A late goal gave Stafford Rangers a deserved share of the spoils on the 3G surface of Basford United ending a run of three consecutive defeats on the artificial surface. It was Basford’s first home draw of the season. Rangers were unchanged from the side that beat Bamber Bridge a week earlier, apart from Andrai Jones replacing Louis Briscoe on the substitutes bench.

When the two sides met at the same venue in an FA Trophy tie three months ago, Rangers were blown away as Basford raced into a three-goal lead inside 20 minutes. The Notts side found a different looking Stafford side this time around and one which was asking some questions of the home defence although it was Basford who came closest to an opener in the first 20 minutes.

A long kick from home keeper Saul Deeley threatened to put Basford’s Shaun Harrad in but Stafford defender Dan Burns did well to hold him off and get the ball back to Adam Siviter. Siviter was in the action again when he failed to take Nathan Watson’s dipping cross, but he recovered in time to dive on to the loose ball.

But it was James Reid’s free kick on 19 minutes that came closest to a goal – the ball striking the Stafford wall before looping over. Rangers’ first serious effort came a couple of minutes later when a good ball down the line from Theo Bailey-Jones found Jake Charles who, in turn, spotted a run from Jack Sherratt but the midfielder’s shot went the wrong side of Deeney’s right hand post. Soon after, Sim Thandi curled one over after an exchange of passes with Charles then Joe Cuff went just wide following Thandi’s lay off.

A good move from the home side saw Fernando Bell-Toxtle put in Zak Goodson but he was denied by an important challenge from Burns. The deadlock was finally broken with a superb strike from Bailey-Jones on 33 minutes. Cuff found his man wide on the right after just winning the battle for a 50-50 ball and Bailey-Jones let fly with a shot across Deeley and inside the far post. Basford went close to an equaliser on the stroke of half time when Watson flicked Reid’s free kick on to Liam Bateman but Siviter saved well with his body.

Bailey-Jones missed a great chance to increase Stafford’s lead early in the second half when he blazed over from close range following Matt Hill’s cross. A minute later, Tom Thorley filed to shoot when the opportunity arose on the edge of the area. They were costly misses as Basford, boosted by sub Liam Hearn, levelled on 65 minutes when Matthew Thornhill’s ball found Jack Thomas and he created himself a yard of space to fire smartly past Siviter. Basford went in front three minutes later; Reid’s free kick was met by a glancing header from Shaun Harrad and Siviter’s best efforts were to no avail.  Stafford should have been awarded a penalty on 74 minutes when Thornhill handled inside the area, but referee Richie Watkins waved play on.
Basford controlled the final 15 minutes to repel almost everything that Stafford had to offer. Rangers should have levelled in the final minute of normal time when Ben Mills skewed wide when well-placed, but the visitor’s persistence paid off and they grabbed a share of the spoils in the first minute of added time when Deeney’s save to deny Bailey-Jones rebounded into the net off Basford defender Dominic Roma.

Basford: 1 Saul Deeney, 2 Jack Thomas, 3 James Reid, 4 Jerry Nash, 5 Liam Bateman, 6 Dominic Roma, 7 Fernando Bell-Toxtle, 8 Matthew Thornhill, 9 Nathan Watson (14 Louis Tomlinson 90m), 10 Shaun Harrad, 11 Zak Goodson (12 Liam Hearn 56m). Unused Subs 15 Max Foster, 16 Gregory Mouloupolous, 17 Dennell Stokes (gk)
Stafford: 1 Adam Siviter, 2 Sim Thandi, 3 Matt Hill, 4 Luke Jones, 5 Dan Burns, 6 Jack Sherratt (16 Ben Mills 78m), 7 Theo Bailey-Jones, 8 Tom Thorley, 9 Jake Charles, 10 Peter Williams (17 Andrai Jones 69m), 11 Joe Cuff (12 Andy Haworth 59m). Unused Subs, 14 Sam Coulson, 15 Paul Bignot
Cautions: Cuff, Sherratt (Rangers)

Referee: Richie Watkins

Att: 308

Report by Chris Elsley

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League | Saturday 16 February 2019

Stafford Rangers picked up their first home win in two months in a tense battle against Bamber Bridge, a win that was enough to lift them above local rivals Hednesford Town in to 18th place. Rangers recalled Joe Cuff to the starting line up with new signing Paul Bignot taking a place on the substitutes bench. Missing from the 16 who lost at Scarborough a week earlier were Jed Davies and Andrai Jones.

