Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 9 July 2022

Stafford Rangers were victorious in their second pre-season fixture against Newcastle Town at a sunny Lyme Valley Stadium.

Once again, Rangers fielded two separate sides with all ten outfield players being replaced at half time. Only keeper Cameron Belford remained on the field throughout.

The home side created the first opening with Ryan Baker’s header being pushed away by Belford.

Rangers responded a couple of minutes later with a rising shot from Alex-Ray Harvey that went a couple of inches over the Newcastle cross bar.

Kaiman Anderson should have put Rangers ahead on 21 minutes after being put through by Joe Willis but Newcastle keeper Joe Slinn made a good stop.

Harvey’s afternoon came to an early and painful end midway through the half with a foot injury that could force the Rangers’ captain out of this weekend’s match at Coleshill.

Newcastle were at their most dangerous from set pieces and went close again when Ethan Vale hit the foot of Belford’s left hand post with a free kick before Jack van der Laan put the rebound just wide.

Rangers opened the scoring six minutes before half time when No3 triallist threaded a pass through to Anderson who found some space before turning the ball past Slinn from the angle.

The all-changed Rangers went close to adding to their tally early in the second half with a shot from the No11 triallist curled his shot just wide after linking well with Jack Baxter.

Belford pushed away a Vale free kick while a corner from the Newcastle man flashed across the face of the Stafford goal. As the home side kept searching for a goal, Belford did just enough to keep out Mikey Conlon’s dipping shot.

Rangers’ second goal of the afternoon came on 64 minutes following some good play on the right hand side. Andy Burns played in Jaiden White who, in turn, picked out triallist 11 to score from close range.

Newcastle couldn’t find a way back. Connor Russo came closest to reducing the arrears ten minutes from the end but Belford tipped over.

Newcastle Town: 1 Joe Dlinn, Joe Hurst, Connor Russo, Ethan Vale, James Askey, Luke Dennis, Will Lloyd, Tommy van der Laan, Ryan Baker, Jack van der Laan, Mikey Conlon. Subs including Callum Parker, Ollie Torjussen

Rangers
First Half: Cameron Belford, Trialist, Triallist, Alex-Ray Harvey (Triallist 24m), Ethan Stewart, Louis Morrison, Joe Kenton, Joe Willis, Kaiman Anderson, Trialist, Theo Bailey-Jones

Second Half: Cameron Belford, Andy Burns, Trialist (Triallist 82m), Triallist, Ben Forrest, Joe Dunne, Jaiden White, Tom Tonks, Theo Bailey-Jones, Jayden Hunter-Bailey, Jack Baxter, Trialist

Ref: James Scerri

Report: Chris Elsley

Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 2 July 2022

Stafford Rangers opened their pre-season programme with a short trip to Evans Park to face Stafford Town and it was the home side who triumphed thanks to two first half goals.

But there was no panic after the game from Rangers’ manager Matt Hill who used the match to give 22 players a 45 minute run out with an entirely different XI taking to the field in the second half.

A combination of signed first teamers, academy players and trialists made up the two XIs with Rangers’ fans getting their first look at new signings Cameron Belford, Jack Baxter and Joe Willis. The only player missing from the afternoon was Kaiman Anderson (holiday).

Impressing for Town was right winger Nathan Scott and he was involved in the move that saw Ryan Taylor put Town in front on 21 minutes following Josh Wilson’s cross.

Former Rangers’ player Declan Arber made it 2-0 to Town on 38 minutes – amid unsuccessful claims of handball – when he beat keeper Aidan Jeynes to the ball and rolled it into an empty net.

Rangers’ only shot on target in the first 45 minutes came from Baxter who tried his luck with a drive from outside the area that was parried away by Town keeper Zak Noble.

Academy player Fletcher Rushbury had a couple of chances to get his name on the scoresheet in the second half while Willis saw a shot deflected wide of the target but there was no addition to half time score.

Town:
Zak Noble, Matt Dudley, Henry Smith, Charlie Swingwood, Ben Douglas, Josh Wilson, Nathan Scott, Matt Wood, Declan Arber, Kaz Danilian, Ryan Taylor. Subs Joe Newey, Josh Oultran, Josh Wilson, Will Bates, Callum White

Rangers
First Half: Aidan Jaynes, Andy Burns, Trialist, Will Holt, Ethan Stewart, Ben Forrest, Louis Wright, Tom Tonks, Theo Bailey-Jones, Jack Baxter, Trialist

Second Half: Cameron Belford, Trialist, Joe Dunne, Alex-Ray Harvey, Taylor Draper, Louis Morrison, Joe Kenton, Joe Willis, Jayden Hunter-Baile, Trialist, Trialist

Staffordshire Senior Cup – Final
Wednesday 4 May 2022

Stafford Rangers brought their season to a close with some silverware as they retained the Staffordshire Senior Cup by beating Stone Old Alleynians at Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium.

