Pitching In Northern Premier League
Saturday 5 February 2022

Stafford Rangers’ recorded their fifth draw in six games as they kept up their unbeaten record in 2022.

While the wait for a home win stretched to nine games, the home camp were pleased with the outcome after injury and covid isolation ruled out six players – leaving the Boro only able to name two outfield players on the bench with keeper Tyrell Belford the third named substitute.

Rangers’ depleted line up was further hit when Michael Tait limped off on 15 minutes with a hamstring injury.

With a strong wind blowing downfield, the first half produced little to stick in the memory until stoppage time when Stafford keeper Luke Pilling pulled off one of his customary top class saves, diving to his left to push away a volley from Priestley Griffiths.

But, with the wind in their backs, the home fans might still have expected more from their side in the first half. Instead it was Whitby who looked the most likely to open the scoring for much of the half.

Jacob Hazel tput the ball in the Rangers’ net just before the half hour mark but he was flagged offside – an easy decision for the assistant.

It was a bit of a wake up call for Rangers who created their best chance a minute later only for Kaiman Anderson to shoot tamely wide.

Alex Fletcher and James O’Neill both volleyed well over but Whitby finished on top with Pilling forced to save from Harry Green after Hazel had charged down Ethan Stewart’s clearance before Griffiths was denied by Pilling just before the interval.

The second half was a more entertaining affair and saw Rangers playing a much better game.

Shane Bland turned an inswinger from Anderson on to the roof of the net then both Stewart and O’Neill were denied by goal line clearances from Adam Gell and Jon Burn respectively.

Fletcher declined a first time shot and, when he finally sent the ball goalwards, it was an easy gather for Bland while Stewart went close again with Bland forced into another tip over.

The visitors remained firmly in the contest and Rangers needed a goal-line clearance from Stewart to keep out Lewis Hawkins. A scramble ensued before Rangers managed to clear the danger.

Stewart found himself in the thick of the action at both ends but he was unable to find a clear shot in another scramble – this time in the Whitby area.

Tre Pemberton – with a man of the match performance on his first league start – and Andy Burns tried their luck without success while Whitby’s Green outwitted himself when well placed for the visitors.

Play off hopefuls Whitby upped the pressure in the final stages with the introduction of Malik Dijksteel but they failed to test Pilling, the best opportunity seeing a centre from Green skim off the head of Jameel Ible.

Stafford Rangers: 13 Luke Pilling, 2 Andrew Burns, 3 Joe Dunne , 4 Alex-Ray Harvey, 5 Ethan Stewart, 6 James O’Neill, 7 Michael Tait-Moran (12 Ben Woods 16m), 8 Tom Tonks, 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 Alex Fletcher, 11 Tre Pemberton. Unused Subs: 1 Tyrell Belford, 14 Louis Malandjou – only three subs named

Whitby Town: 1 Shane Bland, 2 Jameel Ible, 3 Jaseem Sukar, 4 Adam Gell, 5 Dan Rowe, 6 Jon Burn, 7 Priestley Griffiths, 8 Lewis Hawkins, 9 Jacob Hazel, 10 Harry Green, 11 Josh MacDonald (18 Malik Dijksteel 71m). Unused Subs 12 Jake Hackett, 14 Coleby SHepherd, 15 Nathan Dyer, 16 Soni Fergus

Cautions: Burns (Rangers), Ible, Rowe, Burn (Whitby)

Referee: Sam Wesson

Att: 580

Report: Chris Elsley

Pitching In Northern Premier League
Saturday 29 January 2022

Stafford Rangers’ refusal to give up saw them earn a point at Gainsborough Trinity via a stoppage time equaliser from Michael Tait after former Boro player Cieron Keane had looked to have won it for the home side.

Kicking into a strong wind, Rangers should have been ahead inside two minutes. Ethan Stewart’s header produced a good reaction save from home keeper Matt Yates and, from the resultant corner, the unmarked Stewart volleyed over with the goal at his mercy.

Stafford continued to create the better chances as Tom Tonks dispossessed Neal Bishop near the right touchline but his speculative shot fell short of Yates.

Joe Cuff, back in the starting line up after only making the bench in the previous two games, then made a couple of threatening runs which eventually came to nothing.

It was midway through the first half before Gainsborough had their first look in but Luke Pilling made a fine double save to keep out Jovon Makama’s initial shot and Elicha Ahui’s follow up.

It needed a timely intervention from Joe Dunne to deny Makama a free run on goal after a smart turn from the Lincoln City loanee.

As the half drew to a close, a free kick just evaded Lewis Carr’s head while Brad Grayson was just wide after a misjudgement from Stewart.

Rangers didn’t use the wind to their advantage after the turn around although they went close to an opener with Cuff and Stewart in the mix before Gainsborough cleared the danger.

Soon after, Tonks failed to connect with Tait’s centre while Cuff had two bites of the cherry before Kaiman Anderson went wide with the final touch.