There was a minute’s applause before kick off as tribute was paid to the late Gordon Banks and it was somewhat fitting that the two keepers on show in this Evo-Stik League encounter should put on a fine display to keep their respective sides in the contest. Bamber Bridge’s Lloyd Rigby was easily the busier of the two in the opening 45 minutes – a half dominated by Rangers – although he only made one significant save and that from the head of one of his own team-mates.

Rangers went on the attack from the start and, in the 3rd minute, a good ball hooked through from Jake Charles sent Cuff away in the inside left channel, but the young midfielder skewed his shot wide of the target. Five minutes later, Charles himself went wide from around 25 yards after Tom Thorley’s long throw had put the home side under pressure. Theo Bailey-Jones was next to have a look in, but he failed to produce the goods from the edge of the D after getting into a promising position. But, the early pressure finally produced some reward in the 11th minute when another Thorley throw fell to Charles with a yard of space, he made no mistake.

Cuff missed out on another good opportunity when Luke Jones’ long ball had Brig’s Matt Lawlor beaten – this time the Rangers man was unable to get in a shot and Rigby gathered up. A late challenge on Matt Hill by Danny Forbes earned the visiting midfielder the games’ only caution and from the free kick, only a fine tip over from Rigby prevented Forbes from heading into his own net.

Brig were always going to have their moments although they were few in the first half. Dan Burns made a good block to deny Alistair Waddecar – he scored four goals in his side’s 6-1 win when the two teams met earlier in the season – but it was Lawlor who squandered their best opportunity when he skied over following Matt Dudley’s free kick.

Having dominated so much of the play, it was appropriate that Rangers would end the half on top, but they went in at the break with just their one goal advantage after Cuff missed another two chances that fell his way while Burns’ header landed on the roof of the net. Whatever was said in the visitors’ dressing room during the interval must have hit home as Brig were the first to show at the start of the second half. They should have levelled just a couple of minutes after the restart when recent signing Scott Harries was put in by Waddecar, but he was denied by the feet of Rangers’ keeper Adam Siviter.

Stafford responded and Rigby tipped another over his crossbar – this time from Bailey-Jones, then, an error from Callum Spooner opened the door for Rangers once more before Lawlor made an important tackle to halt Charles. Rigby was Brig’s saviour again when he raced out of his area to beat Cuff to a pass from Charles while Thorley skied over from Charles’ lay off. But the visitors were still in the contest and piled on the pressure in the closing stages and Waddecar struck the post from a tight angle after a good ball from Harries.

A couple of minutes later, it was Stafford’s turn to be denied by the framework as Rigby somehow managed to get a fingertip to divert Andy Haworth’s rocket shot on to the crossbar. The Stafford sub is still searching for his first goal for the club having been on the scoresheet against Stafford when playing for Brig earlier in the season. But it was Siviter who produced what was ultimately the match winning save as he kept out Waddecar with a couple of minutes remaining after the Brig veteran was clean through.

