Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Wednesday 26 December 2018

Stafford Rangers’ frustration’s continued with defeat at home to league leaders Nantwich Town. Rangers’ manager Steve Burr kept faith with the starting XI that lost at Matlock Town four days earlier, with new signings Peter Williams and keeper Adam Siviter taking their places on the bench. The first half hour produced few clear-cut chances. Rangers were playing the better football of the two sides, but it was the visitors Nantwich who were asking most of the questions from the respective keepers.

Joe Malkin headed just over inside 2 mins and had the ball in the back of the net again soon after, but Sean Cooke was flagged offside.
Stafford’s first look in came via a first time shot on the turn from Jack Sherratt following a Josh Green throw. Sykes-Kenworthy had to go low to his right to keep out Louis Barnes’ free kick after Luke Jones had fouled Cooke and it was the latter who fired Nantwich ahead on 32 mins with a shot from 20 yards out beat Sykes-Kenworthy’s despairing dive although Joe Mwasile had been allowed to get away with a foul on Andy Haworth in the build-up.

James Lawrie missed a good chance to increase the lead shooting high and wide when well placed. Rangers made him pay with a 39th minute equaliser courtesy of an own goal from Joel Stair whose attempt to intercept Jake Charles’s low centre only succeeded in diverting the ball past his own keeper. Right on the stroke of half time, Nantwich had another half chance but Sykes-Kenworthy held onto Cooke’s shot and the two sides went in all square after an evenly fought opening 45 mins.

The first opportunity of the second half fell to Rangers as Charles went clear after Jamie Morgan failed to cut out Sykes-Kenworthy’s long clearance but he put his shot wide of the far post. Joe Cuff also missed out soon after when Will Jaaskelainen saved with his feet. But where Rangers failed Nantwich didn’t and when Sykes-Kenworthy could only parry a long-range effort from Cooke, Malkin was first on scene to snap up the rebound to put the visitors back in front on 55 mins.

A goal line clearance from Morgan prevented Rangers from getting back on level terms soon after then sub Izak Reid messed up at the back post from Cuff’s ball across the face of the Nantwich goal. The home side were given another lesson in finishing as Malkin put Nantwich 3-1 ahead on 72 mins with a simple header from Mwasile’s cross to end a good move involving four players. Any hopes of a Rangers’ come back were well and truly put to bed with 10 minutes remaining when Tobias Mullarkey headed in Cooke’s corner at the back post.

Stafford: 1 George Sykes-Kenworthy, 2 Sam Coulson (14 Lewis Banks 60m), 3 Josh Green, 4 Luke Jones, 5 Dan Burns, 6 Jack Sherratt (15 Peter Williams 65m), 7 Theo Bailey-Jones (16 Izak Reid 60m), 8 Tom Thorley, 9 Jake Charles, 10 Andy Haworth, 11 Joe Cuff. Unused Subs: 12 James Askey, 17 Adam Siviter
Nantwich: 1 William Jaaskelainen, 2 Jamie Morgan, 3 Louis Barnes, 4 Joel Stair, 5 Tobias Mullarkey, 6 Matthew Bell, 7 Joe Mwasile (16 Callum Saunders 81m), 8 Casper Hughes (15 Danny Glover 89m), 9 Joe Malkin, 10 Sean Cooke (14 Nathan Cotterell 90+2m), 11 James Lawrie. Unused Subs: 12 Troy Bourne, 17 Declan O’Riordan

Cautions: Cuff & Williams (Rangers); Cooke (Nantwich)
Referee: Steve Durnall

Att: 807

Report by Chris Elsley

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Saturday 22 December 2018

Stafford Rangers twice led but, in the end, came home from Matlock empty handed as the Derbyshire side continued their own fine run of form. Matlock just about shaded the opening exchanges, but it was Rangers who struck first on 15 mins when Joe Cuff got goal side of his man from a Josh Green throw in and clipped the ball over Ross Durrant who had come off his line and was let stranded in no man’s land.

