

Details
Date | Time | Competition | Season | Day | Att |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
09/11/2024 | 3:00 pm | NPL West Division | 2024/2025 | Sat | 699 |
REPORT
Stafford Rangers slipped to their third consecutive defeat as they were beaten on the artificial surface at local rivals Chasetown.
With Michael McGrath back available after suspension it was a straightforward replacement at the heart of defence as Scott Wara was away on international duty with Fiji. One other change to the starting line up saw Jack Burgess replacing John Atherton. Joining Atherton on the bench were new signings Andre Wright and Callum King-Harmes and the surprise return of Joe Cuff.
Chasetown were first to show and Joey Butlin missed a great chance when he produced an air shot after George Cater’s initial effort had looped up off team mate Lewi Burnside.
Rangers soon got in to the game and went close with a well struck drive from James McQuilkin which was deflected over. Another McQuilkin effort went just wide but, just as Rangers were starting to take the upper hand, they gifted the home an 18th minute lead.
It was one of their more reliable and experienced players Andy Burns who committed the error with an under hit back pass. Luke Yates pounced and touched it past Chasetown to put The Scholars in front.
Jimmy O’Neill went close to an immediate equaliser when he stabbed the ball goalwards but Curtis Pond dived to his left to push the ball away.
Another mistake in the Stafford defence saw McGrath lose possession to Burnside who, in turn, sent Cater clear but Cam Belford stood his ground to make the save.
But Cater wasn’t going to be denied against his former club and he fired home Chasetown’s second on 28 minutes after Yates had snapped up possession following a poor first touch from O’Neill.
Kaiman Anderson and Dan Cockerline both tried their luck without success – the latter seeing his header well saved from Pond – before Rangers did pull one back three minutes before half time.
Cockerline pounced after Burnside’s back pass fell short, beating Pond to the ball to fire into the unguarded goal. Unfortunately, the Rangers striker injured his shoulder in the process and took no further part in the game.
Dale Belford made two changes at the break with Wright and Cuff replacing Fallon and Joe Morley but the changes didn’t give Stafford the results they wanted and it was Chasetown who created the better opportunities.
Yates was given plenty of time and space on the right and combined with Butlin and Burnside to open up the Stafford defence but somehow the latter failed to convert.
O’Neill picked up a yellow card for pulling back Yates when he threatened to go clear while Belford pushed away a shot from Cater.
The Stafford keeper then made a top class save from Burnside, diving low to his right to prevent further damage being done.
Chasetown: 1 Curtis Pond, 2 Oli Hayward, 3 Joe Dunne, 4 Kieren Fenton, 5 Kris Taylor, 6 Sam Wilding (15 Daniel O’Callaghan 74m), 7 Luke Yates, 8 Mitch Clarke, 9 Joey Butlin (16 Danny Glover 90+6m), 10 Lewi Burnside (14 Joe Thompson 77m), 11 George Cater (17 Max Chimenes 71m)
Stafford Rangers: 1 Cameron Belford, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Ben O’Hanlon, 4 James McQuilkin, 5 Jimmy O’Neill, 6 Michael McGrath, 7 Joe Morley (14 Joe Cuff 46m), 8 Jack Burgess (16 Callum King-Harmes 89m), 9 Dan Cockerline (15 John Atherton 44m), 10 Kaiman Anderson, 11 Ashley Fallon (12 Andre Wright 46m). Unused Subs 17 Sean Lawton
Referee: Mark Reilly
Cautions: Dunne, Wilding (Chasetown ), O’Hanlon, O’Neill, McGrath (Stafford)
Attendance: 699
Report by Chris Elsley
2 | 1 |
6 | 6 |
6 | 4 |
1 | 0 |
0 | 3 |
0 | 0 |
KO KO 18 28 42 45 46 48 57 63 70 73 76 81 88 95 FT
Past Meetings
Date | Home | Results | Away | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
Stafford Rangers | 0 - 3 | Chasetown FC |