Darlaston Town v Stafford Rangers

REPORT

Stafford Rangers recorded their first goal of the season and with it earned their first win as they overcame a stubborn Darlaston Town.

Neil Kitching made two changes from the side beaten at home by Avro in the NPL season opener with Mason Rees and Alex Worley returning at the the expense of Ashley Fallon and Ben O’Hanlon. Joe Cuff was missing from the subs bench due to unavailability.

Rangers began well but found it difficult to create any clear chances. The first realistic one fell on the quarter of an hour mark when Alex Worley beat his man to get in a cross but Jimmy O’Neill, playing in a centre forward role, headed wide.

Darlaston created half an opening when Karsten Cairns was allowed to set up Jake Collins but his shot was tame.

This was the trigger to a decent spell for the home side and Andy Burns twice had to intervene to deny Collins.

At the other end, Jack Birch sent a well struck volley flying over the bar after O’Neill’s flick before a game of pinball ensued in the Darlaston area but Rangers were unable to find the finishing touch.

Another O’Neill header was held by Zac Prior who also claimed a shot from Worley and saved well from Jack Sherratt.

Despite Rangers enjoying the better of the first half, they nearly found themselves a goal behind on the stroke of the half time whistle as Zac Noble was forced to make a good reaction save and turn over a volley from Lewis Gill.

Rangers continued to create chances with O’Neill again involved while Worley made the wrong choice to go left when well placed to go right.

Zidan Sutherland entered the action and demonstrated his pace with a surging run but again there was no end product.

It looked set to be one of those familiar nights of frustration with Darlaston doing their best to slow the game down – seemingly happy with a point.

But Rangers got the goal that they deserved on 73 minutes when Scott Wara flicked on O’Neill’s long throw and Birch headed in at the back post.

Darlaston now had to push forward and the otherwise solid Rangers defence was rattled when Jordan Spragg’s effort was cleared off the line.

Sutherland and O’Neill both missed chances to double Stafford’s lead but they had done enough to pick up all three points.

Darlaston Town: 1 Zac Prior, 2 Jack Downing, 3 Harry Chesterton, 4 Bailey Storey, 5 Alex Foreshaw, 6 Luke Carsley, 7 Lewis Gill (16 James Rowland 53m), 8 Jake Pearson (12 Jordan Spragg 50m), 9 Jake Collins, 10 Karsten Cairns (15 Malakai Miller 87m), 11 Ash DeMulder (17 Keiron Berry 51m). Unused Subs 14 Leo Gill

Stafford Rangers: 1 Zac Noble, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Alex Worley, 4 Mason Rees (14 Ash Fallon 64m), 5 Scott Wara, 6 Jimmy O’Neill, 7 Callum Wilson, 8 Jack Sherratt, 9 Kaiman Anderson (16 Ben O’Hanlon 82m), 10 John Atherton (14 Zidan Sutherland 64m), 11 Jack Birch. Unused Sub 16 James McQuilkin, 17 Graham Deakin

Goals: Darlaston: None     Stafford: Birch 73m

Referee: Liam Corbett

Cautions: Gill (Darlaston)

Att: Not Announced

Report by Chris Elsley