But the lead was short lived and, just two minutes later, Craig Westcarr’s challenge resulted in George Sykes-Kenworthy dropping a high centre from Craig King on his goal-line. Luke Jones’ attempts to clear proved fruitless and the Matlock man came away claiming the goal. Any other day Westcarr would have been penalised for a foul on the Rangers keeper.

Cuff could have restored Rangers’ lead when he charged down a clearance from Adam Yates but Durrant saved with his feet then the home keeper had to take a looping header from Dan Burns just underneath his cross bar. Rangers were then denied a penalty when Cuff went to ground, but their efforts were rewarded on 36 mins with a smart move down the left. Josh Green’s ball down the line was squared first time by Cuff to Jake Chares and the unmarked forward did the rest.

Matlock were more purposeful after the break. Brad Beatson’s flick header landed on the roof of the Stafford net while Green made an important tackle to prevent Marcus Marshall getting in a shot on goal. Rangers had a number of chances of their own. Andy Haworth chose to go alone on a couple of times when there appeared better options available while a half chance for Theo Bailey-Jones swung just wide of the target.

The key moment came on 68 mins when Haworth was given another chance on goal. Durrant blocked but no Rangers player was sharp enough to react to the loose ball. Matlock cleared broke away and within seconds were back level – a fine volley from Westcarr after Luke Hinsley had knocked down Taron Hare’s centre.

Six minutes later Matlock were in front. Dwayne Wiley flicked on a corner from King and Yates stole in at the back post to score.
Late Stafford pressure saw both Cuff and Tom Thorley go close but Durrant kept out the former while Thorley’s free kick flew just over on another frustrating afternoon for the Boro.

Matlock Town: 1 Ross Durrant, 2 Taron Hare, 3 Brad Beatson, 4 Michael Hollingsworth, 5 Dwyane Wiley, 6 Adam Yates, 7 Jordan Chapell (14 Luke Hinsley 55m), 8 Cleveland Taylor, 9 Craig Westcarr (16 Tom Davie 78m), 10 Marcus Marshall (12 Lee Beevers 88m), 11 Craig King. Unused Subs: 15 Ashton Hall, 17 Jordan Pierrepont.
Stafford: 1 George Sykes-Kenworthy, 2 Sam Coulson, 3 Josh Green, 4 Luke Jones, 5 Jack Sherratt, 6 Dan Burns, 7 Theo Bailey-Jones (16 Lucas Burnett 88m), 8 Tom Thorley, 9 Jake Charles, 10 Andy Haworth (14 Lewis Banks 80m), 11 Joe Cuff. Unused Subs: 12 Declan Arber, 15 James Askey, 17 Max Dixon

Cautions: Burns, Cuff (Rangers)
Referee: Jamie O’Connor

Att: 493

Report by Chris Elsley

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Saturday 15 December 2018

Stafford Rangers marked the return of The Shed with their first win in seven league games with by thumping local rivals Hednesford Town at a rain-soaked Marston Road. The Rangers fans didn’t need an excuse to occupy their newly erected stand for the entire 90 minutes but any who felt like venturing out from under cover would surely have been put off by the persistent heavy rain that fell throughout the game.
There was an explosive start to this eagerly awaited encounter with a goal for each side in the opening 6 minutes.

Rangers were first to strike on 3 mins when Jake Charles tapped home after Andy Haworth’s shot had been parried by Josef Bursik.
Joe Cuff missed a chance to extend the lead but Hednesford were soon back on level terms. A long clearance downfield from Bursik sent Michael Howard clear and he fired past George Sykes-Kenworthy in the Stafford goal.

Cuff then missed another chance for the home side when he hit the post before Andy Haworth sliced wide when well placed. A poor back pass from Charlie Gatter put Cuff in once more but the winger’s shot swung away. A minute later a flick from Theo Bailey-Jones put Cuff in behind the Hednesford defence but a poor first touch allowed Bursik to get to the ball first. Two more chances had gone begging.

Cuff finally got his goal just before half time but not before Hednesford thought they had taken the lead in what was one of the key talking points of the first half. Romario Martin’s long-range effort bounced awkwardly just in front of Sykes-Kenworthy who failed to gather cleanly.