Playing two tiers above their opponents, Rangers went into the tie as firm favourites but Old Alleynians had enjoyed a great run to book a first ever appearance in the final, defeating three higher ranked sides on their way.

For a while, the “minnows” threatened to add the name of Stafford Rangers to the list of Hednesford Town, Kidsgrove Athletic and Leek Town as Luke Askey was given freedom to head Stone in front on 15 minutes from Sam Bradbury’s left wing corner.

In terms of possession, Rangers dominated throughout, but they had to work hard to create a goal scoring opportunity as the final ball lacked the quality needed.

Shortly after Stone’s opener, Tom Tonks thundered in a shot from an angle which was well blocked by Ryan Goodwin’s head while Stone keeper Adam Alcock just beat Tre Pemberton to a threaded pass from Alex-Ray Harvey.

As the half progressed, Old Alleynians were pushed deeper into defence and the equaliser eventually came seven minutes before the break.

A Stafford corner from the left was only half cleared – Alex Fletcher laid off to Tonks and he fired in a low drive beyond the reach of Alcock.

It was the nerve calmer that Rangers needed to take into half time and the result was never really in doubt from then on.

Joe Kenton’s low centre saw Kaiman Anderson make it 2-1 on 56 minutes when he diverted Tonks’ initial shot past Alcock.

Tonks had a couple of chances to extend the lead. Joe Baxter had to intervene when the industrious midfielder broke into the Stone area then hit the post after the OA’s defence parted in front of him.

Stone made a couple of forays into the Rangers area without posing too much of a threat but any lingering hopes of an upset were extinguished on 79 minutes when Anderson got on the end of a cross whipped in by Theo Bailey-Jones to head in Stafford’s third.

Jake Charles replaced Anderson and should have had his name on the scoresheet in the final minute but former Rangers keeper Alcock saved with his legs.

At the other end, Sam Wilson had a chance of pulling one back but Ethan Stewart did enough to force the corner.

Soon after, Rangers were celebrating their 14th Staffs Senior Cup triumph and they now sit clear in third place on the all time list with Aston Villa’s 16 wins next in their sights. Stoke City top the list on 19 wins.

Stone Old Alleynians: 1 Adam Alcock, 2 Joe Baxter, 3 Ollie Davies, 4 Sam Bradbury (12 Cameron Sinclair 87m), 5 Luke Askey ( 14 Alexander Cimino 67m), 6 Ryan Goodwin, 7 Jack Bowater, 8 William Bailey, 9 Jack Tomlinson, 10 Matt Thomas, 11 Sam Wilson. Unused Subs: 13 Andrew Walklate, 15 Sam Bowater, 16 David Ablewhite

Stafford Rangers: 1 Tyrell Belford, 2 Andrew Burns, 3 Joe Dunne, 4 Alex-Ray Harvey, 5 Ethan Stewart, 6 James O’Neill, 7 Joe Kenton (15 Theo Bailey-Jones 66m), 8 Tom Tonks, 9 Kaiman Anderson (14 Jake Charles 82m, 10 Alex Fletcher, 11 Tre Pemberton (17 Ben Woods 90+3m). Unused Subs: 12 Michael Tait-Moran, 16 Josh Endall

Cautions: None

Referee: Steve Martin

Att: 741

Report: Chris Elsley

Pitching In Northern Premier League
Saturday 23 April 2022

Stafford Rangers ended their Northern Premier League season on a high with a 5-0 thrashing of Ashton United, a result that secured them an eighth place finish.

Rangers dominated from start to finish and after Tom Tonks saw two efforts go wide of the target, they took a deserved lead on 14 mins.

A Tonks throw near the right hand corner flag was flicked on by Ashton’s Ben Hardcastle for Joe Kenton to tap in at the back post.

Two minutes later Kaiman Anderson back healed one over.

Joe Dunne walked through the Ashton defence only to be denied by a parried save by Ashton keeper Luke Taylor.

It was a baptism of fire for the debutant 17 year old but he could do little to stop Anderson making it 2-0 on 24 minutes with a close range finish after Tonks’ centre landed at his feet.

