Dec 31, 2017 | Match Report
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Saturday 30 December 2017
Rangers will feel they deserved at least a share of the spoils but it was Workington who took all three points to move into second spot in the table.
Rangers made the better start and could have taken the lead inside the first minute when Karl Hawley put Massiah McDonald in but Aaran Taylor stuck out his left boot to deflect the ball for a corner.
Workington came into the game and Nathan Waterson was inches away from converting Dave Symington’s cross – the ball flashing across the face of the Boro goal – then Anthony Wright’s shot from distance was deflected just over.
Twice Robert Thompson-Brown combined with Hawley to launch a counter attack that almost produced a goal for Stafford – the first ended with Jack Sherratt shooting just wide while the second saw Taylor keep out a well struck volley from Thompson-Brown who then sent the rebound along the Workington goal line.
Phil McLuckie hit the side netting for the visitors and it needed a timely intervention from Jordaan Brown to halt a threatening run from midfielder Robert Wilson as the visitors began to establish a stronger foothold.
Matt Douglas also missed out with a tame shot while Symington’s low drive came back off the post as the first half ended goal-less.
The second half began in a similar way to the first as Rangers had the better of the play but the trio of Thompson-Brown, Hawley and McDonald all failed to find the target.
Instead, it was Workington who were to break the deadlock on 64 mins with a spectacular 25 yard strike from Conor Tinnion that gave Adam Whitehouse no chance.
Stafford responded well and a good save from Taylor denied Jack Sherratt before the equaliser came, just 5 mins after Workington’s opener. McDonald linked with sub Osebi Abadaki who crossed for Thompson-Brown o steel in at the back post to volley home.
Abadaki then went wide from distance following a poor clearance from Taylor that left the Reds’ keeper out of position.
At the opposite end Whitehouse made an excellent double save to deny Waterson and McLuckie.
Whitehouse went one better on 77 mins with a triple save to deny Waterson but this time McLuckie found the back of the net to restore the Reds’ lead.
Taylor tipped over to deny Abadaki a late equaliser while Sherratt fired wide from around 25 yards.
Rangers: 1 Adam Whitehouse, 2 Izak Reid, 3 Kai Davis, 4 Kieran Morris (14 Osebo Abadaki 46m), 5 Mat Bailey, 6 Jordaan Brown, 7 Michael Calveley (12 Dan Westwood 87m), 8 Robert Thompson-Brown, 9 Karl Hawley, 10 Massiah McDonald, 11 Jack Sherratt. Unused Subs 15 Josh Craddock, 16 Richard Batchelor, 17 Joe Thomas
Workington: 1 Aaran Taylor, 2 Matthew Douglas, 3 Anthony Wright, 4 Daniel Wordsworth, 5 Josh Calvert, 6 Robert Wilson, 7 David Symington, 8 Phil McLuskie, 9 Scott Allison, 10 Nathan Waterson (12 Sam Joel 87m), 11 Conor Tinnion. Unused subs 14 James Earl, 15 Jamie Mellen, 16 Tommy Whitehead, 17 Leo Holliday
Cautions: Bailey, McDonald (Rangers) Calvert (Workington)
Referee: Greg Rollason
Att: 497
Chris Elsley
Dec 27, 2017 | Match Report
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Monday 26 December 2017
Massiah McDonald scored the only goal of the game as Stafford Rangers ended a two month wait for a home win with a Boxing Day victory over Stourbridge.
The visitors made a strong start and, in the first five minutes, saw Aaron Forde stuff a shot wide after Darryl Westlake and Matt Dodd had linked well on the right then Leon Broadhurst headed straight at Adam Whitehouse.
Rangers were gifted a great opportunity when Westlake’s slip let in Massiah McDonald but, as he broke into the area, the ball took a bobble, causing him to badly miscue.
Rangers survived a scare when Matt Dodd went to ground under a challenge from Kai Davis. The assistant raised his flag but referee Jack Neild waved away Stourbridge’s penalty appeals.
Kaman Anderson probably should have done better when he went just wide, the Stourbridge forward had more time than he gave himself.
But, after the visitors had enjoyed the better of the first 15 mins, Rangers came more into the contest. Dan Westwood won a free kick when he was pulled back by Stuart Pierpoint – the former Rangers defender receiving a yellow card – but the free kick came to nothing.
After Robert Thompson-Brown had shot deflected wide off Aris Christophorou, Pierpoint had to make a sliding interception to keep out McDonald.
A poor pass from Josh Craddock set up Tonks but Whitehouse saved Craddock’s blushes, racing off his line to make the block.
Stourbridge continued to create the better chances as the first half drew to a close with Whitehouse keeping out a deflected shot from Pierpoint and twice punching clear as the visitors pressed from a corner.
Anderson fired over early in the second half after Rangers struggled to clear their lines but Rangers were getting stronger.
