

Details
Date | Time | Competition | Season | Day | Att |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
01/02/2025 | 3:00 pm | NPL West Division | 2024/2025 | Sat | 507 |
REPORT
Stafford Rangers had to come from behind to mark Neil Kitching’s return to the club with a win.
Although Kitching was in attendance at Runcorn in midweek, he was watching on as Graham Deakin’s side climbed out of the relegation zone and Saturday’s trip to Kidsgrove was the first in charge for the new Stafford boss.
With Joe Morley and John Atherton both unwell, Kitching kept faith with the same starting XI meaning that new signing Ackeme Francis-Burrell had to settle for a place on the bench.
Rangers, backed by a large travelling support, made a bright start but failed to pose too much of a threat on the Grove goal.
Instead, it was the home side who got the first shot on goal but Andy Burns was there to make the block.
Zidan Sutherland, playing the final game of his current loan spell, went close to scoring his fifth goal in Stafford colours with a drive from the inside right channel after Ben Calder had failed to cut out a long ball from Callum King-Harmes.
Tempers frayed on both sides following a robust challenge from Ben O’Hanlon on Dan Holdcroft but the Stafford man escaped with just a yellow card.
Kicking down the slope, Kidsgrove created a couple of opportunities with an overhead kick from Kingsley Adu Gyamfi only just wide before Robbie Hatton’s long range drive was straight at Cam Belford.
It was Adu Gyamfi who was on the mark as Grove took the lead on 25 minutes. Tom Pope flicked on a centre from Harry Goode and although Belford got a hand to Adu Gyamfi’s chip, he was unable to prevent it going in.
A couple of minutes later, Belford had to tip over a free kick from Hatton as the home side threatened to extend their lead.
Rangers began to re-establish themselves towards the end of the half and, two minutes into added time, Ashley Fallon levelled with a sweetly struck volley into the bottom corner following one of Jimmy O’Neill’s long throws.
Kidsgrove went close to restoring their lead at the start of the second half but Aaron Bott fired over before Belford did just enough to keep out a chip from Holdcroft.
Rangers began to establish more authority in the final half hour. Kieran Harrison turned over a looping header from James McQuilkin then used his feet to save from Sutherland.
It was King-Harmes who found a way past the Kidsgrove keeper on 61 minutes. Some neat play on the right ended with an exchange between King-Harmes and Anderson and the former scored his first goal for the club with a low drive which went in via the keeper’s left hand post.
Kidsgrove were largely restricted to long range efforts with Jimmy Garlick and Ernie Ofusu both firing over. A counter attack got them closer to goal but Jack Bromfield was unable to keep his header on target.
Former Port Vale hitman Pope had an intriguing battle with Michael McGrath all afternoon. He nearly got his name on the scoresheet with a late header but O’Neill got an important touch to allow Belford to gather.
Soon after, Rangers were celebrating a third consecutive league win – the first time they have achieved this feat for over 6 years.
Kidsgrove Athletic: 1 Kieran Harrison, Harry Goode, 3 Alex Morris (17 Charlie Bradbury 89m), 4 Ernie Ofusu, 5 Oliver Jepson, 6 Ben Calder, 7 Dan Holdcroft (16 Ioannis Koutouzos 76m), 8 Robbie Hatton (14 Jimmy Garlick 62m), 9 Tom Pope, 10 Aaron Bott (12 Jack Bromfield 62m), 11 Kingsley Adu Gyama. Unused Sub 15 Alex Grebnar
Stafford Rangers: 1 Cam Belford, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Ben O’Hanlon, 4 Jack Burgess, 5 Michael McGrath, 6 James O’Neill, 7 Callum King-Harmes, 8 Ashley Fallon (16 Ackeme Francis-Burrell 65m), 9 Zidan Sutherland (14 Dan Cockerline 71m), 10 James McQuilkin (12 Liam Brazier 82m), 11 Kaiman Anderson. Unused Subs 15 Scott Wara, 17 Max Barlow
Referee: Jake Burton
Cautions: O’Hanlon, Cockerline
Attendance: 507
Report by Chris Elsley
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Past Meetings
Date | Home | Results | Away | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
Stafford Rangers | 0 - 0 | Kidsgrove Athletic | ||
Stafford Rangers | 4 - 2 | Kidsgrove Athletic | ||
Stafford Rangers | 0 - 6 | Kidsgrove Athletic |