Avro v Stafford Rangers

REPORT

Stafford Rangers picked up a point after a competitive 1-1 draw away at Avro thanks to a late James McQuilkin penalty, equalling their best unbeaten run this season, making it five without defeat.

Having made five changes to the side that beat Congleton last weekend, Neil Kitching handed starts to youngsters Henry Brereton & Liam Brazier, whilst Ackeme Francis-Burrell returned to the side following a four-match absence since his red card against Chasetown. Joe Morley & Joe Thomas also came into the starting line up with Dan Cockerline & John Atherton amongst those to drop to the bench.

The game started with a typical “on the beach” end of season feeling to it, with both sides taking their time before creating anything of note. Malakai McKenzie was a threat for the home side down the right wing, whilst Morley was in a constant battle with Avro full back David Fitzpatrick in the early stages.

Stafford were forced into an early substitution when Joe Thomas went down holding his shoulder in the 25th minute, and with another game to follow, manager Neil Kitching took no risks, withdrawing the attacker with youngster Zak Scutt replacing him to make his Stafford Rangers debut.

The move almost paid dividends instantly, as Scutt gambled on a slip by the Avro backline to race through, but with Fitzpatrick in hot pursuit, Scutt chose to lay the ball off to the onrushing Morley, who drove his shot straight into the Avro full back.

Things got bad to worse injury-wise when Francis-Burrell looked to fall awkwardly when shooting, and following treatment with both club’s physios assisting, Francis-Burrell was eventually forced off and replaced by McQuilkin on the stroke of half time.

Avro started much brighter in the second period and managed to find the breakthrough in the 50th minute when some good work on the left saw McKenzie lay the ball off to Aaron Dwyer on the edge of the box, and he calmly placed the ball into the bottom left corner past the despairing dive Leon Phillips in the Stafford goal.

The home side continued to press forward and could’ve extended their lead seven minutes later, if not for Phillips who made an outstanding one handed save to palm the ball over following Kyle Hawley’s right footed drive from just outside the area.

Neil Kitching shuffled the pack again for Stafford as they searched for a way back into the game, introducing Atherton & Cockerline into the action on the 64th minute, and it was the former who almost levelled matters when his shot flashed across the face of the goal following a deflection, safely going wide of Grant Shenton in the home goal.

Stafford did eventually get another opportunity to equalise though when Cockerline & Atherton combined well, with Atherton managing to get his shot away despite a heavy challenge from Geffry Ebhote, which referee Abid Hussain deemed to be late, awarding the visitors a spot kick. James McQuilkin stepped up, and sent Shenton the wrong way, scoring via the post to restore parity with just four minutes remaining.

There was still time for both sides to conjure another chance each, first it was Avro with dangerman McKenzie seeing a low driven shot well parried away by Phillips, before Stafford almost won it in the closing stages when a pull back from McQuilkin found Scutt in space in the penalty area, and despite working the space well, the finish didn’t match as he sent his effort flashing over the bar.

Avro: 1 Grant Shenton ©, 2 AJ Warburton, 3 David Fitzpatrick, 4 James Dwyer, 5 Deane Smalley, 6 Geffry Ebhote, 7 Sam Davidson, 8 Jack Morrow (15 Kane Hickman 58m), 9 Kyle Hawley (14 Isaac Lopes 89m), 10 Brandon Barker (12 Harry Salt 72m), 11 Malakai McKenzie. Unused Subs: 16 Jake Cottrell, 17 Benito Lowe

Stafford Rangers: 1 Leon Phillips, 2 Liam Brazier (16 Max Barlow 71m), 3 Ben O’Hanlon, 4 Mason Rees, 5 Andy Burns ©, 6 Scott Wara, 7 Joe Morley, 8 Ackeme Francis-Burrell (15 James McQuilkin 45m), 9 Kaiman Anderson (12 John Atherton 64m) 10 Joe Thomas (17 Zac Scutt 25m) 11 Henry Brereton (14 Dan Cockerline 64m).

Goals: Avro – Dwyer 50, Stafford – McQuilkin 86 (pen)

Bookings: None

Referee: Mr Abid Hussain

Att: 263

Report by Craig Cartwright