Makawa wasted a golden opportunity for the home side when he blazed over but it was Rangers who looked the most threatening as Tonks went wide from distance while Yates kept out Stewart.

When Tonks sent a late header on the roof of the net, the game appeared set to end goal-less but, as the clock reached 90 minutes, Keane clipped a 25 yarder that floated over Pilling to put Gainsborough ahead.

But the drama was not yet over and Rangers snatched a point with an equaliser in the third minute of added time when Tonks’ cross fell to Alex Fletcher and Tait diverted his shot past Yates.

Gainsborough Trinity: 1 Matt Yates, 2 George Hornshaw, 3 Isaac Rice, 4 Neal Bishop, 5 Lewis Carr, 6 Callum Minkley, 7 Alex Wollerton (15 Cameron Johnson 59m), 8 Elicha Ahui, 9 Jovon Makama, 10 Brad Grayson, 11 Cieron Keane. Unused Subs 12 Charlie Jemson, 14 Curtis Morrison, 16 Declan Bacon, 17 Tom Cursons

Stafford Rangers: 13 Luke Pilling, 2 Andrew Burns, 3 Joe Dunne (14 Ben Woods 70m), 4 Alex-Ray Harvey, 5 Ethan Stewart, 6 James O’Neill, 7 Michael Tait-Moran, 8 Tom Tonks, 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 Alex Fletcher, 11 Joe Cuff (12 Tre Pemberton 76m). Unused Subs: 1 Tyrell Belford, 15 Louis Malandjou – four subs named

Cautions: None

Referee: Daniel Woolley

Att: 542

Report: Chris Elsley

Pitching In Northern Premier League
Tuesday 25 January 2022

A gutsy all round display saw Stafford Rangers keep their Play Off hopes alive with victory away to Radcliffe.

Tom Tonks scored the only goal of the game shortly before half time but Rangers had to withstand a late onslaught from the home side to ensure they returned home with maximum points.

Rangers were unchanged from the side that drew at Atherton and started brightly but it was Radcliffe who created the first opening when Tom Miller’s long ball put Luca Navarro in but Andy Burns came across quickly to clear the danger.

Luke Pilling caught a header from Navarro a couple of minutes later before Jack Moore fired into the side netting when well placed.

Navarro, who scored three goals during a short spell with Rangers at the start of the season, tried his luck with a speculative effort from the right touchline, but Pilling wasn’t deceived.

Rangers created an opening on the half hour when Ben Woods beat his man and picked out Tonks but the Rangers’ midfielder produced an “air shot” and the chance passed by.

Rangers’ keeper Pilling was again his side’s saviour when he tipped a shot from Moore over the bar and the Radcliffe no11 missed out again with a poor connection which allowed Pilling to gather.

Tonks’ goal was the finish to a smart Rangers move with an excellent ball from Alex Fletcher picking out Joe Kenton on the right. Kenton centred and Tonks drilled home his 9th goal of the season from around 10 yards out.

Rangers looked comfortably in control of proceedings at the start of the second half and could have extended their lead when home keeper Jack McIntyre picked up a back pass but, from the free kick, Tonks sent his shot skywards and out of the ground.

The home side looked a greater threat after the introduction of Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro and the last 20 minutes saw Rangers have to keep out wave after wave of attacks. A combination of resilient defending and poor finishing saw Rangers through.

Olly Thornley headed straight at Pilling following a corner before Akpa-Akpro hit the bar and Navarro missed his chance with a poor follow up.

Pilling and Burns combined to deny Bobby Grant while Pilling kept out another effort from Akpa-Akpro.

With better finishing, Navarro could have helped himself to a hatful of goals but his night was summed up in added time when he blazed over from 15 yards out.

At the other end, Rangers’ sub Joe Cuff was denied by McIntyre but the final say went to Rangers with Burns and Tonks on hand to keep Radcliffe out during a last ditch game of pin-ball in the Rangers’ area.

Radcliffe: 1 Jack McIntyre, 2 Tom Miller, 18 Taylor Jones, 4 Olly Thornley, 5 Jo Cummings, 6 Simon Lenighan, 7 Luca Navarro, 8 Jack Baxter, 9 John Pritchard (15 Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro 63m), 10 Bobby Grant, 11 Jack Moore. Unused Subs: 12 Tayt Trusty, 13 Joey Oldham, 14 Callum Gribbin, 16 Matthew Crothers

Stafford Rangers: 13 Luke Pilling, 2 Andrew Burns, 3 Ben Woods, 4 Alex-Ray Harvey, 5 Ethan Stewart, 6 Joe Dunne, 7 Joe Kenton (14 Louis Malandjou 90+1m), 8 Tom Tonks, 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 Alex Fletcher, 11 Michael Tait-Moran (16 Joe Cuff 77m). Unused Subs: 1 Tyrell Belford, 12 Tre Pemberton, 15 Thomas Carr,

Cautions: Pritchard, Thornley (Radcliffe) Anderson (Rangers)

Referee: Gareth Thomas

Att: 480

Report: Chris Elsley