Hyde United v Stafford Rangers

REPORT

Stafford Rangers stopped the rot to record their first point of 2024 with a deserved draw away to high flying Hyde United but their winless run extended to five games with time running short to avoid the drop.

Dave Cooke gave debuts to Jack Stafford and Owen German and both played their parts in an encouraging performance from Rangers.

The home side just about shaded the opening 10 minutes but the two most dangerous attacks they launched came from Rangers giving away possession.

The first real chance fell to Harry Bunn after a swift move on the Hyde right but Ethan Stewart was on hand to block.

As the first half reached the midway point, Rangers started to come into it and, after good work from Connor Heath, Sean Cooke had a shot blocked before German put the rebound over.

Joe Willis was next to have a look in but his effort was straight at Hyde keeper Jordan Eastham then Ben Woods headed wide from Andy Burns’ cross.

As Rangers continued to press Cooke went wide with effort reminiscent of his goal at Matlock in December.

Isaac Lee and Heath also missed out for Stafford while Hyde’s Matthew Fearnley just failed to connect with Harry Ditchfield’s cross as the teams went in all square at the break.

Lee made a good block to keep out Bunn at the start of the second half before the home side made a double substitution in an attempt to find the opener.

But it was Rangers who made the breakthrough on 52 minutes as Cooke’s through ball put Kaiman Anderson away. He held off the challenge of Joel Amado to notch Stafford’s first goal of 2024.

The game opened up with Hyde stepping up their search for a goal and Jack Redshaw had a shot deflected wide.

A counter attack from the home side saw Manasse Mampala putting Redshaw in again but he failed to find the target.

Redshaw got in for a third time on 72 minutes but chose to clip in a deep cross and Mampala gleefully stole in at the back post to head in the equaliser.

Hyde were now in the ascendancy but were unable to break down the Stafford defence.

They had just one clear chance, thanks to the fortuitous award of a free kick a yard outside the area a minute from time, but Redshaw’s free kick sailed safely over the bar.

Hyde United: 1 Jordan Eastham, 2 Harry Ditchfield, 3 Josh Doherty, 4 Callum Spooner, 5 Joel Amado (16 Joe Bunney 90+2m), 6 Bradley Roscoe, 7 Harry Bunn, 8 Shakeel Jones-Griffiths (15 Antoine Makoli 50m), 9 Matthew Fearnley (12 Manasse Mampala 50m), 10 Jack Redshaw, 11 Lewis Alessandra. Unused Subs 14 Ryan White, 17 Sonney Whittingham

Stafford Rangers: 1 Cam Belford, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Jack Stafford, 4 Joe Willis, 5 Ethan Stewart, 6 Isaac Lee, 7 Ben Woods, 8 A-Jay Leitch-Smith, 9 Kaiman Anderson (16 Lewis Porter 90+2m), 10 Sean Cooke (14 AJay Leitch-Smith 89m), 11 Connor Heath (15 Tyreece Onyeka 89m). Unused Subs: 12 Niah Payne, 13 Jack Sandel

Referee: Curtis Wood

Cautions: Doherty, Burns (Hyde); Stafford, German (Rangers)

Sent Off: White (Hyde) after final whistle

Att: 712

Report by Chris Elsley