Clitheroe v Stafford Rangers

REPORT

Stafford Rangers suffered their heaviest defeat of the season with a poor display at Clitheroe.

The margin of defeat could have been worse. As well as the four goals conceded, Clitheroe hit the post twice and missed a penalty. As well as his save from the spot kick, Rangers’ keeper Arron Davies prevented further embarrassment with a number of good saves.

There were two changes to the Stafford starting XI with Tomasi Wara on duty with Port Vale and Logan Cousins dropping to the bench. In came Mason Rees after injury and recent arrival Dylan Scott for his first start.

In a fairly uneventful opening, Rangers created the first couple of chances with Scott Wara’s header being cleared off the line and a similar effort from Callum Wilson tipped over by Zac Hadi – both came from Jimmy O’Neill throws.

In the 13th minute, Clitheroe’s first serious attack resulted in the opening goal. Wara’s excellent tackle denied Harry Scarborough what looked a certain goal but the ball wasn’t properly cleared and Danny Wilkins beat Davies with a low drive from 25 yards.

Rangers came close to an equaliser when Hadi saved from Scott, pushing the ball just behind Kaiman Anderson.

At the other end, Davies tipped over a good drive from Veron Parny before Luke Gill fired over with just the Stafford keeper to beat, but Rangers deservedly got back on level terms on 26 minutes when Scott finished an excellent move, getting on the end of Anderson’s touch following a centre from Wilson.

But, rather than build on their goal, Rangers were outplayed for the rest of the game.

Gill hit the post before a body check by Wara on the Clitheroe man resulted in a 41st minute penalty for the home side.

Parny stepped up but Davies went the right way to keep Rangers on level terms as the two sides went into the break on level terms.

But the second half was only 30 seconds old when Clitheroe went back in front.

Parny’s centre looked to be overhit but Joshua Briggs kept the ball in play and played it back into the goalmouth for Harry Scarborough to tap in.

Parny made it 3-1 on 58 minutes after cutting inside Andy Burns on the right.

Neil Kitching immediately made a double change and followed this with the three remaining substitutions soon after but within seconds of the latter change, Clitheroe had extended their lead, Gill volleying home Jacob Hanson’s cross on 67 minutes.

Parny missed a chance to add a fifth when he shot wide before being denied by Davies with another opportunity a couple of minutes later.

Jack Morris hit the post from distance and Davies prevented substitute Lewis Trickett from adding his name to the scoresheet before referee Thomas Fox brought Stafford’s miserable afternoon to a close.

Clitheroe: 1 Zac Hadi, 2 Jacob Hanson, 3 Joshua Briggs, 4 Brad Ditch, 5 Cameron Lancaster, 6 Jake Carroll (15 Ben Woods 89m), 7 Jack Morris (17 Lewis Trickett 84m), 8 Danny Wilkins, 9 Luke Gill (16 Noah Halford 89m), 10 Veron Parny (12 Charlie Martin 79m), 11 Harry Scarborough (14 Sefton Gonzales 69m)

Stafford Rangers: 1 Arron Davies, 2 Callum Wilson, 3 Andy Burns, 4 Mason Rees (14 Ashley Fallon 59m), 5 Scott Wara, 6 Jimmy O’Neill, 7 Callum King-Harmes (12 Kingsley Adu-Gyamfi 65m), 8 Jack Birch, 9 Kaiman Anderson (15 Dan Cockerline 65m), 10 Dylan Scott (17 Logan Cousins 59m), 11 Joe Thomas (16 John Atherton 66m).

Goals: Clitheroe: Wilkins 13m, Scarborough 46m, Parny 58m, Gill 67m, Stafford: Scott 26m

Referee: Thomas Fox

Cautions: Lancaster, Morris (Clitheroe); Wara, Fallon, Cousins (Rangers)

Att: 786

Report by Chris Elsley