Hanley Town v Stafford Rangers

REPORT

Stafford Rangers entered the FA Cup at the Preliminary Round for the first time in nine years but made sure of their progress with a hard fought victory against Hanley Town.

Rangers made 3 changes to the team that drew with Newcastle Town in midweek with Jimmy O’Neill coming in for the unavailable Ollie Jepson, Diego McGann for the suspended Joe Robbins and new signing Stan Anaebonam who came in for Theo Knight with the wide midfielder dropping to the bench.

There were a number of familiar faces in the Hanley side with goalkeeper Adam Whitehouse, defenders Josh Green and Jake Moult, midfielder Marc Grocott and striker Tom Pope starting while substitutes included Reece Jones, Tyrone Ofori and Tim Sanders.

It was Hanley Town who started the better of the two teams and the first effort came from Pope who won his header at the back post but Cam Belford was there to make the save. Belford was called into action again, this time following a run from Luke Walsh that took him past Sean Lawton and the Stafford keeper was forced to make the save.

Hanley continued to press and Marc Grocott tried his luck from 25 yards out but it went over the Stafford bar. In the 20th minute, a dangerous free kick was put into the Rangers area. Moult got on the end of it but Belford tipped it over, although the former Stafford man was flagged offside.

With Rangers struggling to find their shape, it was virtually all Hanley and the home side had their next chance when great play from Pope saw Walsh free in the box. He in turn picked out Moult but he dragged his shot wide.

The last chance of the half fell to Pope after being set up by Ollie Heywood but it was another missed chance from the former Port Vale hot-shot.

Rangers responded to some strong words dished out by Dave Cooke during the half time break although Hanley saw another great opportunity go begging in the 57th minute when Belford made a great save to deny Joel Stair.

Having been on the back foot for much of the game, it was Rangers who broke the deadlock on the hour mark when captain Jimmy O’Neill got on the end of Sean Cooke’s corner to head past Adam Whitehouse.

Play switched from end to end but neither side was able to make their chances pay. Hanley had the last couple of chances but a free kick from Jack Degruchy went over and, in the dying minutes, a great tackle from Andy Burns halted the Hanley attack and it is the name of STafford Rangers that goes in to the hat for the 1st Round Qualifying draw.

It wasn’t the perfect win with Rangers well off standard in the first half but Dave Cooke was pleased with the reaction after the interval and to get that first win of the season under his belt.

Hanley Town: 1 Adam Whitehouse, 2 Josh Green (15 Sam Turner 77m), 3 Louis Keenan, 4 Marc Grocott, 5 Joel Stair, 6 Jake Moult, 7 Luke Walsh (16 Reece Jones 55m), 8 Jack Degruchy, 9 Tom Pope, 10 Will Igoe, 11 Ollie Heywood (17 Tyrone Ofori 74m). Unused Subs 14 Tim Sanders, 18 Ben Chapman

Stafford Rangers: 1 Cam Belford, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Sean Lawton, 4 Dylan Barkers, 5 Ben Hockenhull, 6 Jimmy O’Neill, 7 Stanley Anaebonam (12 Theo Knight 85m), 8 Diego Esquivel McGann, 9 Luca Whitney (16 Lewis Porter 71m), 10 Sean Cooke, 11 Joe Morley (15 Ethan O’Sullivan 65m) Unused Subs: 13 Jack Sandel, 14 Jacob Edwards, 17 Alex Harrison, 18 Dan Cockerline

Cautions: Jones (Hanley)

Referee James Scerri

Attendance: 259

Report by Mark Bennett