Pitching In Northern Premier League
Saturday 09 April 2022

Stafford Rangers picked up a deserved point from their trip to play off hopefuls Warrington Town but it could easily have been all three.

Rangers played into a strong breeze in the first half but had the better of the first 20 minutes without really creating a clear opening. The best chance came on 5 minutes with an Ethan Stewart header following Alex Fletcher’s corner.

Warrington came more into it and Matty Regan’s flick put Isaac Buckley-Ricketts in but Stewart made an excellent tackle to end the danger.

Warrington’s Bohan Dixon became more influential and showed good skills to set up Josh Amis who was flagged offside.

The home side took the lead on 27 minutes but it was a poor goal to concede from Rangers’ point of view.

The back line and keeper Matty Hewelt both hesitated in dealing with Mitch Duggan’s wind assisted header. Buckley-Ricketts nipped in and fired Warrington in front.

Warrington took control of matters with Jay Harris firing over and Hewelt saving at the back post from Stefan Mols.

Regan fired wide before Evan Gumbs headed over with the final action of the half.

Rangers were very much still in the contest and drew level on 49 minutes following a Tom Tonks throw.

The ball was half cleared but Alex-Ray Harvey saw his chance and rifled home the equaliser from around 30 yards out.

Tre Pemberton hit the side netting as Rangers looked for a second but, at the other end, Warrington still posed a threat and Hewelt had to clear from Amis.

Pemberton sent another effort high and very wide following another Tonks throw before Alex Fletcher fired wide after advancing from midfield to the edge of the area.

Hewelt tipped over from Harris after a scramble in the Stafford area but it was Rangers who finished the stronger of the two sides.

Theo Bailey-Jones somehow failed to convert at the back post from Fletcher’s corner while Kaiman Anderson and Pemberton were both denied in the final minute.

Rangers’ lingering play off hopes are all but over but a top ten finish will be a significant improvement on recent seasons.

Warrington Town: 1 Daniel Atherton, 2 Mitch Duggan, 3 Matty Regan (12 Eddie Clarke 73m), 4 Jay Harris, 5 Mark Roberts, 6 Evan Gumbs, 7 Isaac Buckley-Ricketts, 8 Stefan Mols (14 Sean Williams 73m), 9 Josh Amis, 10 Bohan Dixon, 11 Ben Hough (17 Luke Duffy 63m). Unused Subs 15 Matthew Grivosti, 16 Jack Mackreth.

Stafford Rangers: 1 Mateusz Hewelt, 2 Andrew Burns, 3 Joe Dunne, 4 Alex-Ray Harvey, 5 Ethan Stewart, 6 James O’Neill, 7 Joe Kenton (12 Theo Bailey-Jones 71m), 8 Tom Tonks, 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 Alex Fletcher, 11 Tre Pemberton. Unused Subs: 14 Jediael Abbey, 15 Josh Endall, 16 Ben Woods,17 Jake Charles

Cautions: Regan (Warrington) Hewelt (Rangers)

Referee: Declan Brown

Att: 612

Report: Chris Elsley

Pitching In Northern Premier League
Saturday 02 April 2022

Stafford Rangers recorded their biggest win of the season to condemn bottom of the table Grantham Town to relegation from the Northern Premier League.

Joe Kenton replaced the injured Jake Charles from the side beaten at South Shields and he was involved in two of Rangers goals, scoring one and providing an assist to Kaiman Anderson.

Rangers began well and could have been a goal up inside the first minute after Tre Pemberton collected a loose pass from Jonathon Wafula but Tom Tonks failed to connect with Pemberton’s cross.

Kenton spurned a great chance to open the scoring when he missed the target when well place while the Stafford defence was caught napping when Ellis Storey played in Ricky Miller – fortunately, Mateusz Hewelt was on guard to make a near post save.

Rangers took a deserved lead on 11 minutes when Alex-Ray Harvey’s persistence forced a foul by Elliott Durrell and Tonks struck a 30 yard free kick beyond the reach of James Pollard.

