Lower Breck V Stafford Rangers

REPORT

Stafford Rangers’ top of the table clash with leaders Lower Breck went the way of the Merseysiders in a game that saw both sides finish with 10 men and a missed penalty.

There was one change to Rangers’ starting line up from the side that defeated Nantwich with Kaiman Anderson returning in place of Joe Cuff who was suspended.

There was a cautious opening with few opportunities created by either side in the wet and windy conditions not befitting the final weekend of the summer holiday..

Scott Wara did have one in the first 5 mins but his effort was saved by Theo Roberts. A free kick from Callum Wilson also caused problems with Wara and Jack Sherratt in the mix but unable to take advantage.

Lower Breck’s first chance fell to Alex Cherera who shot wide on 21 minutes and it was the Lower Breck man who opened the scoring on the half hour when he fired home from Liam Morris’ cross after the latter had seen off the challenge of three Stafford players.

As the half grew on, Rangers got more into the game. Kaiman Anderson linked with Dan Cockerline to put Ash Fallon in but the midfielder was unable to keep control.

Shortly before the interval, Zidan Sutherland did well to win a corner and, with Stafford still on the attack, an overhead kick from Cockerline went just wide.

Rangers were certainly still in the contest as the two teams went in at the break but things looked to be taking a turn for the worse in the first minute after the resumption when Wara’s back pass fell short. Aaron Davies came out quickly but brought down Sam Burns in the process. Referee Kieran Chell awarded a penalty and sent off the Stafford keeper. Fortunately, Callum Smith, signed as first choice keeper in the summer but who has not played to date due to injury, was one of the Stafford substitutes and he came on for Fallon.

Smith’s first task in a Stafford shirt saw him make a great save from Burns’ spot kick diving to his left to keep his side in the contest.

A corner from Worley caused some problems in the home defence but the follow up shot went over.

With conditions remaining difficult, play was scrappy. Rangers made a double substitution at the midway point as they tried to turn things around with John Atherton and Mason Rees Anderson and Jack Birch.

The home side made a substitution for themselves on 71 minutes and the change had an immediate impact as Elliott Hughes made it 2-0 within a minute of coming on. The substitute got round the back of Callum Wilson to slot past Smith.

A good save from Smith prevented Sam Burns from adding a third as Lower Breck threatened to run away with it.

Hughes and Owen Collinge continued to hassle Stafford although the Boro threatened to reduce the arrears with a run from Atherton but this came to nothing.

An incident involving Andy Burns and Liam Morris resulted in the Lower Breck man seeing red to level up the numbers but with the 90 minutes already up there wasn’t time for Rangers to salvage anything from the game.

Lower Breck: 1 Theo Roberts, Michael Fitzgerald, 3 Dan Lowey, 4 Frazer Cookson, 5 Jay Cooper, 6 Jordan Barrow (16 Callum Grogan 84m), 7 Alex Cherera (15 Elliott Hughes 71m), 8 Liam Morris, 9 Connor Millington, 10 Sam Burns (14 Charlie Wheeler 81m), 11 Harry McGee (12 Owen Collinge 76m). Unused Subs: 17 Tom Mitchell

Stafford Rangers: 1 Arron Davies, 2 Callum Wilson, 3 Alex Worley, 4 Jack Sherratt, 5 Andy Burns (12 Jimmy O’Neill 90+2m), 6 Scott Wara, 7 Ashley Fallon (sub 13 Callum Smith 48m), 8 Jack Birch (15 Mason Rees 64m), 9 Dan Cockerline, 10 Zidan Sutherland, 11 Kaiman Anderson (16 John Atherton 64m). Unused Subs  14 Ben O’Hanlon

Goals: Lower Breck: Cherera 30m, Elliott Hughes 72m

Referee: Kieran Chell

Cautions: Cherera (Lower Breck); Worley, Fallon, Burns (Stafford)

Sent Off: Morris (Lower Break) 90+2m, Davies (Stafford) 46m

Att: 255

Report by Chris Elsley