Hednesford Town v Stafford Rangers

REPORT

Stafford Rangers were beaten in their latest pre season outing.

It was a short trip across the Chase for Rangers for a game that was delayed by 48 hours due to the record high temperatures on Tuesday.

Matt Hill’s starting line up was another strong one, although not quite the strongest available, with only one triallist on show when the game kicked off.

Rangers started brightly with Tom Tonks shooting wide under pressure from a Hednesford defender while Theo Bailey-Jones was unable to take full advantage after a slip at the back by Carter Lycett.

At the other end, veteran Leroy Lita gave the Stafford defence plenty to think about and only a last ditch tackle from Ethan Stewart prevented the former Premier League striker from opening the scoring.

Jack Baxter’s shot bounced to safety off Hednesford keep Lewis Gwilliams, but it was the home side who found the net on 28 minutes when Lita’s flick sent Cameron Ebbutt clear to score.

Hednesford triallist Nathan Cameron was left unmarked to power home his side’s second from a corner on 35 minutes but Rangers pulled one back three minutes later when Gwilliams allowed a high ball from Joe Willis to find its way into the net.

The first half scoring was not yet over and Lita converted a penalty on the stroke of half time after the referee had disapproved of Ben Forrest’s block.

The early exchanges after the interval saw Hednesford looking the most likely scorers before they replaced all 11 players on the hour mark.

Rangers’ six substitutions were made at various intervals. One of the triallist replacements – playing at the heart of defence – showed his attacking qualities with a well taken header from a Tonks free kick to reduce the arrears on 71 minutes before Joe Morley struck a superb volley to restore the two goal margin once more with 15 minutes remaining.

With three weeks to go before the NPL season kicks off, Hill and assistant Dale Belford will be working hard to eliminate the mistakes that resulted in the concession of four goals but there is no cause to panic just yet!

Hednesford make the return journey next weekend.

Hednesford Town
First Half: Lewis Gwilliams, Josh Webb, Carter Lycett, Martin Riley, Triallist 1, Luke Rowe, Triallist 2, James McQuilkin, Leroy Lita, Numair Rashad (Joe Cuff 24m), Cameron Ebbutt.

60 minutes: Rhys Williams, Lewis Hayden, Harry Manton, Taylor Carter-Byrne, Lewis Ison, Romehl Seraton, Chay Tilt, Todd Parker, Riley O’Sullivan, Andre Landell, Joe Morley

Stafford Rangers: Cameron Belford, Andy Burns (Taylor Draper 82m), Joe Dunne, Jack Baxter, Ethan Stewart (Triallist B 46m), Ben Forrest (Luis Morrison 60m), Theo Bailey-Jones (Joe Kenton 72m), Tom Tonks (Triallist C 72m)), Kaiman Anderson (Triallist D 46m), Joe Willis (Triallist E 60m), Triallist A (Triallist F 46m)

Referee B Scaife

Att 525.

Chris Elsley