Bamber Bridge v Stafford Rangers

REPORT

Stafford Rangers picked up three vital points at Bamber Bridge as they battle to avoid relegation from the NPL Premier Division.

Rangers were deserved winners on a day when their nearest rivals both lost with the gap to safety now cut to four points although Rangers’ goal difference could prove costly.

The first half hour was very much a non event. With the wind in their favour, Rangers had marginally the better of things although the best chances had fallen to the home side but, in truth, neither side deserved to go ahead.

Things picked up in the final stages of the half as Stafford began to show more presence.

Danny Forbes was forced to clear a Sean Cooke free kick off the line with Kaiman Anderson ready to pounce then Cooke was denied by the legs of Brig keeper James Pradic following a Joe Willis corner.

Cooke intercepted a poor clearance from Pradic to put Tyreece Onyeka in but Adam Dodd made a crucial block to force the ball over the bar before Willis fired wide from around 25 yards out.

But, as Stafford seemed to be getting on top of their mid table opponents, the half ended with a good chance for Brig that saw Dodd fire wide after some good approach play.

Rangers got the vital opener after just two minutes play in the second half. A good ball from George Burroughs put Anderson away and although Pradic made a good save and Onyeka totally miskicked from the rebound, Cooke made no mistake.

On the hour, Pradic denied Anderson again in a one v one while Macauley Wilson denied Cooke with a goal line block.

Rangers remained in control of affairs and made certain of the points in the 87th minute when Cooke launched a counter attack from the edge of the Stafford area, sending Onyeka away on the right. His cross picked out Connor Heath – he had only been on the pitch for a couple of minutes – for the simplest of headers while Brig players Michael Potts and Callum Leigh were involved in a full blown argument.

Bamber Bridge: 1 James Pradic, 2 Sky Sinclair (12 Callum Leigh 62m), 3 Adam Dodd (15 Billy Bould 75m), 4 Jack Baxter, 5 Macauley Wilson, 6 Simon Grand, 7 Christopher Churchman, 8 Michael Potts, 9 Harry Scarborough, 10 Mark Cullen (14 Amadou Doumbouya 80m), 11 Danny Forbes – Only 3 subs named

Stafford Rangers: 1 Cam Belford, 2 Andy Burns, 3 George Burroughs, 4 Joe Willis, 5 Ethan Stewart, 6 Isaac Lee, 7 A-Jay Leitch-Smith (12 Connor Heath 85m), 8 Owen German, 9 Kaiman Anderson (17 Lewis Porter 90+5m), 10 Sean Cooke, 11 Tyreece Onyeka. Unused Subs: 14 Ben Woods, 15 Jimmy O’Neill, 16 Jack Stafford

Referee: Jordan Crossley
Cautions: Wilson, Forbes, Doumbouya (Bamber Bridge), Anderson (Stafford)
Att: 527

Report by Chris Elsley