The ball spilled loose and Dan Cockerline raced in. The Rangers keeper pounced on the ball but seemingly slid over the line. Neither referee nor his assistant were in a position to award the goal although Steve Burr said afterwards that the referee had stated Cockerline would have been penalised for a foul had the ball definitely crossed the line.

Having survived that let off, Rangers took advantage five minutes before half time when Tom Thorley found Cuff who cut inside Kieron Dawes and advanced to fire the home side back in front. Rangers had chances to add a couple more before the interval as Charles went just wide then when Luke Jones’ header was blocked on the line neither Charles nor Dan Burns was able to apply the finishing touch.

The second half didn’t produce anywhere near the same number of chances but those that came fell largely to Rangers and more importantly Charles converted two of them. He made it 3-1 in the 57th minute turning in Haworth’s corner at the near post then completed his hat trick 10 minutes later after Thorley was the supplier.

Charles went close to a fourth goal with a lob over Bursik that drifted just wide while Thorley’s 35 yarder went over.
Apart from a Jack Hallinan effort which just cleared the Stafford bar, Hednesford never really looked like reducing the deficit as Stafford completed a league double over their arch rivals.

Stafford: 1 George Sykes-Kenworthy, 2 Sam Coulson, 3 Josh Green, 4 Luke Jones, 5 Dan Burns, 6 Andrai Jones (15 Jack Sherratt 46m), 7 Theo Bailey-Jones, 8 Tom Thorley, 9 Jake Charles, 10 Andy Haworth (17 Harry Benns 78m), 11 Joe Cuff (12 Izak Reid 82m). Unused Subs: 14 James Askey, 16 Lewis Banks
Hednesford: 1 Josef Bursik, 2 Kieron Dawes, 3 Nathan Fox, 4 Jack Hallahan, 5 Rudy Misambo, 6 Charlie Gatter, 7 Jed Davies (16 Matt Dodd 64m), 8 Ryan Shaw (15 Reece King 78m), 9 Dan Cockerline, 10 Romario Martin, 11 Michael Howard (17 Joel Logan 65m). Unused Subs: 12 Jose Veiga, 14 Osebi Abadaki

Cautions: Cuff, Haworth, L Jones, Sherratt (Rangers) Hallahan, Gatter (Hednesford)
Referee: Greg Rollason

Att: 668

Report by Chris Elsley

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Saturday 8 December 2018

Stafford Rangers let slip a two-goal lead as they were held to a draw on a wet and windy afternoon at Stalybridge Celtic.
Manager Steve Burr made several changes to the starting line up with keeper Adam Whitehouse and full backs Lewis Banks and James Askey notable absentees.  Replacing Whitehouse was 19-year-old George Sykes-Kenworthy, signed on loan from Bradford City, while Sam Coulson and Josh Green filled the defensive slots. Stafford were positive from kick off and after a couple of half chances went begging they were rewarded in the 12th minute when Theo Bailey-Jones headed in Andy Haworth’s left-wing cross.

Rangers looked to build on their early advantage and Joe Cuff flashed a low centre across the face of the home goal then Jake Charles should have done better after being put through by Haworth. Andrai Jones advanced after pouncing on a loose ball in midfield but sent his shot rising over the Stalybridge goal before Charles was denied by the boot of Ross Dent from a Bailey-Jones cross.

Haworth’s 25 yarder also went over as Rangers continued to dominate and only a number of saves from Turner just before half time kept Stalybridge in the contest – the home keeper denying Bailey-Jones, Charles and Luke Jones in a five-minute spell. Rangers started the second half brightly and Tom Thorley extended the lead on 57 minutes when he headed in Bailey-Jones’ cross although it needed the referee’s assistant to confirm the ball had crossed the line as Turner attempted to save.

Five minutes later, Joe Cuff missed a great opportunity to wrap the game up when he failed to control in the area after a good approach involving Charles and Green. Stalybridge needed to do something to get back in the contest and Andy Scott took charge when he tried his luck from 30 yards – the ball floating just wide of the top corner.

The Celtic no10 was not to be denied and with 18 mins remaining he reduced the arrears with a free kick from a similar distance that went in via the underside of the bar. Chris Smalley headed wide a few minutes later and it looked as though Rangers would hold on for their first league win in seven outings.

