Atherton Collieries v Stafford Rangers

REPORT

It might be early days but Stafford Rangers can shout out “We Are Top of the League ” after making it two wins out of two.

It was a hard earned three points that they brought back from Atherton Collieries on Tuesday night, the slope on the Colls’ pitch playing a major role in proceedings.

Ethan Stewart could have helped himself to a hat trick inside the first quarter as Rangers looked to use the slope to their advantage but it was Adam Livingstone who put the Boro in front on 19 minutes when his inswinging centre from the left found its way inside the far post.

Rangers’ lead was short lived August, just a couple of minutes later, the home side levelled when Danny Lafferty headed in Jay Fitzmartin’s corner.

Buoyed by their goal, Atherton enjoyed a spell of pressure with Lafferty going close to a second, but it was Rangers who were to add to the scoring on 29 minutes when Jack Baxter finished off a move that he had started in the centre of the park.

Baxter then missed a chance to further add to Stafford’s tally just before the break.

Rangers knew they were in for a tough second half but they were first to threaten when Kaiman Anderson skied over.

Marcus Cusani and Joel Amado both went close in the space of a minute for Atherton before Scott Bakkor fired over when well placed.

Baxter fired inches wide from 25 yards for Rangers before Bakkor was put in by Aaron Smith but the Atherton forward missed out again when Cameron Belford saved.

Andy Burns blocked the path of Smith, staying low to deny the Atherton midfielder while Bakkor fired wide as the home side pressed for the equaliser.

Rangers should have made the game safe as Joe Kenton and substitute Andy Kiwomya both missed out and it needed a perfectly executed last ditch tackle from Luis Morrison to deny Bakkor and clinch the win.

Atherton Collieries: 1 Nico Defreitas-Hansen, 2 Adam Rooney, 3 Gaz Peet, 4 Jack Lenehan, 5 Danny Lafferty, 6 Joel Amado, 7 Ethan Kershaw (12 Oli Roberts 52m) 8 Aaron Smith (14 Dec Daniels 75m), 9 Scott Bakkor, 10 Jay Fitzmartin (16 Luke Nicholls 88m), 11 Marcus Cusani. Unused Subs: 15 Max Bardsley – only four subs named

Stafford Rangers: 1 Cameron Belford, 2 Andrew Burns, 3 Joe Dunne, 4 Jack Baxter, 5 Ethan Stewart, 6 Luis Morrison-Derbyshire, 7 Joe Kenton, 8 Tom Tonks, 9 Kaiman Anderson (12 Ntumba Massanka 70m), 10 Joe Wilis, 11 Adam Livingstone (16 Alex Kiwomya 72m). Unused Subs 13 Aiden Jeynes, 15 Jaiden White, 17 Nathan Caine.

Cautions: Smith (Atherton) Willis, Massanka (Stafford)

Referee: Declan Brown

Att 284

Report Chris Elsley