Eccleshall FC v Stafford Rangers

REPORT

The Rangers and Joe Willis made it two from two in pre-season, as Matt Hill’s side beat Eccleshall 2-1 at Pershall Park.

Everyone a part of Hill’s squad last night was involved in the game at some stage as many of the Boro boys who’ve come through the youth ranks got their second outing for the first team. Midfielder Joe Willis added to Kaiman Anderson’s first half opener early in the second 45 to give the Rangers their second victory of pre-season.

It was the Eagles who were presented with the first opportunities of the game, as their number 10 fired straight at Cameron Belford in goal in the fifth minute and wide two minutes later. Kaiman Anderson – back for the Rangers – likewise found the gloves of the man in net with his long-range effort in the 12th minute.

Ethan Morgan was busy on the right wing throughout the game, looking to create opportunities with crosses, and agonisingly his pull back across goal went through everyone and led to nothing. Tyreece Onyeka was a menace on the left wing and forced a diving save from the Eccleshall goalkeeper in the 27th minute to stop his shot making its way into the bottom right corner. And, it would be the story of Onyeka’s game with opportunities arising for the 21-year-old, but only to be denied on several occasions by the Eagles keeper.

Forward Anderson then made the breakthrough in the 35th minute firing into the bottom left corner out of the reach of the keeper after good work prior to the shot. Onyeka was then denied on the stroke of half time before Morgan optimistically tried his luck from afar and was close from the top right corner with his long-range effort.

Ethan Stewart made his return for the Boro in the second half as Willis added a second goal early on. The midfielder slammed the ball home into the left-side of the goal, on-target for the Rangers for the second game in a row.

Onyeka created a good opportunity but was unable to convert again before Jimmy O’Neill handed Eccleshall a way back into the game. The defender seemed to have got the ball first, but also all of the opposition man too, and with both feet off the ground the referee pointed to the spot. And, former Rangers player Ryan-Jay Malbon converted past Jack Sandel in net, the keeper diving the wrong way to his left as Eccleshall clawed one back.

However, that’s how it would stay until the full-time whistle as Sandel tipped over Mitch Glover’s free-kick which was on target and Matt Hill gave the youngsters on the bench another outing.

The Rangers will travel to Stourbridge next Tuesday in their third fixture as they look to make it three wins from three in their pre-season campaign.