Stafford Rangers: 1 Adam Siviter, 2 Sim Thandi, 3 Matt Hill, 4 Luke Jones, 5 Dan Burns, 6 Jack Sherratt (15 Louis Briscoe 67m), 7 Theo Bailey-Jones, 8 Tom Thorley, 9 Jake Charles, 10 Peter Williams (14 Sam Coulson 79m), 11 Joe Cuff (12 Andy Haworth 67m). Unused Subs: 16 Ben Mills, 17 Paul Bignot

Bamber Bridge: 1 Lloyd Rigby, 2 Callum Spooner, 3 Adam Dodd, 4 Matt Lawlor, 5 James McCarten, 6 Daniel Wisdom (16 Mark Buchan 83m), 7 Alistair Waddecar, 8 Danny Forbes (14 Chris Churchman 61m), 9 Matthew Dudley, 10 Scott Harries, 11 Regan Linney (15 Ben Thomas 73m). Unused Subs: 12 Phil Doughty, 17 Danny Roccia (gk)

Cautions: Forbes (Bamber Bridge)

Referee: Richard Walker

Att: 552

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League | Saturday 9 February 2019

Stafford Rangers mini unbeaten run came to an end on the North Yorkshire coast with defeat against high flying Scarborough Athletic.
Rangers fielded Sim Thandi at right back – the youngster having joined the club on a youth loan from Stoke City – in place of Sam Coulson while Jed Davies returned in midfield with Jack Sherratt dropping to the bench.

Also absent from the 16 that drew with Lancaster City last week were Lewis Banks, who has made the move to Sligo Rovers, Izak Reid and Josh Craddock, who has made the decision to leave the club after making a brief return to the club that culminated in him being sent off in the Staffs Senior Cup tie against Wolverhampton Casuals.

Despite a long-standing relationship with the Scarborough club of old, this was Stafford’s first visit to the Athletic founded in 2007 and their two-year-old Flamingo Land stadium complete with its artificial pitch. But it was the strong wind, rather than the pitch, that was the main challenge for both sides. Scarborough had it in their favour in the first half and used it to their advantage to build up a two-goal lead inside the first 20 minutes and though Stafford came to terms with it to produce a strong finish to the first half, they weren’t as effective with the wind as the home side had been.
Stafford keeper Adam Siviter was called into early action, making a fine left handed save to keep out a snap shot from Matty Dixon inside 90 seconds.

But the home side grabbed the early advantage when they made the breakthrough in the 10th minute – Michael Coulson flicking on a Jamie Forrester corner and James Williamson converted from close range. Stafford’s first effort come from Andy Haworth following a long free kick from Thandi, but Tommy Taylor made a comfortable save low to his left.

Moments after Tom Davie’s throw had bounced just wide off Dan Burns, Luke Lofts doubled Scarborough’s lead in the 19th minute after finding space inside the area to drill home an unstoppable shot past Siviter. Stafford were steadily coming to terms with the conditions and Davies sent a reminder that they were still in the contest with a well struck drive at Turner after good work from both Jake Charles and Theo Bailey-Jones. Soon after, Luke Jones headed over.

It was Charles who deservedly reduced the arrears five minutes before the break when he was gifted the ball by Coulson and fired beyond the reach of Turner’s outstretched left arm. A bright opening to the second period saw Scarborough make it 3-1 in the 57th minute though there was a degree of luck as Lofts’ cross rebounded into the net off Thandi. Stafford worked hard to get back into the game with Tom Thorley, Charles and Joe Cuff all just missing out. But it was Scarborough who came closest to adding to the score firstly when Matty Dixon’s when his 25 yarder came crashing back off the cross bar. The ball came back out to Dixon, but he could only fire straight into the arms of Siviter. A few minutes later, Lofts went clean through only to be denied by Siviter, then, when front man James Walshaw looked set to score, Davies put in a timely tackle to prevent the shot.

The home side finally made it 4-1 in added time through a Walshaw penalty, harshly awarded when Coulson appeared to fall over following a tackle from Luke Jones – deemed fair by the referee but the linesman flagged for the offence.