Anderson went close to adding to the lead when he headed over from Andy Burns’ cross before Grantham levelled matters on 21 minutes.

Hewelt had a rush of blood and was caught in no man’s land as he came out to meet Durrell’s free kick. Wafula won the header and Joe Dunne could only head into his own net in his attempts to clear.

Grantham now enjoyed their best period of the game with Miller twice trying his luck without success and Wafula clipping a half volley just wide.

Another good chance for Grantham went begging early in the second half with Shane Clarke failing to convert before Miller could only strike the follow up against the body of Burns.

But Kenton eased Rangers’ nerves when he restored the lead on 58 mins after a good lay off from Anderson and, from then on, the Boro were in total control.

Kenton returned the favour by sending Anderson clear on 67 minutes and the forward finally got some reward for his efforts with a clinical finish.

Pollard made a smart save to deny Pemberton before Ethan Stewart – guilty of missing the target with four headers during the afternoon – forced the ball home in the 89th minute after a long throw from Tonks cleared the Grantham defence.

Stafford Rangers: 1 Mateusz Hewelt, 2 Andrew Burns, 3 Joe Dunne, 4 Alex-Ray Harvey, 5 Ethan Stewart, 6 James O’Neill, 7 Joe Kenton (12 Theo Bailey-Jones 75m), 8 Tom Tonks, 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 Alex Fletcher (14 Jediael Abbey 81m), 11 Tre Pemberton (16 Ben Woods 90m). Unused Subs: 15 Josh Endall, 17 Luis Morrison-Derbyshire,

Grantham Town: 1 James Pollard, 2 Matthew McBride, 3 Ashton Hall, 4 Shane Clarke (15 Steven Leslie 65m), 5 Keegan Townrow, 6 Thomas Unwin, 7 Elliott Durrell, 8 Jonathon Wafula, 9 Ricky Miller (14 Harry Wood 79m), 10 lee Shaw, 10 Ellis Storey (12 Sisa Tuntulwana 65m). Unused Subs 16 Bradley Munns, 17 Harry Johnson

Cautions: Hall, Miller (Grantham)

Referee: Liam Corbett

Att: 555

Report: Chris Elsley

Pitching In Northern Premier League
Tuesday 29 March 2022

Marston Road’s biggest Staffs Senior Cup crowd for more than 30 years saw Stafford Rangers progress to the final of the competition at the expense of a youthful Stoke City side.

Rangers made a number of changes to the side beaten at South Shields with Matt Hill taking the opportunity to give squad members some valuable game time while also taking in to consideration those that needed to play to ensure availability for the final were they to win. Ben Forrest, injured in pre-season, made his first appearance of the campaign as a last minute substitute.

There was never any danger of Rangers not booking their place in the final. Experience proved a telling factor as Rangers asked all of the early questions without getting a clear look at goal.

Blondy Nna Noukeu provided the crowd with some entertainment as he dropped a number of high crosses and comically fell over one of his own team mates after another flap.

The Stoke keeper did show a touch of class on 36 minutes when he clawed away Josh Endall’s header which was heading for the top corner but it was business as usual from the resultant corner. The ball was played back to Joe Dunne who sent in a deep cross that eluded Nna Noukeu and the Stoke defenders and landed in the back of the net.

Having fallen behind, Stoke enjoyed their best spell of the half but failed to threaten the Stafford goal and the home side took their lead into the interval.

Stoke continued to press after the break with Jack Griffiths firing over from just outside the area and Patrick Jarrett shooting tamely at Ty Belford. Soon after, Ibrahim Sy struck the Stafford cross bar – Thomas Sparrow followed up but blazed high over.

But Rangers responded in the best possible fashion when Tom Tonks extended the lead on 59 minutes with a moment of genius when he lobbed Nna Noukeu from the right hand touchline – some 50 yards out.

