomas
Cautions: Burgin (Mickleover) Brown, Briscoe (Rangers)
Ref: Craig Rollason
Att: 303
Buxton
Rangers lost their 100 per cent record after a defeat against Buxton at Marston Road .
Rangers made two changes as Jake Heath replaced the missing Richard Batchelor, and Jordaan Brown also came into the team for his debut.
It was the Boro who had the first chance of the game in the 11th minute, and it came on the counter attack as Louis Briscoe broke, with the ball finding Dan Westwood, who went one-on-one with a defender, but his shot was way over.
It was then Buxton’s turn to break, as Liam Hardy looked to run through on goal, but Kai Davis managed to get back and block the shot.
Midway through the first half, Buxton were awarded a corner which found skipper Greg Young, who couldn’t trouble the Rangers goal with his header as it went wide.
It was nearly a repeat of the goal scored in the victory over Sutton Coldfield Town on the half hour mark, as Izak Reid’s corner found Mat Bailey, who rose high and connected well, but was unfortunate to see the chance rattle the bar.
Buxton, who had been forced to make two changes inside the first quarter of the game, were awarded a controversial free-kick in a promising position, and it was one of those replacements – Niall Doran – who curled the ball into the top corner to give the hosts the lead after 33 mins.
It was a tough start for Rangers in the second half as they went 2-0 down in the 49th minute. The goal came from another set piece, this time a corner, which was headed home by Sam Smith, the other first half substitute.
The visitors made it 3-0 just before the hour mark, as Ricky Ravenhill’s chipped ball to the far post was not dealt with by Adam Whitehouse, leaving a tap in for Hardy (57 mins).
Boro did pull back a consolation goal on 70 mins as Westwood got himself on the scoresheet again – making it three goals in three games. The assistant referee had his flag up as Westwood went round the keeper and scored, but the referee overruled the decision, the ball finding its way to Westwood via a Buxton player.
However, the goals didn’t stop there. Boro tried pushing themselves back into the game, bringing on forwards Kyle Perry and Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson, but Buxton went on the counter-attack, and allowed Hardy to sit down Whitehouse, before scoring with ease.
There was more controversy at the end of the game, after a collision between the Buxton keeper Jan Budtz and Perry, but the referee felt that both players deserved just a yellow card.
Rangers: 1 Adam Whitehouse, 2 Kai Davis, 3 Jordaan Brown, 4 Kieran Morris, 5 Mat Bailey, 6 Jack Langston, 7 Joe Thomas (17 Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson 55m), 8 Izak Reid (16 Levi Reid 81m), 9 Dan Westwood, 10 Louis Briscoe, 11 Jake Heath (14 Kyle Perry 55m). Unused Subs: 12 Exodus Geohaghon, 15 Jack Sherratt
Buxton: 1 Jan Budtz, 2 Josh Meade, 3 Andy McWilliams, 4 Ricky Ravenhill, 5 Joe Maguire, 6 Greg Young, 7 Joe McGee, 8 Alpha Kaba, 9 Ant Wilson (12 Sam Smith 6m), 10 Liam Hardy, 11 Alastair Taylor (14 Niall Doran 21m(15 Luke Hinsley 88m)). Unused Subs 16 Tyler Williams, 17 Jake Williams
Cautions: I Reid & Briscoe (Rangers), Budtz, Doran (Buxton)
Referee: Bradley Hall
Attendance: 592
KIDS FOR A QUID SUSPENDED
Following advice from a number of statutory bodies and after a risk assessment Stafford Rangers FC have decided to suspend the ‘Kids for a Quid’ scheme for the coming home game against Hednesford Town on Bank Holiday Monday. Children and young people under the age of 16 will still only have to pay £1.00 to watch the game provided they are accompanied by an adult who agrees to take responsibility for them during the game. Unaccompanied children and young people will have to pay a concessionary rate of £5.00. This decision follows unruly behaviour by a small number of youngsters at recent games between the two teams.
EMIRATES FA CUP 1ST QUALIFYING ROUND
Stafford Rangers versus Peterborough Sports Away
September 2nd
3:00PM
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