McDonald fired over from 20 yards then floated in a cross from the left that skimmed off the head of Dan Whitehouse and just evaded Izak Reid at the back post.
Leon Broadhurst had the ball in the back of the Rangers net on 69 mins but his effort was ruled out for offside.
Instead, it was Rangers who were to find the break through when Richard Batchelor supplied McDonald and he squeezed his shot through the legs of Westlake and beyond the reach of Matt Gould.
Another big decision went Rangers’ way when Dodd was booked for simulation in the Rangers area after a challenge from Davis.
Stourbridge kept pushing for an equaliser but Paul McCone’s header was held by Whitehouse and Josh Green fired wide.
The last chance of the afternoon saw Westlake shoot over and Rangers were able to celebrate their first league win in five.
Rangers: 1 Adam Whitehouse , 2 Izak Reid, 3 Kai Davis, 4 Kieran Morris, 5 Mat Bailey, 6 Jordan Brown, 7 Josh Craddock, 8 Robert Thompson-Brown (15 Michael Calveley 86), 9 Dan Westwood (12 Karl Hawley 66), 10 Massiah McDonald, 11 Richard Batchelor. Unused Subs 14 Osebi Abadaki, 16 Joe Thomas, 17 Jack Sherratt
Stourbridge: 1 Matt Gould, 2 Aris Christophorou, 3 Darryl Westlake, 4 Paul McCone, 5 Stuart Pierpoint, 6 Aaron Forde(12 Josh Green 70), 7 Matt Dodd, 8 Leon Broadhurst, 9 Josh Cooke (14 Brandon Hague 65), 10 Kaman Anderson (16 Alex Cameron 85), 11 Tom Tonks. Unused subs 15 Louis Hall, 17 Peter Hawk
Cautions: Craddock, Davis, McDonald (Rangers), Pierpoint, Forde, Dodd (Stourbridge)
Ref Jack Nield
Att 944
Chris Elsley
Dec 4, 2017 | Match Report
Stafford Rangers 1 Marine 4
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Saturday 2 December 2017
Stafford Rangers slipped to their third consecutive home defeat with a poor display against Marine.
Adam Whitehouse was back in the Rangers line up for the first time since the end of October but he was soon picking the ball out of the net as Marine opened the scoring in the 4th minute.
The goal came from an attack down the Rangers’ left. Kieran Morris’ attempt to cut out Vincent Bailey’s cross forced Whitehouse to make a close range reaction save but Florian da Silva was on hand to pick up the pieces.
Massiah McDonald went close to an equaliser soon after but that just gave false hope to Rangers and da Silva could have added a second on 10 mins but rushed his shot when well placed at the back post.
McDonald forced a save from Marine keeper Martin Fearon but it was the Mariners were able to double their lead on 16 mins when Rangers failed to clear a corner and Billy Smart stabbed home from close range.
Rangers were poor in all areas, making made life easy for Marine for who Danny Mitchley twice missed out.
Louis Briscoe went closest to pulling one back for Rangers, swinging a free kick wide and sending another effort over.
Mitchley missed out again early in the second half with an attempted chip into Whitehouse’s hands but was in the thick of the action as Marine added their third on 57 minutes, the striker getting his head to Vincent Bailey’s corner, although Stafford debutant Michael Calveley was ‘credited’ with the own goal after diverting the ball past Whitehouse.
Stafford’s sorry story continued as Marine remained firmly in control, threatening every time they went forward but Kenny Strickland fired across goal and Whitehouse saved from substitute Liam Tongue.
But, after Josh Craddock headed over for Rangers, Tongue made it 4-0 to Marine on 88 minutes when he eased his way through the defence to slot past Whitehouse.
Richard Gregory forced a save from Fearon before Alex Fletcher’s well taken goal, four minutes into added time, reduced the deficit but it was hardly any consolation for a well beaten Stafford.
Rangers: 1 Adam Whitehouse, 2 Levi Reid, 3 Kieren Westwood, 4 Kieran Morris, 5 Michael Calveley (12 Dan Westwood 57m), 6 Jordaan Brown, 7 Izak Reid (17 Richard Gregory 71m), 8 Louis Briscoe (16 Alex Fletcher 57m), 9 Josh Craddock, 10 Massiah McDonald, 11 Richard Batchelor. Unused Subs14 Jack Sherratt, 15 Kai Davis
Marine: 1 Martin Fearon, 2 Peter Wylie (12 Liam Tongue 46m), 3 James Short, 4 Kenny Strickland, 5 Adam Hughes, 6 Billy Smart, 7 James Murray (17 Dominic Reid 81m), 8 Michael Brewster, 9 Danny Mitchley, 10 Vincent Bailey, 11 Florian da Silva (14 Phil Baker 46m). Unused Subs15 Michael Grogan, 16 George Hassall
Cautions: Morris, Batchelor, McDonald (Rangers) Hughes (Marine)
Referee: George Warren
Att: 415
Report: Chris Elsley