Then, with the game in the third minute of added time, Stalybridge launched an attack down their right with a throw in. Sykes-Kenworthy came out to the edge of his area intending to clear but then hesitated, allowing Neil Kengni to float the ball over the out of position Stafford keeper and give Stalybridge an unlikely equaliser.

Stalybridge: 1 Jake Turner, 2 Joshua Solomon-Davies, 3 Elliot Cooke, 4 Liam Tongue (16 Gregory Wilkinson 67m), 5 Chris Smalley, 6 Michael Clarke, 7 Jamal Crawford (15 Michael Jones 46m), 8 Ross Dent, 9 Scott Bakkor, 10 Andy Scott, 11 Neil Kengni. Unused Subs: 12 Danny Brady, 14 Matthew Wolfenden, 17 Aidan Winterbottom (gk).
Rangers: 1 George Sykes-Kenworthy, 2 Sam Coulson, 3 Josh Green, 4 Luke Jones, 5 Dan Burns, 6 Andrai Jones, 7 Theo Bailey-Jones (14 Lewis Banks 89m), 8 Tom Thorley, 9 Jake Charles, 10 Andy Haworth (12 Harry Benns 69m), 11 Joe Cuff (15 Jack Sherratt 76m). Unused Subs: 16 James Askey, 17 Adam Whitehouse

Cautions: Dent (Stalybridge) Benns (Rangers)
Ref: Jon Kenny
Att: 347

Chris Elsley

(Rangers win 4-2 on penalties)
Integro League Cup – 3rd Round
Tuesday 4 December 2018

Stafford Rangers’ booked a place in the quarter finals of the Integro League Cup with a penalty shoot-out win over Marine.
The Boro are getting quite used to settling cup ties in this way – they knocked Market Drayton out in the 1st Round of this season’s competition and both of last season’s wins came from spot kicks. The first 45 minutes was a largely disappointing affair with neither keeper seeing too much of the action although Marine’s stopper Patrick Wharton was called upon to make a save from Josh Green inside 10 minutes when he went low to his right then he denied the Rangers midfielder again midway through the half when he blocked a powerful drive.

Rangers went close again soon after when an Izak Reid shot struck James Joyce on the line before being cleared.
In a fairly even contest, Marine had their share of possession but were guilty of some poor finishing in the crucial areas.
John Marsden fired over when well-placed while James Murray also produced a poor finish following a quick break from the visitors his shot going wide.

Marine’s best chance of the half fell to Oladapo Kayode shortly before the interval when his run was spotted by Charley Edge but Joe Cuff’s presence forced Kayode to run the ball for a goal kick. Rangers began the second half well and Wharton turned Tom Thorley’s shot over the bar. It was from the resulting corner that the home side opened the scoring in the 48th minute – captain Luke Jones climbing high to head home Green’s kick.

As Rangers looked to extend their advantage, Wharton denied Izak Reid after he was picked out by Green’s free kick. Dan Burns planted his header straight at the Marine keeper who then tipped over another goal bound header from Jones.
On another night, the Rangers skipper could have had a hat trick – he missed out again when Joyce headed off the line.
Cuff should have done better when he could only find the side netting after a quick ball out from Adam Whitehouse.

As the clock ticked on, Marine upped their search for an equaliser and it only needed a touch when sub Michael Elstone fired across the face of goal. With that let off behind them, it looked like Rangers would hold out, but Sam Tattum had other ideas and he headed home Steve Irwin’s corner with little more than a minute remaining. Tattum could – and maybe should – have won it for the visitors when he volleyed over with the last kick of the game but with the sides still level at full time it was down to penalties once more.

With Green, Thorley and Sam Coulson making no mistake it was advantage Rangers when Irwin hit the bar for Marine but then Wharton saved well from Jake Charles. But, when Whitehouse saved Danny Shaw’s kick, Jack Sherratt kept his nerve to put Rangers into the last eight.