Scarborough:1 Tommy Taylor, 2 Josh Lacey, 3 Tom Davie (14 Dave Merris 45m), 4 Luke Dean (15 James Cadman 80m), 5 Ross Killock, 6 James Williamson, 7 Jamie Forrester (12 Nathan Valentine 48m), 8 Matty Dixon, 9 James Walshaw, 10 Michael Coulson, 11 Luke Lofts. Unused Subs: 13 Tom Morgan, 16 Jack Johnson

Stafford Rangers: 1 Adam Siviter, 2 Sim Thandi (16 Ben Mills 82m), 3 Matt Hill, 4 Luke Jones, 5 Dan Burns, 6 Jed Davies, 7 Theo Bailey-Jones (15 Joe Cuff 65m), 8 Tom Thorley, 9 Jake Charles, 10 Peter Williams (17 Andrai Jones 76m), 11 Andy Haworth. Unused Subs: 12 Sam Coulson, 14 Jack Sherratt

Cautions: Killock (Scarborough), Burns (Rangers)
Referee: Neil Howlett

Att: 947

(Stafford win 5-3 on penalties)
Staffs Senior Cup 3rd Round | Tuesday 5 February 2019

Stafford Rangers survived a scare from West Midlands Premier League side Wolverhampton Casuals to book a place in the semi-finals of the Staffordshire Senior Cup. Holders Stafford made a number of changes to their regular starting XI with surprise returns for Louis Briscoe and Andrai Jones after lengthy injuries and the home side made a storming start by racing in to a two-goal lead. The opener came with just over a minute played. Briscoe’s long-range free kick was spilled by Casuals’ keeper Paul Evans and defender Ben Podmore’s attempt to clear saw the ball rebound into the net off Ben Mills. Briscoe went wide from distance shortly before Joe Cuff made it 2-0, cutting in from the left, past two players and firing home from around 20 yards out.

Wolves’ first effort on goal came via Kieron Whittaker whose scuffed centre was heading inside the near post, forcing Adam Siviter to parry before the danger was cleared. Cuff should have added a third for Stafford when Joshua Jones failed to cut out a long ball from Briscoe, but Rangers’ leading scorer blazed over when clean through. Casuals reduced the arrears on 24 minutes when Reece Mason’s deep centre put Luke Yates in, and the highly rated forward made no mistake.

Kieron Miller went just wide from 25 yards out soon after as the visitors sensed a comeback and they drew level on the stroke of half time when Izak Reid failed to cut out a long ball and Yates was free to level. Stafford started brightly after the interval, but it was Casuals who had the best chance when Adam Siviter was forced to race out of his area to clear from Miller. But, before play could resume, Rangers were rocked when referee Brandon Scaife dismissed skipper Josh Craddock for two yellow cards in a matter of seconds. The first appeared to be for a foul in the build up to the Wolves’ attack the second looked to be an act of dissent in response to the issuing of the first.

Wolves were now in control, playing the better football as Rangers tired. It was a moment of class from Miller that put visitors ahead on 70 minutes as the forward’s persistence saw him retain the ball despite slipping on the edge of the area then he turned into space before curling his shot over Siviter. With their last hope of silverware slipping away, Rangers pressed forward in the closing stages and Jack Sherratt struck home the equaliser two minutes into added time after Kyle Brady’s slip had let in Theo Bailey-Jones. The game went straight to penalties and Rangers took an early advantage when Siviter saved from Joshua Jones after Andy Haworth had netted Rangers’ first spot kick.

Sam Coulson, Jake Charles, Briscoe and Sherratt were all successful to put Rangers through 5-3 on penalties.

Stafford: 1 Adam Siviter, 2 Izak Reid (15 Theo Bailey-Jones 70m), 3 Louis Briscoe, 4 Sam Coulson, 5 Dan Burns (14 Jake Charles 53m), 6 Jack Sherratt, 7 Andy Haworth, 8 Josh Craddock, 9 Ben Mills (17 Declan Arber 76m), 10 Andrai Jones, 11 Joe Cuff. Unused Subs 12: Max Dixon, 16 Lucas Burnett

Wolverhampton Casuals: 1 Paul Evans, 2 Jordan Uppal, 3 Reece Mason, 4 Scott Powell (18 Kyle Brady 63m), 5 Ben Podmore, 6 Alex Foreshaw, 7 Kieron Whittaker (16 Todd Ferrier 63m), 8 Joseph Daley, 9 Kieron Miller (15 Kane Cork 79m), 10 Joshua Jones, 11 Luke Yates. Unused Subs 12 Walid Abdelali, 14 Dan Turton

