Guiseley AFC v Stafford Rangers

REPORT

Stafford Rangers suffered their heaviest defeat of the season as their poor run of form continued at Guiseley.

The final score was a little flattering to the home side but Rangers really only have themselves to blame for not picking up at least a point.

It was a familiar story for Rangers who matched the opposition in the first half and came closest to scoring when Ethan Stewart hit the crossbar 10 minutes before half time but once Guiseley had taken the lead they looked in full control.

Guiseley had some good opportunities in the first half and only poor finishing meant that Cam Belford wasn’t really tested.

Lewis Whitham fired wide inside 5 minutes then curled another effort just over the top corner following a Guiseley free kick.

Rangers’ first opportunity came from a well worked free kick on 14 minutes.

Tom Tonks clipped the ball to the back post where Stewart and Jimmy O’Neill combined to set up Alex Kiwomya but he was flagged offside.

A familiar face in the Guiseley line up was former Rangers player Osebi Abadaki who has recently signed for the West Yorkshire club. He created a chance after beating Joe Dunne on the Stafford left but his shot was wide of the near post.

Rangers suffered a set back on 28 minutes when Kiwomya was forced off with a calf injury with Ethan Morgan replacing him.

Manager Matt Hill made one change to the starting line up with Callum Saunders getting a recall in favour of Joe Kenton. Saunders had his first chance from a Tonks throw but it was easily gathered by Cameron Mason in the home goal.

At the other end, Rangers had a scare when Belford dropped a high ball from Kwame Boateng. Whitham picked up the loose ball but failed to hit the target with his shot from just inside the area.

A poor pass from George Smith gifted Saunders with a run on goal but he took one touch too many. Boating didn’t need a second invitation and halted Saunders’ run with a timely challenge.

It was from Tonks’ subsequent throw that Stewart hit the bar and Kaiman Anderson’s follow up was taken by Mason.

There was a greater urgency to the Guiseley play after the interval as Murphy volleyed straight at Belford then, a minute later, Callum Chippendale hit the post.

The warning signs were there but Rangers failed to read them and Guiseley went ahead on 56 minutes.

The goal came after Guiseley had broken down a Stafford attack. Chippendale picked out Whitham on the right and the impressive midfielder turned back inside O’Neill before giving Belford no chance with his left foot shot.

Courtney Meppen-Walters made it 2-0 from the penalty spot on 63 minutes after Jack Baxter had been harshly penalised for a challenge on Murphy.

Before the spot kick could be taken, Dunne became the second Stafford player forced out of the game with injury following a clash of heads.

Rangers did have a chance to reduce the arrears when Baxter played in Saunders but his rising shot cleared the cross bar, failing to test Mason.

Guiseley secured the points with two late goals. Substitute Adam Haw made it 3-0 on 85 minutes when he picked up the rebound after Whitham had hit the post then sloppy defending at a corner allowed Jameel Ible to make it four on 89 minutes.

Guiseley: 1 Cameron Mason, 2 Kwame Boateng, 3 George Smith, 4 Ross Daly, 5 Jameel Ible, 6 Leigh Whelan, 7 Lewis Whitham (16 Alfie Mouden 87m), 8 Callum Chippendale, 9 Kallan Murphy (14 Shane Smeltz 87m), 10 Osebi Abadaki (15 Adam Haw 46m), 11 Courtney Meppen-Walters. Unused Subs 12 Ekow Coker, 17 Spencer Harris

Stafford Rangers: 1 Cam Belford, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Joe Dunne (14 Luis Morrison-Derbyshire 63m), 4 Jack Baxter (12 Joe Willis 80m), 5 Ethan Stewart, 6 Jimmy O’Neill, 7 Alex Kiwomya (15 Ethan Morgan 28m), 8 Tom Tonks, 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 Alex-Ray Harvey, 11 Callum Saunders. Unused subs 16 Joe Kenton, 17 Tyreece Onyeka

Referee: Aaran Williams

Cautions: Boateng, Smith, Dale, Whitham, Murphy (Guiseley) Baxter (Stafford)

Att: 616

Report by Chris Elsley