Coleshill Town — Stafford Rangers

REPORT

Although both sides made four changes to the starting line up from their respective weekend sides, it was still a good test for a revitalised Rangers, playing against a side sitting in a play off position in the NPL Division One Midlands.

The goal came midway through the first half after Coleshill had enjoyed the better of the early exchanges.

Rangers continue to look vulnerable at set pieces and one such situation – a left wing corner – ended with the ball in the back of the net although the referee had already blown for a foul.

Rangers struck on 24 minutes with their first period of maintained pressure. Seconds after Dylan Scott had declined an opportunity for a shot on goal, a long ball from James McQuilkin was gathered on the right by John Atherton and he cut in before beating former Stafford keeper Cam Belford at his near post.

Coleshill almost levelled a couple of minutes later when a deep inswinging free kick found its way through but just wide of the back post.

Neither keeper was seriously tested in the remainder of the half. For Rangers, Joe Thomas and Kaiman Anderson both had shots blocked by the home defence while Jimmy O’Neill came to

Rangers’ rescue with a header away from Alex McSkeane’s goal bound shot.

Half Time: Coleshill Town 0 Stafford Rangers 1

Scott wasted a golden opportunity just a couple of minutes after the resumption when he was the recipient of a dreadful back pass from Joe Fitzpatrick but with just Belford to beat, it was the keeper who came out on top, saving with his legs.

Anderson and Thomas saw further chances come and go for Stafford while Tristan Dunkley fired straight at Scott Moloney as Coleshill sought an equaliser.

Anderson blazed over when in a good position before Ash Fallon fired wide from 20 yards after Belford had pushed away a shot from sub Matt Hearsey.

Coleshill stepped up their search for a goal and it needed the toe end of Harry Flowers’ boot to take the ball away from Marvellous Onabirekhanlen and end a threatening run.

The final threat to a Stafford victory came off the boot of one of their own as a back pass from O’Neill was misplaced and Moloney had to stretch out a leg to ensure his side’s progress and a first clean sheet 18 games.

Full Time: Coleshill Town 0 Stafford Rangers 1

Coleshill Town: 1 Cameron Belford, 2 Dan Brookes, 3 Harry Sweeney, 4 Joe Fitzpatrick (17 Ben Usher-Shipway 61m), 5 George Cleet, 6 Taylor Carter-Byrne, 7 Alex McSkeane (12 Marvellous Onabirekhanlen 67m), 8 Gio Dainty (14 Bassit Mandey 67m), 9 Tristan Dunkley, 10 Lewis ALlison, 11 Theo Rowe. Unused Subs 15 Ollie Burgundy, 16 Shayne Byrne

Stafford Rangers: 1 Scott Moloney, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Ben O’Hanlon, 4 James McQuilkin (17 Max Barlow 90+3m), 5 James O’Neill, 6 Jadel Musanhu (14 Harry Flowers 46m), 7 John Atherton (16 Matthew Hearsey 46m), 8 Ashley Fallon, 9 Dylan Scott (12 Cole Griffin 90+5m), 10 Joe Thomas (15 Jack Birch 63m), 11 Kaiman Anderson.

Goals:

Stafford: Atherton 24m

Referee: Kieran Rogers

Cautions: Musanhu 45+2m, Burns 61m, Flowers 61m, Thomas 63m (Stafford)

Att: 132

Report by Chris Elsley