Radcliffe v Stafford Rangers

REPORT

It’s now nine games without a win for Stafford Rangers after their latest defeat which came at the hands of league leaders Radcliffe.

Nathan Blissett and Aaron Braithwaite returned to the starting line up in place of Kaiman Anderson and newcomer James Carvell while the home side featured two former Stafford players in keeper Mateusz Hewelt and front man Luca Navarro.

The home side attacked from the kick off with a long ball from Richard Smith sending Jordan Hulme away on the right. He laid back to Luke Joyce who shot wide – all with less than 30 seconds on the clock.

Rangers response was immediate and effective. They won a corner on the left which was met a yard out by the head of Ethan Stewart and Rangers had a shock 3rd minute lead.

But barely 60 seconds later, it was all square and it was Navarro who was on the mark against his former club, heading home Joyce’s centre.

The all action start to the game continued with Niah Payne’s shot going wide following a deflection off Radcliffe’s Ollie Thornley.

Edy Maieco also shot wide after some good work from Blissett but Radcliffe found the target at the other end when Jude Oyibo finished a swift attack down the left on 16 minutes.

It was end to end stuff. Rangers looked to restore parity as a low drive from Braithwaite was saved by Hewelt while, at the other end, Hulme fired wide with a cross-shot.

The home side extended their lead on 35 minutes with a long range effort from Thornley who was given far too much time and space.

It looked like Radcliffe had added a fourth just before half time when Hulme flicked the ball past Cam Belford but the flag went up for offside.

Belford saved from Hulme early in the second half with Oyibo putting the loose ball over when he looked certain to score.

Oyibo missed out again when Belford tipped over while Brad Jackson, sub Nicky Adams and Hancock also missed out.

Rangers stuck to their task and played some decent football at ti.es.

The introduction of Carvell and Anderson produced a few more opportunities but Rangers were unable to find a way through and their search for a first win for more than two months continues.

Radcliffe: 1 Mateusz Hewelt, 2 Scott Duxbury, 3 Jude Oyibo (15 Jake Thompson 68m), 4 Richard Smith, 5 Oliver Thornley, 6 Lois Maynard, 7 Josh Hancock, 8 Brad Jackson (14 Jamie Morgan 73m), 9 Jordan Hulme, 10 Luke Joyce, 11 Luca Navarro (12 Nicky Adams 52m)

Stafford: 1 Cam Belford, 2 Sam Bird, 3 Taylor McMahan, 4 Jake Moult, 5 Ethan Stewart, 6 Simon Njaria, 7 Edy Maieco (12 Kaiman Anderson 63m), 8 Aaron Braithwaite (14 James Carvell 73m), 9 Nathan Blissett, 10 Joe Willis, 11 Niah Payne. Unused Subs: 15 Andy Burns, 16 Ben Woods, 17 Keke Jeffers

Referee: Graham Kearney

Cautions: Duxbury, Maynard (Radcliffe) Willis (Stafford)

Att: 743

Report by Chris Elsley