Stafford Rangers: 1 Adam Whitehouse, 2 James Askey, 3 Jack Sherratt, 4 Luke Jones, 5 Liam Collings (17 Sam Coulson 46m), 6 Dan Burns, 7 Izak Reid (14 Theo Bailey-Jones 75m), 8 Tom Thorley, 9 Jake Charles, 10 Josh Green, 11 Joe Cuff (12 Lewis Banks 86m). Unused Subs:15 Ben Chilcott, 16 Lucas Burnett

Marine: 1 Patrick Wharton, 2 Sam Tattum, 3 James Joyce, 4 Danny Shaw, 5 Oladapo Kayode (12 Liam Hynes 75m), 6 Craig Carney (14 Gerard Kinsella 71m), 7 James Murray, 8 Steve Irwin, 9 Chris Sang, 10 John Marsden (15 Michael Elstone 66m), 11 Charley Edge. Unused Subs: 17 Germano Mendes (gk) – only four subs named
Cautions: Cuff (Rangers)

Ref: Leslie Sinclair

Att: 165

Report: Chris Elsley

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League

Saturday 1 December 2018

Luckless Stafford Rangers slipped to their fourth home defeat in six games as an early second half strike from Ash Young was enough to give visiting Buxton all three points. Rangers’ Adam Whitehouse was the first of the two keepers to see action when he kept out Liam Hardy with his feet in the second minute. The ball ran loose to Brad Grayson whose shot was blocked by Luke Jones. At the other end, a slip from his opposite number Theo Roberts almost let in Jake Charles but Roberts scrambled back to smother. Moments later, Roberts saved from Joe Cuff at his near post after a good move down the Rangers’ left.

Both sides battled keenly but it was midway through the half before either goal came under threat again and Greg Young should have done better with a free header that came his way – the visiting skipper steering the ball wide. A couple of minutes later, John Pritchard’s free kick struck the outside of Stafford’s left-hand post. On the half hour, Rangers got the ball in the Buxton net, but Jake Charles was ruled offside.

The half-finished with chances coming at both ends. Roberts saved again with his feet to deny Charles then Buxton hot shot Liam Hardy missed two good chances in quick succession, firstly going wide from the edge of the area following a counter then missing the target again after having got the better of Luke Jones. Just before the whistle sounded, Brad Grayson saw his volley parried away by Whitehouse.

Lewis Banks went close for Stafford in the first minute after the resumption, but it was Buxton who finally got the breakthrough on 49 mins when Young’s well struck 20 yarder beat Whitehouse via the inside of his right-hand post. Shortly after, the Boro keeper did well to keep out Hardy’s near post header when Callum Chippendale and Scott Sephton – involved in the approach to Buxton’s goal – combined again.

Stafford created plenty of opportunities to get back level but Izak Reid, Andrai Jones and Joe Cuff all missed out. The best of the chances probably fell to Reid but his attempted chip over Roberts landed tamely in the Buxton keeper’s arms. Roberts blocked Jones’ forceful shot while Cuff blazed high over on another frustrating afternoon for the Boro – not helped by persistent, yet unpunished, time wasting and theatrics from the visitors.

Stafford: 1 Adam Whitehouse, 2 Lewis Banks, 3 James Askey, 4 Luke Jones, 5 Jack Sherratt (14 Josh Green 57m), 6 Dan Burns, 7 Theo Bailey-Jones (16 Liam Collings 78m), 8 Tom Thorley, 9 Jake Charles (12 Izak Reid 66m), 10 Andrai Jones, 11 Joe Cuff. Unused Subs: 16 Sam Coulson, 17 Morgan Bacon

Buxton: 1 Theo Roberts, 2 Brad Roscoe, 3 Alex Brown, 4 Scott Sephton, 5 Greg Young, 6 Tom Dean, 7 Callum Chippendale (16 Kayde Coppin 64m), 8 Ash Young, 9 Brad Grayson (17 Josh Meade 85m), 10 Liam Hardy (14 Tolani Omotola 70m), 11 John Pritchard. Unused Subs: 12 Oli Roberts, 15 James Dean

Cautions: None

Referee: Andrew Genders

Att: 481
Report by Chris Elsley