Guiseley AFC v Stafford Rangers

REPORT

It was another disappointing afternoon for Stafford Rangers as they suffered their sixth defeat in seven league games.

Rangers made a lively start as new signing Taylor McMahan linked with Keke Jeffers on the left. The latter found Kaiman Anderson in front of goal but the Stafford striker spent too much time trying to work some space and the home defence was able to clear.

Guiseley let a couple of half chances go by before Joe Stacey produced the first shot on target – and effort from distance that Cam Belford held on to.

The contest became a midfield battle with neither side creating any clear cut chances.

That changed on 38 minutes when the Stafford defence switched off. Kallan Murphy played in Gabriel Johnson and although Belford got half a hand to it, there was enough pace on the ball to take it over the line.

A minute later, a poor clearance from the Stafford keeper almost gave Guiseley a second but Belford saved his blushes with a save to keep out Prince Ekpolo.

But the home side did double their lead within a minute after the interval and it proved to be the killer blow.

A throw in on the right was aimed at the lofty Tom Denton. The ball came down nicely for Jameel Ible to volley home.

Ible wasted a chance to make it three soon after when well placed before a downward header from Denton bounced up and over.

Jay Ford added a little bit of energy to Rangers’ approach play but was unable to create any noteworthy chances.

A bizarre hand ball from Guiseley’s Courtney Meppem-Walters presented Stafford with one of their best opportunities but Ford’s free kick reflected the lack of quality from his side as it came back off the defensive wall. The free kick was awarded after the Guiseley sub picked the ball up believing Payne to be in an offside position.

Rangers need to improve their service in the final third if they are going to pull themselves out of the relegation zone.

Nine goals in eleven games tells the story!

Guiseley: 1 Ollie Battersby, 2 Josh Ashman, 3 Joe Stacey (12 Courtney Meppem-Walters 69m), 4 Prince Ekpolo, 5 Reece Kendall, 6 Jameel Ible, 7 Tom Pratt, 8 Leigh Whelan, 9 Tom Denton, 10 Gabriel Johnson (14 Callum Chippendale 85m), 11 Kallan Murphy (16 Ollie Brown 90+3m). Unused Subs 13 Brad Wade, 15 Danny Devine

Stafford: 1 Cam Belford, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Taylor McMahan, 4 Jake Moult, 5 Ethan Stewart, 6 Simon Njaria, 7 Niah Payne (15 Jack Massey 80m), 8 Aaron Braithwaite, 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 Joe Willis (14 Jay Ford 55m), 11 Keke Jeffers (12 Nathan Blissett 71m). Unused Subs: 16 Sam Bird, 17 Joe Dunne

Referee: Michael Trevethan

Cautions: Ashman, Murphy, Meppam-Walters, Tongue (manager) (Guiseley)
Njaria, Willis (Stafford)

Att: 631

Report by Chris Elsley