Stafford Rangers v Witton Albion

Sep 30, 2021 | Match Report

First half

It was Witton Albion who got off to a flyer when they opened the scoring through their number two Isaac Baldwin. The goal was an unbelievable strike from outside the box, the Rangers defence failed to get tight to the opposition and they were able to produce one moment of quality. Rangers needed to wake up after the early stages. They looked much better as the half went on; they got used to Witton in terms of how they set up and began to control the ball. Witton were under the cosh. In the 22nd minute James O’Neill put Rangers back on level terms after a free-kick from Joe Cuff found its way to the centre half. He calmly slotted the ball in the right-hand corner.
1-1 all square at Marston Road. Rangers continued to push forward in the first half and had numerous chances to edge in front but unfortunately the score remained 1-1 at half time.

Second half

The second half saw Ranger’s huff and puff but to no avail. Witton seemed more than happy to frustrate the home side. There was lots of endeavour and certainly no lack of effort from both sides. Rangers had lots of the ball but were unable to really penetrate the opposition defence. They put the crosses in the box but nobody was there to get on the end of them. So yet another deeply frustrating evening for the Rangers as they drew 1-1 at home to Witton. We go again on Saturday against Stalybridge Celtic.

Teams

Stafford Rangers: Pilling, Burns, Endall, Alex Ray Harvey, O’Neill, Kenton, Tonks, Charles, Navarow, Cuff.
Witton Albion: Hall, Baldwin, Woodthorpe, Sutton, Mcnulty, Ryan, Jebrin, Owens, Saunders, Lingouba, Folley.

Stafford Rangers v Atherton Collieries

Sep 27, 2021 | Match Report

First half
Rangers started brightly they had lots of the ball and looked like the better of the two sides. Their number 9 Jake Charles ran the channels brilliantly giving the Atherton backline a bit of a headache in the first half. It seemed it was only a matter of time before rangers broke the deadlock. Atherton didn’t really cause rangers too many problems going forward however they did defend quite well and despite the fact that Rangers were the better team they stayed in the game and made it very difficult for Rangers to break them down. Rangers dominated for much of the first half but it was 0-0 at the break.

Second half
Rangers continued to probe the Atherton defence in the second half but the still couldn’t find a way through. It looked like it was to be one of those days, especially for the Boro when Atherton went In front after the rangers defence failed to get the ball clear and the Atherton number 9 Matty Gilliam latched on to the loose ball to make it 0-1. After the goal rangers knew they had to respond and to their credit they kept going right till the very end and the late pressure paid off when rangers number 8 Tom Tonks found some space on the edge of the box after a long ball was pumped up field. Tonks was able to turn and shoot 1-1 75th min, it was a great finish from our captain to get us back in it. Ultimately rangers’ efforts to find the second were unsuccessful and the game ended 1-1.

Teams:

Stafford Rangers Pilling Burns Endall Harvey Moran O’Neill Kenton Tonks Charles Navarrro Cuff
Atherton Collieries: Hutchinson Smith Peet Niall Battersby Lafferty Amado Conway Doyle Gilliam Leneham Cusani
ATT
662

Report completed by Luke Buckley

Hyde United FC V Stafford Rangers

Sep 15, 2021 | Match Report

First Half

In the early moments of the first half there wasn’t a lot in it. Both teams played a very similar style of football with lots of long balls and challenges. Rangers failed to really penetrate the Hyde defence with their frontline getting little or no service. Midway through the first half it was Hyde who began to assert themselves on the game . They started to see more of the ball than Rangers would have liked and they made it very difficult for the opposition to get out their own half. If it wasn’t for Rangers keeper Luke Pilling, Hyde could have been at least two goals up at the break.

0-0 HT

Second Half

Stafford Rangers needed to show what they were made of in the second half, but unfortunately it just wasn’t their night. The second half didn’t really see any significant changes in the pattern of the game. Rangers just couldn’t get going – they seemed a bit out of sorts. One shining light for them was their number 8 and captain Thomas Tonks who tried his best to make a positive impact on the game. He latched on to loose balls in the midfield and did well to break up play on quite a few occasions. On 64 minutes Hyde went 1-0 up after number 7 Mitchell was able to get on the end of a great left hand sided cross. From a Rangers point of view the goal seemed unavoidable but ultimately, they weren’t able to stop the ball from coming into the box. The game rather fizzled out after the goal with Hyde seeming happy to shut up shop and Rangers not looking like scoring. Full time and a 1-0 defeat for Rangers on the road. A very frustrating outing for the boys. Let’s hope for better Saturday vs Matlock town.