Cautions: Jones (Rangers), Foreshaw (Wolves Casuals)

Sent Off: Craddock – 2 cautions (Rangers)

Referee: Brandon Scaife

Att: 181

Report: Chris Elsley

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Saturday 2 February 2019

Tom Thorley’s stunning free kick rescued a point for Stafford Rangers in their bottom of the table clash against Lancaster City. The encounter at Marston Road was one of the few Northern Premier League fixtures to survive the weather but a bumpy pitch along with the matching of two sides at the wrong end of the table produced a scrappy affair, high in effort but lacking in quality.
Rangers had Luke Jones and Jack Sherratt back after injury while Andy Haworth returned after a two-match ban. Missing was Josh Green who picked up an injury in the midweek cup defeat against Farsley.

Half chances were traded in the opening 10 minutes with the best of them falling to Lancaster’s Brad Carsley who should have done better when Robert Wilson’s corner found him standing unmarked 15 yards out, but the Dolly Blues’ front man scuffed his shot and the danger was eventually cleared.

Carsley was presented with an even better chance when Wilson’s free kick fell to his feet some 10 yards from goal but this time his shot glanced off the top of the bar before going over. Between Carsley’s two opportunities, Haworth and Thorley were off target with long range free kicks for Rangers.
Stafford had two strong penalty appeals – both for hand ball against Glenn Steel – turned down before referee Ryan Williams finally awarded a penalty in the 34th minute. Unfortunately, for Rangers it was in Lancaster’s favour after Williams judged Stafford keeper Adam Siviter to have tripped David Norris. Wilson netted from the spot to give Lancaster the advantage.

The attack came from a Lancaster breakaway after Rangers had wasted a strong position of their own. Paul Dawson’s through ball sent Norris clear but the Rangers’ camp was adamant that there was no contact by Siviter and Norris had dived.
Stafford made a bright start to the second half, triggered by a thunderbolt from Thorley that was well saved by Jack Sims down to his right. Haworth had a shot blocked and Luke Jones saw his follow up saved as Stafford continued their encouraging period of play, but Lancaster sent out another warning when Carsley forced a save from Siviter. Another Haworth free kick went just over for Stafford, but they struggled to create much of a threat and Sims wasn’t being tested.

At the other end, it needed an excellent save from Siviter to prevent Tom Kilifin from wrapping the game up as the game entered the final minute of normal time. But Stafford did not give up the fight and five minutes of added time were almost up when Davies was tripped a couple of yards outside the area. Thorley stepped up to send his free kick in to the far top corner to the delight of the Stafford contingent.

Stafford Rangers:1 Adam Siviter, 2 Sam Coulson (16 Ben Mills 82m), 3 Matt Hill, 4 Luke Jones, 5 Dan Burns, 6 Jack Sherratt (14 Jed Davies 46m), 7 Theo Bailey-Jones, 8 Tom Thorley, 9 Jake Charles, 10 Peter Williams, 11 Andy Haworth (15 Josh Craddock 67m). Unused Subs: 12 Lewis Banks, 17 Izak Reid

Lancaster City: 1 Jack Sims, 2 Robert Henry, 3 Paul Dugdale, 4 Simon Wills, 5 Glenn Steel, 6 Steven Williams, 7 Paul Dawson (15 Charlie Bailey 90+1m), 8 David Norris, 9 Matthew Blinkhorn, 10 Brad Carsley (17 Thomas Kilifin 73m), 11 Robert Wilson (16 Ryan Winder 83m). Unused Subs 12 Lewis Fensome, 14 Luke Jordan

Cautions: Sherratt, Siviter (Rangers), Dawson, Norris (Lancaster)

Referee: Ryan Williams

Att: 532

Report by Chris Elsley