Newcastle Town v Stafford Rangers

REPORT

Stafford Rangers were victorious in their second pre-season fixture against Newcastle Town at a sunny Lyme Valley Stadium.

Once again, Rangers fielded two separate sides with all ten outfield players being replaced at half time. Only keeper Cameron Belford remained on the field throughout.

The home side created the first opening with Ryan Baker’s header being pushed away by Belford.

Rangers responded a couple of minutes later with a rising shot from Alex-Ray Harvey that went a couple of inches over the Newcastle cross bar.

Kaiman Anderson should have put Rangers ahead on 21 minutes after being put through by Joe Willis but Newcastle keeper Joe Slinn made a good stop.

Harvey’s afternoon came to an early and painful end midway through the half with a foot injury that could force the Rangers’ captain out of this weekend’s match at Coleshill.

Newcastle were at their most dangerous from set pieces and went close again when Ethan Vale hit the foot of Belford’s left hand post with a free kick before Jack van der Laan put the rebound just wide.

Rangers opened the scoring six minutes before half time when No3 triallist threaded a pass through to Anderson who found some space before turning the ball past Slinn from the angle.

The all-changed Rangers went close to adding to their tally early in the second half with a shot from the No11 triallist curled his shot just wide after linking well with Jack Baxter.

Belford pushed away a Vale free kick while a corner from the Newcastle man flashed across the face of the Stafford goal. As the home side kept searching for a goal, Belford did just enough to keep out Mikey Conlon’s dipping shot.

Rangers’ second goal of the afternoon came on 64 minutes following some good play on the right hand side. Andy Burns played in Jaiden White who, in turn, picked out triallist 11 to score from close range.

Newcastle couldn’t find a way back. Connor Russo came closest to reducing the arrears ten minutes from the end but Belford tipped over.

Newcastle Town: 1 Joe Dlinn, Joe Hurst, Connor Russo, Ethan Vale, James Askey, Luke Dennis, Will Lloyd, Tommy van der Laan, Ryan Baker, Jack van der Laan, Mikey Conlon. Subs including Callum Parker, Ollie Torjussen

Rangers
First Half: Cameron Belford, Trialist, Triallist, Alex-Ray Harvey (Triallist 24m), Ethan Stewart, Louis Morrison, Joe Kenton, Joe Willis, Kaiman Anderson, Trialist, Theo Bailey-Jones

Second Half: Cameron Belford, Andy Burns, Trialist (Triallist 82m), Triallist, Ben Forrest, Joe Dunne, Jaiden White, Tom Tonks, Theo Bailey-Jones, Jayden Hunter-Bailey, Jack Baxter, Trialist

Ref: James Scerri

Report: Chris Elsley