Kettering Town v Stafford Rangers

REPORT

It’s 50 years since Stafford Rangers reached the 4th Round Proper of the FA Cup and the wait for a repeat of that famous run goes on after they were beaten by Kettering Town in the 1st Qualifying Round.

The two sides have a strong rivalry stemming back to the 1979 FA Trophy Final when Rangers won 2-0 but this time it was the Poppies – currently playing one level higher than Stafford – who triumphed.

Rangers’ new signing Tommy Montefiori didn’t make the starting lineup while Luca Whitney missed out following a slight injury pre match. Joe Morley came in for the cup-tied Joe Mwsaile.

Kettering started the better of the two teams and opened the scoring in the sixth minute when Isiah Noel-Williams made a run down the right-hand side and held off the challenge of Dylan Barkers before cutting the ball back to Kai Fifield who curled it home beyond the dive of Cam Belford.

Kettering were soon pushing for a second and Luca Miller sent in a shot just past the post while Aaron Powell headed over the bar from Ben Hart’s cross. Belford was then called into action as he tipped Miller’s shot on to the post and, in the follow up, Noel-Williams saw his effort blocked.

It was just before half time that a hitherto disappointing Rangers managed their first serious attack on goal but Sean Cooke’s shot was well over the bar.

Kettering heeded the warning and doubled the lead on 42 minutes. The same two players involved in the Poppies’ first goal were again in the action with Remaye Campbell and Noel-Williams setting up Fifield who placed his shot past Belford at his near post.

Rangers, at least, did put on a better showing after the break and could have reduced the arrears through Joe Morley but the young midfielder produced an “air shot” and missed the ball completely.

Dan Cockerline forced Daniel Jezeph to make his first save of the afternoon following a long through into the danger area from Jimmy O’Neill.

At the other end, Fifield missed a chance to complete his hat trick when he cut inside only to be denied by Belford. Moments later, Miller’s shot from the edge of the Stafford area was blocked.

James McQuilkin replaced Morley and his free kick resulted in another opportunity for Cockerline but it was directed straight at the Kettering keeper.

But it was Cockerline who did put Rangers back into the contest when he reduced the arrears in the 72 minute. The tall striker got behind the home defense to collect a long ball from O’Neill and lobbed Jezeph from 25 yards out.

Rangers pressed hard for the equaliser, but couldn’t find a way to breakdown the Kettering defense and it was their old rivals who progress to the 2nd Qualifying Round.

Kettering Town: 1 Daniel Jezeph, 2 Benjamin Hart, 3 Aaron Powell, 4 Devon Kelly-Evans (11 Tyree Wilson 46m), 5 Connor Johnson, 14 Harlain Mbayo (6 Sidik Atcha 79m), 17 Luca Miller, 16 Isiah Noel-Williams (7 Wes York 57m), 9 Remaye Campbell, 10 Daniel Jarvis, 19 Kai Fifield. Unused Subs 8 Andi Thanoj, 20 Daniel Emovon

Stafford Rangers: 1 Cameron Belford, 2 Jacob Edwards, 3 Sean Lawton, 4 Dylan Barkers, 5 Andy Burns, 6 James O’Neill, 7 Joe Morley (16 James McQuilkin 58m), 8 Joe Robbins (14 Theo Knight 87m), 9 Dan Cockerline, 10 Sean Cooke, 11 Stanley Anaebonam. Unused Substitutes 13 Zane Wegehaupt, 15 Diego Esquivel McGann, 17 Alex Harrison

Cautions: Campbell (Kettering) Lawton, O’Neill, Cockerline, Cooke (Rangers)

Referee: Zack Cunningham

Attendance: 844

Report by Mark Bennett