The biggest concerns Rangers had on the night were injuries picked up by Theo Bailey-Jones and Jake Charles although neither were expected to be anything more than precautionary withdrawals from the game.

Rangers will now face fellow Stafford Borough outfit Stone Old Alleynians in the final tie at Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium on 4 May.

The gate of 608 is the largest to watch a Staffs Senior Cup tie at Stafford since they beat Tamworth 2-0 in January 1989.

Stafford Rangers: 1 Ty Belford, 2 Andrew Burns, 3 Joe Dunne, 4 Alex-Ray Harvey, 5 5 Luis Morrison-Derbyshire, 6 Josh Endall, 7 Joe Kenton (17 Ben Forrest 90+5m), 8 Tom Tonks, 9 Jake Charles (12 Kaiman Anderson 73m), 10 Alex Fletcher, 11 Theo Bailey-Jones (14 Tre Pemberton 66m). Unused Subs: 15 James O’Neill, 16 Ethan Stewart

Stoke City: 1 Blondy Nna Noukeu, 2 Thomas Sparrow, 3 Tom Curl, 4 Adam Porter, 5 David Okagbue, 6 Matthew Baker, 7 Jack Griffiths, 8 Ibrahim Sy, 9 Max McCarthy (16 Nathan Lowe 76m), 10 Ted Cargill (15 Joshua Ireland 65m), 11 Patrick Jarrett. Unused Subs 12 Joshua Bickerton, 13 Robbie Hemfry, 14 Sam Knowles

Cautions: Curl, Okagbue, Ireland (Stoke)

Referee: Michael D’Aguilar

Att: 608

Report: Chris Elsley

Pitching In Northern Premier League
Tuesday 22 March 2022

Stafford Rangers bounced back from the disappointment of seeing their unbeaten record ended by Lancaster with a victory at Witton Albion that keeps up their hopes of gaining an end of season play off place and creates a new club record of 13 away games unbeaten.

It was a scrappy game settled by a scrappy goal – scored by substitute Jake Charles just four minutes after he had been introduced to the action.

Charles had been one of two changes from the side that was beaten by Lancaster with Joe Cuff also left out – in came Kaiman Anderson and Michael Tait-Moran.

It was Anderson who had the best chance of the opening quarter – it was a half chance at best – when he was on the end of a near post cross from Tre Pemberton but Witton’s Will Jones did enough to force a corner.

A long range free kick from Alex Fletcher forced Witton keeper Dermot Mee to tip over but it wasn’t until the game had passed the half hour mark before either side produced a meaningful effort on goal as Joe Mwasile forced a safe from Mateusz Hewelt.

In the closing stages of the first half, Josh Endall twice went close for Rangers following long throws from Tom Tonks but it was a largely forgettable 45 minutes.

Early in the second half, Pemberton produced the best individual moment of the game with a run from the half way line but, having done the hard work, he sent his shot high over the bar.

Struggling Witton spurned a couple of chances of their own as Hewelt saved from James Foley while Callum Saunders fired across the face of goal before Ben Woods had to be on hand to deny Saunders a clear run on goal.

Another run from Pemberton had a similar end product to his first but the introduction of Charles proved to be the turning point as he fired in the only goal of the night on 78 minutes..

Witton keeper Mee should have done better with his efforts to take a high cross from Andy Burns and Charles was first to the loose ball. Mee did just enough to keep Charles out but the ball ran out to Tonks. His scuffed shot struck Mfuni who was lying hurt in the goal mouth and Charles snapped up his chance to hook the ball home.

The goal scorer missed a couple of chances to add to his tally but the best opportunity for a further goal fell to the unmarked Mfundi in the final 5 minutes but he sent his back header over the bar.

