FC United of Manchester v Stafford Rangers

REPORT

Stafford Rangers wrapped up their away programme with a well deserved victory that put an end to FC United’s lingering hopes of a play off place.

Rangers made a couple of surprise selections with Joe Kenton coming in at right back and Andy Burns moving in to the centre of defence. Elsewhere, Onyeka was given his first NPL start on the right.

FC United shaded the first half in which neither goal was put under any real threat.

Keane Barugh came the closest to scoring when he went on a run from midfield and sent in a powerful shot which was parried away by Cam Belford.

Max Cane was picked out by Ethen Vaughan’s Centre but the ball struck him on the shoulder and looped up over the bar.

Towards the latter stages of the half, another header from Cane went harmlessly wide.

Rangers made the occasional foray into the United area but appeared reluctant to shoot when the opportunity arose.

FC United made a double substitution at half time but it was Rangers who appeared to benefit.

Play was generally scrappy but Rangers were more positive with the combination of Kenton and Onyeka finding more space.

Joe Willis was unable to convert a chance created by Ethan Stewart then Burns demonstrated why he is still to score for the club with a 20 yard volley.

But leading scorer Kaiman Anderson showed them how to do it when Jan Palinkas slipped trying to cut out Jack Baxter’s long ball.

Anderson went clear and gleefully fired past Dan Lavercombe to give Rangers a 60th minute lead and notch his 10th league goal of the campaign.

Willis could have have doubled the lead soon after but failed to beat Lavercombe while Onyeka fired over from the angle. Another Willis effort lacked the power needed to beat the United keeper.

Ethan Morgan replaced Willis and picked up a caution within 30 seconds for halting a break by Sandro Da Costa.

A bizarre moment came when one of the ball boys threw the ball at Belford and was sent away by the referee – much to the disapproval of the home crowd.

Late pressure from United saw Dontai Gabidon send a shot wide from 25 yards out.

Lavercombe went up in attack when United had couple of late corners and a free kick but Belford dealt with them superbly and Rangers were able to celebrate a league double.

FC United: 1 Dan Lavercombe, 2 Ethen Vaughan, 3 Guy Hall, 4 Adam Dodd (12 Sandro Da Costa 60m), 5 Jan Palinkas, 6 Curtis Jones, 7 Faisu Sangare (16 Matt VanWyk 46m), 8 Michael Donohue (14 Keegan Hartley 46m), 9 Max Cane, 10 Keane Barugh, 11 Dontai Gabidon. Unused Subs 13 Dimeji Willan, 15 Serigne Ndiaye

Stafford: 1 Cameron Belford, 2 Joe Kenton, 3 Joe Dunne, 4 Alex-Ray Harvey, 5 Ethan Stewart, 6 Andy Burns, 7 Tyreece Onyeka (14 Nathan Blissett 81m), 8 Tom Tonks, 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 Joe Willis (15 Ethan Morgan 77m), 11 Jack Baxter. Unused Subs 12 Derek Ubah, 13 Jack Sandel, 16 Callum Saunders

Referee: Kane Dempster

Cautions: Harvey, Tonks, Morgan (Stafford)

Att: 2,042

Report by Chris Elsley