Nantwich Town v Stafford Rangers

REPORT

Stafford Rangers were on the losing side of an entertaining game at Nantwich Town.

Arguably, the Boro shaded the first half but failed to take their chances and they suffered for it in the second period when the Dabbers struck twice in a five minute spell. Although Rangers pulled one back they were unable to get the equaliser.

For the first time this season, Rangers named an unchanged starting XI from the side that beat Atherton with the same five substitutes also named.

Early play was at a fast pace with Stafford finding a couple of openings but nothing clear cut. The best opportunity fell to John Atherton who saw his shot swing away from goal following a nice touch by Dan Cockerline.

Stafford keeper Cam Belford was the first of the two custodians called in to action but he wasn’t troubled by Byron Harrison’s header after a patient build up from the home side.

Atherton set up Cockerline but he clipped his shot over the Nantwich bar before the former tried his luck from 25 yards out but couldn’t keep his effort on target.

Shortly before half time, Nathan Sandison forced Belford to go down low to his right to keep out a 25 yard effort while Cockerline – one of several players on show lining up against their former club – went just wide with a shot on the turn.

At half time, Dale Belford replaced James McQuikin with Jack Burgess but it was Nantwich who started the better of the two sides when play resumed.

Jimmy O’Neill made a solid block tackle to halt the threat from Kai Evans then the central defender had no margin for error when he made a superb sliding tackle to deny Tom Pratt as he broke into the area.

Rangers began to show and were unfortunate when the ball fell to Cockerline on his weaker left foot.

Seconds after they had introduced former Stafford man Joe Robbins to the action, Nantwich broke the deadlock on 59 minutes when a shot from Gio Loureiro looped up and fell nicely to Evans who calmly planted his shot inside Belford’s right hand post.

Five minutes later, Nantwich doubled their lead with a determined Kelvin Mellor converting Robbins’ corner.

Rangers responded well to the double set back. Joe Morley had a shot blocked before Kaiman Anderson reduced the arrears on 73 minutes. Anderson benefitted after Cockerline’s presence had seen Ben Garratt fail to deal with Ben O’Hanlon’s centre.

Garratt made amends when he came off his line quickly to deny Stafford an equaliser when Cockerline got behind the Nantwich defence.

As Rangers pressed in the closing stages, they were nearly caught out at the other end but survived further damage when Callum Saunders’ shot took a deflection over while Belford held on to a header from Troy Bourne.

Nantwich Town: 1 Ben Garratt, 2 James Melhado, 3 Perry Bircumshaw, 4 Kelvin Mellor, 5 Troy Bourne, 6 Paddy Kennedy, 7 Gio Loureiro (17 Callum Saunders 71m), 8 Tom Pratt (16 Darren Thornton 85m), 9 Byron Harrison, 10 Nathan Sandison (14 Joe Robbins 59m), 11 Kai Evans (12 Ali Hayder 73m). Unused Sub 15 Matty Mallon

Stafford Rangers: 1 Cameron Belford, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Ben O’Hanlon, 4 Ashley Fallon , 5 Jimmy O’Neill, 6 Scott Wara, 7 John Atherton (16 Stanley Anaebonam 65m), 8 James McQuilkin (12 Jack Burgess 46m), 9 Dan Cockerline , 10 Kaiman Anderson, 11 Joe Morley (15 Sean Cooke 88m) Unused Subs 14 Luca Whitney, 17 Sean Lawton

Cautions: Garratt, Harrison, Evans, Thornton (Nantwich), Fallon, Wara (Stafford)

Referee: Jacob Viera

Attendance: 906

Report by Chris Elsley