We can confirm that Joe Cuff has returned to the club. Joe left us for a period at hometown club Whitchurch Alport last Summer, but now returns to give us further attacking options. Joe has been cleared and is available for weekend selection for our home game against Scarborough.
Tuesday night and it’s cup football again. Fresh from securing a semi-final spot in the Walsall Senior Cup, Brocton stand in our way from making it to the semi-final of the Staffordshire Senior Cup. As holders we want to progress to defend our cup in a final at Stoke or Port Vale, but Brocton will be looking for revenge as we knocked them out of the Walsall Senior Cup on their ground last November.
Both teams saw strange results on Saturday. Why we held playoff chasing Warrington, Brocton lost at home to Uttoxeter Town. While we lie bottom in the step 3 league Brocton are second in their step 6 league, but sadly a long way behind runaway leaders Leicester Road. The way football goes, the two teams could be a lot closer in the non-league pyramid this time next season.
With that in mind we must ensure that Rangers take the positive approach and repeat the Walsall Senior Cup performance when we beat Brocton 4-0 earlier this season. No doubt Brocton will come to Marston Road to “put one over” their senior neighbours, and again with next season in mind, put in a performance to set up a potential move across town.
Please come on down to Marston Road on Tuesday night to see what should be an entertaining game, and despite their name being a village between Stafford and Cannock, they do play within the borough of Stafford, so we should have a “Stafford” team in the semi-finals.
Games played on 21st January this century
2006 Hyde 1-0 Conference North
2012 Stocksbridge 5-1 Northern Premier League
2017 Grantham 0-1 Northern Premier League
An Update from Management, before our home game with Warrington Town.
We can confirm that the signing of forward, Jazz Luckie, has been cleared. We welcome Jazz back, who was most recently with Alvechurch. We await clearance on one more signing while Management are in negotiations to bring a further two players in, in the next week
Lewis King’s groin injury is unlikely to have cleared in time for today’s game. Tom Thorley is now in training and kicking a ball, so his situation will be closely monitored and we all hope to see him back as soon as he is ready. Robert Thompson Brown’s injury returned and he is out for the foreseeable future. Luke Jones is still also being assessed on his long term injury. Thanks for your continued support and we fight on to turn things round.
Warrington preview
This game is predicted to go down to the wire. Pun intended as the nickname of Warrington is the Wires. For a change we do not have a six-pointer fixture, so perhaps coupled with our Walsall Senior Cup victory on Tuesday, we can tackle this game with no pressure. That is because Warrington currently lie 5th (in the playoff group) so on paper it should be a banker away win. However, at the start of November, in similar positions we were leading 1-0, but came away with a 2-1 defeat as Warrington scored two late goals to secure the points. Just goes to show how tight this league is. In fact, Warrington’s 1-0 win at home to Radcliffe last Saturday was their first won since the end of November. If we can replicate our own performance over Radcliffe, then who knows what could happen.
Warrington’s away record in the league this season, shows then to be a hard team to beat. They have won 4 games on their travels at Atherton, Matlock, Nantwich and Whitby. They have only lost one game on the road, that being a 4-0 defeat at Morpeth. To show their away strength, they have drawn 5 games. While holding, top clubs such as South Shields, Scarborough and Radcliffe, they have also drawn at Bamber Bridge and Gainsborough which could give us confidence of grinding out a draw.
Over the years Warrington had slowly climbed the pyramid and it was not until season 2016/17 that the two teams met in a league fixture. Our first home meeting saw a 2-2 draw, with the following season seeing out a goal less draw. Guess what, last seasons encounter was a 1-1 draw. If we can keep that sequence going, then most will see a point as a start to a run to safety. At least with our position I doubt the game will be abandoned due to fog, as per the infamous game at Warrington in season 16/17.
The management team were keen to stress that everyone is working together, and that includes the fans to help bring about a positive result. So please venture down to Marston Road and support the team.
Games played on January 18th this century
2000 Rocester H 2-1 Dr Martens West league
2011 Harrogate A 2-3 Conference North
2014 Droylsden H 3-1 Northern Premier League
Tuesday 14th – as of mid afternoon, tonight’s game with Boldmere St Michael’s is ON
The Under 18’s game against Hednesford is off due to a waterlogged pitch.