It was more or less game over two minutes later when Anderson put Tre Pemberton through to add the third.

It was nearly four when Kenton charged down Taylor’s attempted clearance but Anderson scuffed his shot.

Rangers’ keeper Tyrell Belford was only required to make one save during the afternoon but it was worth the admission fee alone as he went full stretch to his right to keep out Jordan Simpson’s volley.

James O’Neill hit the Ashton cross bar, Taylor saved from Tonks and Alex-Ray Harvey fired wide as Rangers had to settle for just the three goals by half time.

Shortly after the resumption, Taylor flapped away a Tonks free kick after Sam Baird had pulled back Anderson.

Ashton sub Tom Bentham found himself with a couple of half chances but headed one wide and volleyed the other over while Pababou Jenkins struck the bar with an overhead kick.

But it was Alex Fletcher who provided a fitting end to the afternoon five minutes from time when he fired in a 25 yard free kick for his first goal of the season.

Stafford Rangers: 1 Tyrell Belford, 2 Andrew Burns, 3 Joe Dunne, 4 Alex-Ray Harvey, 5 Ethan Stewart, 6 James O’Neill, 7 Joe Kenton, 8 Tom Tonks (12 Jed Abbey 64m), 9 Kaiman Anderson (14 Jake Charles 79m), 10 Alex Fletcher, 11 Tre Pemberton (15 Theo Bailey-Jones 73m). Unused Subs:16 Josh Endall, 17 Ben Woods

Ashton United: 1 Luke Taylor, 2 Harry Spratt, 3 Cole Lonsdale, 4 Ekow Coker, 5 Harry Coates (18 Thomas Bentham 41m), 6 Samuel Baird, 7 Jordan Simpson (12 Pababou Jenkins 46m), 8 Samuel Sheridan (14 Jack Donlan 72m), 9 Florian Yonsian, 10 Jack Redshaw, 11 Ben Hardcastle. Unused Subs 15 Nicky Hunt, 16 Nathan Ntalu

Cautions: None

Referee: Daniel Smith

Att: 607

Report: Chris Elsley

Pitching In Northern Premier League
Monday 18 April 2022

Stafford Rangers’ hopes of a top ten finish in the Northern Premier League took a blow when a much changed side went down 2-1 at Nantwich Town on Monday.

Despite Matt Hill making seven changes to the side that was beaten by Basford 48 hours earlier, this was a game where Rangers created more than enough chances to win it.

Alex Fletcher skewed an early effort well wide before Jake Charles leapt high to get his head to Fletcher’s right wing corner only for Matt Gould to make a fine save.

Theo Bailey-Jones was lively from the off and he forced another good save from Gould with a snap shot.

But after being outplayed in the opening 10 minutes, it was Nantwich who grabbed the game’s opening goal.

Koke Hall found Akiel Raffie in space on the left and he broke in to the area only to be tripped by Ben Woods. Sean Cooke fired in the penalty to give the home side a 12th minute lead.

Matty Hewelt prevented Nantwich from doubling the lead when he parried away Raffie’s shot before Michael Tait levelled matters on 22 minutes when he took advantage of some sloppy defending following a deep ball in from Andy Burns.

Despite Rangers still playing the better football, Nantwich were creating the better chances and Hewelt made another good save to keep out a header from the unmarked Joel Stair before Hall fired across the face of goal and wide of the far post.

With the half time whistle imminent, Matt Bell played a ball for Cooke over the top of the Rangers’ defence. Raffie crossed for Hall to move in unchallenged and score.

Fletcher is without a goal for Stafford this season but he couldn’t be criticised for trying on this afternoon. Shortly after half time Gould turned over a drive that was heading for the top corner then acrobatically dived to his left to hold on to another shot from the Rangers’ midfielder.

Jed Abbey, making his first start for the club, fired over then saw another effort clawed away by Gould with Rangers’ fans claiming that the ball had crossed the line.

At the other end, Hall came within a whisker of putting Nantwich further ahead when he hit the post with a 30 yard lob after being put through by Joe Robbins.

Rangers kept pressing for the equaliser and Tre Pemberton forced another save from Gould while Fletcher dinked one onto the roof of the Nantwich net. Fletcher almost broke his duck with the final kick of the game but his drive from 20 yards out went just the wrong side of the post.

The NPL season reaches its conclusion this Saturday when Rangers take on Ashton United at Marston Road.