Witton Albion: 1 Dermot Mee, 2 Ben Pleavin, 3 Danny McKenna (14 Isaac Baldwin 86m), 4 Josh Wardle, 5 Teddy Mfuni, 6 James Lawrie, 7 Joe Mwasile (12 Jawad Jebrin 82m), 8 Nathan Okome, 9 Callum Saunders, 10 Will Jones, 11 James Foley. Unused Subs 15 Harry Bower, 16 Josh Paterson, 17 Raajan Gill

Stafford Rangers: 1 Mateusz Hewelt, 2 Andrew Burns, 3 Ben Woods (15 Joe Dunne 62m), 4 Alex-Ray Harvey, 5 Josh Endall, 6 James O’Neill, 7 Tre Pemberton (14 Joe Kenton 82m), 8 Tom Tonks, 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 Alex Fletcher, 11 Michael Tait-Moran (12 Jake Charles 74m). Unused Subs: 16 Jed Abbey, 17 Theo Bailey-Jones

Cautions: Wardle (Witton) O’Neill, Tonks (Stafford)

Referee: Richard Abson

Att: 291

Report: Chris Elsley

Pitching In Northern Premier League
Saturday 19 March 2022

Stafford Rangers’ 14 match unbeaten run came to an end in disappointing fashion last Saturday as their home form continued to desert them.

A disjointed and scrappy game saw the visitors triumph by virtue of greater desire to win the first and second ball, yet Rangers could count themselves unlucky with both Jake Charles and Joe Cuff hitting the goal frame.

Rangers were missing Ethan Stewart who was ruled out with a back problem. Josh Endall took his place at the centre of defence.

Endall was in the thick of the action as his side made the perfect start. There were just four minutes on the clock when Endall headed back a deep corner from Tom Tonks and James O’Neill was left with a simple task from a couple of yards out.

Moments earlier, O’Neill had been in his more accustomed role in the Rangers’ defence clearing away the danger after Liam Brockbank had been on the end of a long throw from Sam Bailey.

Lancaster didn’t let the early set back affect them and pressed for an equaliser. Bailey badly miscued after being set up by Andrew Teague but Jack Byrne made no mistake when he levelled on 18 minutes, heading in Brockbank’s corner.

After a weak shot from Bailey had rolled through to Mateusz Hewelt, Lancaster went 2-1 up on 24 minutes. The defence stood static – appearing to wait for the whistle for a clear arm to the head of Tre Pemberton – but the whistle never came, Brockbank centred and Enoch Likoy moved in unchallenged to head past the Stafford keeper.

The was little else to shout about in the remaining 20 minutes of the half as the two defences cleared up anything thrown at them.

An excellent ball from Pemberton, 10 minutes after the interval, put Joe Cuff in but the wide man fired over. Almost immediately after, Lancaster keeper Curtis Anderson had to back pedal to tip over a deep centre from Andy Burns.

Tonks went down in the area on the hour mark only to be cautioned for simulation then a first time chip from Cuff skimmed the outside of the far post.

Rangers continued to create the better chances as a shot from Alex Fletcher deflected off Lancaster’s Joe Blanchard and landed on the roof of the net while Jake Charles hit the bar from distance. Two Rangers players moved in for the rebound but saw the ball bounce back over their heads and Lancaster cleared.

The visitors rarely threatened to add to their tally but they were denied a penalty by referee Jake Allsopp when Joe Rodwell-Grant went to ground after a tangle with Ben Woods.

Stafford Rangers: 1 Mateusz Hewelt, 2 Andrew Burns, 3 Ben Woods, 4 Alex-Ray Harvey (17 Kaiman Anderson 74m), 5 Josh Endall, 6 James O’Neill, 7 Tre Pemberton (14 Joe Kenton 78m), 8 Tom Tonks, 9 Jake Charles, 10 Alex Fletcher, 11 Joe Cuff (12 Michael Tait-Moran 80m). Unused Subs: 15 Joe Dunne, 16 Jed Abbey

