Long Eaton United v Stafford Rangers

REPORT

For the second time this season, Stafford Rangers booked their place in the 1st Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy at the expense of Long Eaton United.

Having apparently seen off the Derbyshire club 11 days earlier, Rangers were forced to replay the tie after one of their Rangers’ players was found to be ineligible on a technical issue.

Rangers seemed to be on their way to completing the task in more clinical fashion before a late comeback from the home side sent the match into penalties.

Joe Mwasile spurned a great chance to open the scoring for the visitors when a heavy first touch allowed Long Eaton keeper Lewis King to gather.

Rangers then went onto to make several more promising moves but without adding the finishing touch and it was Cam Belford who was the first of the two keepers who was called upon to make a serious save when he went to his right to push away a decent strike from Evan Garnett.

Long Eaton came more into the game as the half developed and Belford saved again from Liam Loughlan (twice) while Connor Pace had his shot blocked and a ball from Owen Betts ran across the face of the Stafford goal with no home player on hand to convert.

Mwasile nearly opened the scoring a couple of minutes into the second half with a flying header after some good approach play from Stafford but his moment was still to come.

Rangers survived a Long Eaton attack that saw Andy Burns block Loughlan’ shot before Dylan Barkers intervened then Belford kept out a rising shot from Alans Voskresenskis and Ryley D’Sena headed wide from the resultant corner.

It was Rangers who finally made the breakthrough on 61 minutes. Some good approach play from Stanley Anaebonam – he looks more impressive each match – and Jacob Edwards allowed Dan Cockerline to thread the ball into the path of Joe Robbins who took it past King to put his side in front.

Anaebonam was also involved in the build up to Rangers’ second on 73 minutes as his good play gave Robbins the opportunity to cross and Mwasile hit a superb acrobatic volley from around 15 yards out.

But Rangers aren’t known for making it easy and a couple of minutes later conceded what looked like a needless free kick on the edge of their area. Loughlan’s free kick took a slight deflection off the wall on its way past Belford.

There was some desperate defending as Belford made two saves to keep out Voskresenskis with Garnett and Ryan Campbell-Gordon also in the thick of things.

Long Eaton pressed again with Jimmy O’Neill heading away another effort from Garnett.

Four minutes in to added time, the home side won a corner. Callum Cocks delivered a good flag kick which was met by D’Sena but it was home keeper King who claimed the final touch to send the game into penalties.

After both sides had scored their opening two kicks (Cockerline and Robbins for Rangers), Belford saved only for James McQuilkin to see his spot kick saved. It was then advantage to the home side as Anaebonam sent his to the night sky after Taylor had scored for Long Eaton.

Belford saved again then scored himself to make it 3-3 after five.

King took Long Eaton’s sixth penalty but Belford made his third stop. King made amends by keeping out Sean Lawton. Still 3-3!

Aaron Cole matched Anaebonam’s effort to send another ball into orbit before Theo Knight stepped up to clinch the tie for Stafford.

The win came at a cost with Sean Cooke picking up an injury midway through the first half.

Long Eaton United: 1 Lewis King, 2 Owen Betts (15 Aaron Cole 60m), 3 Ryan Campbell-Gordon, 4 Callum Cocks, 5 Ryley D’Sena, 6 Jayden Cotterill, 7 Alans Voskresenskis, 8 Connor Pace (14 Ethan Hulley 77m), 9 Evan Garnett, 10 Liam Loughlin, 11 James Taylor. Unused Subs 12 Jamie Hanson, 16 Cian Zamboglu, 17 Prestyn Moore

Stafford Rangers: 1 Cameron Belford, 2 Jacob Edwards, 3 Sean Lawton, 4 Dylan Barkers, 5 Andy Burns, 6 James O’Neill, 7 Joe Mwasile (14 Theo Knight 86m), 8 Joe Robbins, 9 Dan Cockerline, 10 Sean Cooke (16 James McQuilkin 26m), 11 Stanley Anaebonam. Unused Substitute 12 Joe Morley, 15 Diego McGann, 17 Alex Harrison

Cautions: Cocks, Taylor (Long Eaton), Anaebonam, D Belford (Rangers)

Referee: Gareth Davis

Att 157

Report by Chris Elsley