Avro — Stafford Rangers

REPORT

There were several changes but a similar outcome as Stafford Rangers were beaten 3-0 away to Avro.

After the match, manager Neil Kitching described the home side as the best in the division and the gulf in class between the two sides was clear.

With Jimmy O’Neill unavailable and Scott Wara having departed for a career in Fiji, Kitching brought in local lad Harry Flowers while there was a surprise return for Michael McGrath. Also making his debut was forward Bradley Mansell with another newcomer Harley Irwin on the bench.

Avro created an opportunity as early as the fourth minute when the lively Harry Salt played in Ryley Smith but Arron Davies parried the shot away.

There was an element of misfortune for Rangers as they went a goal down on 8 minutes.

Jadel Musanhu was first to Samuel Davidson’s free kick but headed it against Adam Owen who wouldn’t have known too much as the ball looped into the net.

With Kyle Hawley waiting to pounce, Andy Burns cut out a dangerous cross from Salt after he had outpaced Musanhu.

At the other end, Rangers appealed in vain when John Atherton went down under a challenge in the Avro area.

But it was Avro who kept creating the openings. Hawley headed over at the back post and Salt sent a shot a couple of feet over the bar from the edge of the area.

Hawley went closer – but not close enough – with another good strike from around 20 yards while Jake Cottrell’s free kick was just off target.

At half time, Kitching replaced Musanhu with Irwin as Rangers tried to be more effective in midfield but they were undone again 10 minutes after the resumption when Hawley got away from McGrath to double the Avro lead.

A minute earlier, Avro had gone close when Davidson’s free kick hit the bar and Hawley’s follow up came back off the post.

It was more or less game over on 65 minutes when a ball out from Davies put Flowers under pressure from Hawley and Salt and it was the latter who eventually snapped up the opportunity.

Rangers didn’t test home keeper Cameron Mason and a fairly tame free kick from Irwin was the only shot on target they produced. Other efforts from Kaiman Anderson, Logan Cousins and Dylan Scott were all off target as Rangers’ struggles continued and their winless run extended to 8 games.

Avro: 1 Cameron Mason, 2 Ethan Kershaw (12 Cameron Bell 81m), 3 Adam Owen, 4 Deane Smalley, 5 David Fitzpatrick, 6 Jack Morrow (16 Kane Hickman 85m), 7 Samuel Davidson (18 Owen Warburton 74m), 8 Jake Cottrell, 9 Kyle Hawley, 10 Harry Salt (14 Darren Ehimamiegho 66m), 11 Ryley Smith (17 Belchoir Rodrigues 69m).

Stafford Rangers: 1 Arron Davies, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Ben O’Hanlon, 4 Michael McGrath, 5 Jadel Musanhu (16 Harley Irwin 46m), 6 Harry Flowers, 7 John Atherton (14 Ashley Fallon 72m), 8 Mason Rees (12 Jack Sherratt  69m), 9 Bradley Mansell (17 Dylan Scott 69m), 10 Jack Birch (15 Logan Cousins 59m), 11 Kaiman Anderson.

Goals: Avro: Owen 8m, Harley 55m, Salt 65m

Referee: Francis Sibley

Cautions: Flowers 53m (Stafford)

Att: 267

Report by Chris Elsley