Lancaster City: 1 Curtis Anderson, 2 Sam Bailey,3 Liam Brockbank, 4 Jack Byrne, 5 Andrew Teague (12 Ben Anderson 46m), 6 Joe Blanchard (14 Robert Wilson 86m), 7 Christian Sloan, 8 Simon Wills, 9 Enock Likoy (17 Joe Rodwell-Grant 62m), 10 Charlie Bailey, 11 Nathan Reid. Unused Subs 15 Joel Davidson, 16 Joel Darley

Cautions: Tonks, Charles, Cuff (Stafford), Teague, Wills, Reid, Anderson, Rodwell-Grant (Lancaster)

Referee: Jake Allsopp

Att: 613

Report: Chris Elsley

Pitching In Northern Premier League
Saturday 12 March 2022

Another last gasp goal cost Stafford Rangers two points from their visit to Scarborough Athletic.

It was almost a carbon copy finish to the ending of Stafford’s last outing when Mickleover benefited from a questionable free kick in added time.

On Saturday, Tom Tonks was harshly penalised for a block tackle on Luca Colville. From the free kick, Scarborough won a corner which was bundled in at the back post by Kieran Weledji to spark celebrations among the home fans.

Rangers recalled Jake Charles in place of Kaiman Anderson while Ben Woods came in for Joe Dunne who was ruled out with Covid.

Charles, making his first start for eight weeks after injury, looked back to his best and rewarded Matt Hill on 12 minutes, firing past Ryan Whitley following a sharp turn on the edge of the box after Scarborough had failed to clear Alex Fletcher’s free kick.

Jacob Day had the ball in the Stafford net shortly after but was flagged offside as he connected with Bailey Gooda’s header.

Tonks’ long throws have caused opposition defences trouble throughout the season but the Rangers’ defence had to deal with the Scarborough equivalent from Ashley Jackson who hit the post with one throw before Andy Burns cleared the danger.

Scarborough’s first shot on target came via a free kick on 39 minutes but Mateusz Hewelt made a comfortable save from Ryan Watson.

In the closing stages of the half, James O’Neill missed a golden opportunity to extend Stafford’s lead when he was unable to convert from close range following another Fletcher free kick while, at the other end, Burns headed away a goal bound shot from Gooda.

Scarborough were reduced to 10 men 9 minutes into the second half when Simon Heslop picked up his second yellow card. The dismissal triggered a tactical change from the home side with Weledji replacing Cameron Wilson and Watson moving to a more attacking role.

Brad Plant badly miscued a shot from the edge of the area, Colville blazed high over and Hewelt pulled off a great save to keep out Weledji’s header as Stafford looked set to see out the game but Weledji’s late equaliser spoiled the party.

Despite the disappointment, Rangers have now extended their unbeaten run to 14 league and cup games and have equalled their post war record of 12 games unbeaten away from home in the league.

Scarborough Athletic: 1 Ryan Whitley, 2 Ryan Watson, 3 Ashley Jackson, 4 Simon Heslop, 5 Will Thornton, 6 Bailey Gooda, 7 Brad Plant (14 James Cadman 74m), 8 Luca Colville, 9 Jake Day, 10 Kieran Glynn, 11 Cameron Wilson (12 Kieran Weledji 57m). Unused Subs 13 Mathew Bancroft, 15 Dylan Cogill, 16 Michael Coulson

Stafford Rangers: 1 Mateusz Hewelt, 2 Andrew Burns, 3 Ben Woods, 4 Alex-Ray Harvey, 5 Ethan Stewart, 6 James O’Neill, 7 Tre Pemberton (14 Joe Kenton 76m), 8 Tom Tonks, 9 Jake Charles ( 17 Kaiman Anderson 83m), 10 Alex Fletcher, 11 Joe Cuff. Unused Subs: 12 Michael Tait-Moran, 15 Josh Endall, 16 Jed Abbey

Cautions: Hewelt, Woods, Kenton (Stafford)

Sent Off: Heslop (Scarborough) – 2 cautions

Referee: Jack Hall

Att: 1,247

Report: Chris Elsley