Report completed by Luke Buckley
ATT 338

FC United of Manchester v Stafford Rangers

Sep 12, 2021 | Match Report

Stafford Rangers v Rushall Olympic FA Cup 1st qualifying round Replay

Sep 9, 2021 | Match Report

First half
The opening minutes of the game were a bit scrappy with both teams fighting for control of the ball. Stafford did cause Rushall problems early on with long throws from Tom Tonks. Jonathan Moran headed the ball just wide from a throw-in for Rangers. As the half went on Rushall grew into the game with their front three causing the Stafford Rangers defence all kinds of problems and after some excellent build up play in the box Rushall were awarded a penalty in the 22nd minute after a foul from Stafford Rangers Joe Cuff. Rushall’s Danny Glover stepped up to convert the spot kick. 0-1 to Rushall. HT

Second Half

Stafford Rangers were second best for much of the second half and for most of the game, Rushall won every second ball, every challenge and fully deserved the win. Rangers seemed to not turn up in the second half they just knocked the ball long without really troubling the Rushall backline. Stafford Rangers brought on number 9 Jake Charles mid way through the second half. Although he chased everything down and worked hard, he didn’t have the impact he and Rangers’ fans were hoping for. In the 66th minute things got worse for the home side after a mistake from Stafford Rangers keeper Luke Pilling allowed Owen Coyle to make it 0-2 to Rushall. The game ended 2-0 to the away side. Overall, an extremely disappointing night for all involved with Stafford Ranger’s.

Congratulations to Rushall Olympic following a very much deserved victory!

Rushall Olympic v Stafford Rangers Match Report

Sep 6, 2021 | Match Report

Stafford Rangers came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 in the FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round after a late 92-minute equalizing goal against Rushall Olympic to ensure that a replay will take place at Marston Road on Tuesday evening.

First Half:
Rushall had the first chance of the game in the 10th minute with a shot hitting the crossbar but nothing came of it. In the 21st minute Rushall went 1-0 up after Simon Cobourne raced into the box and fired home an unstoppable shot which beat the goalkeeper. Minutes later Fletcher smashed the ball against the bar, this was the closest Stafford had come to a goal. Rushall continued to cause Stafford problems and after good play from Glover and Cobourne, Mitch Clarke flicked a shot over a home defender’s head and his shot was blocked. Just before half time Stafford’s Navarro ran down the wing but his shot was just wide. Rushall had dominated the first half and quite rightly deserved to be winning.

HT:
Rushall Olympic 1-0 Stafford Rangers

Second Half:

Early into the second half Rushall made it 2-0 after Parry passed the ball back for Danny Glover to fire the ball home. Looking to change the game and get back in it Stafford made a sub bringing off Luca Navarro and bringing on Joe Cuff. In the 65th minute Rushall had a great chance Cobourne advanced with the ball and slipped it to Parry who got round the keeper but the shot was just wide.

In the 66th minute Stafford got a goal back. A great ball from Fletcher allowed Tom Tonks to slide the ball into the net. Rushall then made 2 subs bringing on the former Stafford lad Callum Coyle and Rakeem Reid. Rushall continued to create chances and Moore had a shot from the edge of the area but it was well saved by Stafford’s keeper Luke Pilling. As the game moved into added time Stafford were still chasing the game so they made 2 subs, bringing on Charlie Ten Grotenhuis and Tyrone Ofori. Stafford equalized to make it 2-2 after Tonks launched a long throw in and it dropped to Charlie Ten-Grotenhuis who fired home for the equalising goal.
FT:
Rushall Olympic 2-2 Stafford Rangers

Attendance-323

Teams:

Rushall Olympic:
1 Palmer,2 Green,3 Mitchell,4 Thorley,
5 Clarke,6 Whittall,7 Cobourne,
8 Moore,9 Glover,10 Parry,11 Batchelor

Stafford Rangers:
1 Pilling,2 Burns,3 Lennon,4 Harvey,
5 Moran,6 O’Neill,7 Kenton,8 Tonks,
9 Charles,10 Fletcher,11 Navarro

Report by Scott Holmes