Nantwich Town: 1 Matt Gould, 2 Joel Stair, 3 Jamie Morgan, 4 Troy Bourne, 5 Josh Langley, 6 Matt Bell, 7 Akiel Raffie (15 Connor Heath 66m), 8 Joe Robbins, 9 Jake Bickerstaffe, 10 Sean Cooke (16 Luke Nock 80m), 11 Koke Hall (12 Joe Malkin 84m). Unused Subs 14 Matty Devine, 17 Jon Moran

Stafford Rangers: 13 Mateusz Hewelt, 2 Andrew Burns, 3 Ben Woods, 4 Jed Abbey, 5 Luis Morrison-Derbyshire, 6 Josh Endall, 7 Theo Bailey-Jones, 8 Tom Tonks, 9 Jake Charles (12 Kaiman Anderson 77m), 10 Alex Fletcher, 11 Michael Tait-Moran (15 Tre Pemberton 69m). Unused Subs: 14 Joe Kenton, 16 Alex-Ray Harvey, 17 James O’Neill

Cautions: Woods, Abbey(Rangers)

Referee: Liam Corrigan

Att: 1002

Report: Chris Elsley

Pitching In Northern Premier League
Saturday 16 April 2022

It was a disappointing afternoon for Stafford Rangers who were beaten at home by relegation threatened Basford United – a result that boosts the Nottingham clubs chances of survival.

Rangers fielded the same starting line up that drew 1-1 with Warrington a week earlier – the only change being Luis Morrison-Derbyshire on the substitutes bench in place of Josh Endall who picked up an injury in training.

On a sunny afternoon, clear chances at either end were few and far between but, in the opening half hour, the best of them fell to the home side.

Kaiman Anderson created some space but saw his shot go through tamely to Kieran Preston in the Basford goal after a visiting defender had intervened then a good ball from Alex Fletcher gave Tom Tonks half a chance but Preston gathered comfortably.

Rangers kept probing and a back header from Ethan Stewart went just over while two more efforts from Tonks went wide of the target.

Tonks’ trademark throw ins made life difficult for Basford all afternoon but Rangers failed to capitalise.

It was towards the latter stages of the half that either keeper was called upon to make a real save when Rangers’ Mateusz Hewelt had to be alert as he blocked a shot from Liam Hearn.

It was Hearn who netted the only goal of the game on the stroke of half time. A short throw from Jordan Helliwell was taken down by Callum Chettle who crossed into the six yard box. Hearn was the only player who reacted and fired home at the second attempt although he appeared to have controlled the initial cross with his hand.

Hearn missed an opportunity to extend the lead early in the second half when his shot was blocked while Rangers saw efforts from James O’Neill, Fletcher and Tonks miss the target before Preston saved with his feet to keep out Tre Pemberton.

At the other end, Hewelt saved twice in a minute, denying Courey Grantham with his feet and tipping over a shot from Lirak Hasani that hadn’t appeared to be a threat when it left his boot.

Rangers’ best effort of the afternoon was a Tonks free kick that was heading for the top corner until it was turned away by Preston.

Basford wasted several opportunities from counter attacks and they should have been made to pay in the dying moments but Pemberton failed to connect at the back post from Jake Charles’ flick while Theo Bailey-Jones saw his shot deflected wide for a corner.

Stafford Rangers: 13 Mateusz Hewelt, 2 Andrew Burns, 3 Joe Dunne (17 Jake Charles 70m), 4 Alex-Ray Harvey, 5 Ethan Stewart, 6 James O’Neill, 7 Joe Kenton (16 Ben Woods 70m), 8 Tom Tonks, 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 Alex Fletcher (12 Theo Bailey-Jones 83m, 11 Tre Pemberton. Unused Subs: 14 Jediael Abbey, 15 Luis Morrison-Derbyshire

Basford: 1 Kieran Preston, 2 Owen Betts, 3 Jordan Helliwell, 4 Dominic Roma, 5 Brad Gascoigne, 6 Lewi Carr, 7 Lirak Hasani, 8 Declan Dunn, 9 Liam Hearn (12 Matthew Thornhill 90m), 10 Courey Grantham (15 Tyreace Palmer 86m), 11 Callum Chettle. Unused Subs 14 Kane Richard, 16 Callum Frogson, 17 Jordan Pierrepont
Note: Hearn and Grantham listed as 10 & 9 respectively on the team sheet.

Cautions: Burns, Stewart (Rangers) Betts, Helliwell, Gascoigne, Chettle (Basford)

Referee: Ben Cooke

Att: 582

Report: Chris Elsley