Runcorn Linnets — Stafford Rangers

REPORT

It was a tough afternoon for Stafford who made just one change to their starting line up with Kaiman Anderson replacing Dan Cockerline who needs surgery on his troublesome shoulder and is likely to miss the rest of the season.

Runcorn had the better of the opening 10 minutes without creating too much of a threat on the Stafford goal.

Rangers held firm and missed a great chance to take the lead from a Jack Birch corner when Callum Wilson volleyed wide.

Soon after, Birch himself was guilty of a miss when he failed to keep the ball down after keeper Yusuf Mersin had dropped Ben O’Hanlon’s cross.

Matt Hearsey charged down a clearance from the Runcorn keeper but the ball ran away from goal and Steve Irwin cleared the danger.

In between, Runcorn’s Declan McLoughlin had a shot saved by Scott Moloney and Naim Arsan fired over.

What proved to be the decisive goal came in the 24th minute when Lewis Doyle’s cross was met by the head of Arsan and the ball squirmed under the body of Moloney.

Harry Flowers blocked a shot from Arsan and Moloney saved from Ryan Brooke as Runcorn threatened to double their lead.

Rangers had chances to level before the break. The best fell to John Atherton who was denied at the near post by Mersin.

Meanwhile, a good block from Andy Burns prevented Brooke from adding to the Runcorn tally.

Half Time: Runcorn Linnets 1 Stafford Rangers 0

Moloney made a good save at the start of the second half as he turned over a shot from McLoughlin following an exchange with Scott Bakkor.

Moloney saved again, this time from Brooke, but Rangers were still firmly in the contest and O’Hanlon should have done better with his drive on goal before Mersin made a comfortable save keeping out Hearsey.

The Runcorn keeper began a counter attack with a quick roll out to McLoughlin who ran the length of the pitch before shooting wide.

A flash point came with 15 minutes remaining following a poor challenge on O’Hanlon by Joseph Ferguson.

The offending Runcorn player was extremely fortunate to escape with just a yellow card but referee Adam Watson was quick to brandish similar punishment to Flowers and O’Hanlon in the aftermath. For the latter, his injury was enough to end his involvement in the game.

Rangers brought on Jimmy O’Neill in the hope that his long throws may create something but it was not to be Rangers’ day.

Full Time: Runcorn Linnets 1 Stafford Rangers 0

Runcorn Linnets: 1 Yusuf Mersin, 2 Joseph Ferguson, 3 Matthew Rain, 4 Jacques Welsh, 5 Peter Wylie, 6 Steve Irwin, 7 Naim Arsan (12 Seam Miller 84m), 8 Lewis Doyle, 9 Scott Bakkor (17 James Steele 90m), 10 Declan McLoughlin (Markell Foulds 84m), 11 Ryan Brooke. Unused Subs 16 Noah Roberts, 18 Isaac Graham

Stafford Rangers: 1 Scott Moloney, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Ben O’Hanlon (14 James O’Neill 78m), 4 Ashley Fallon (16 Dylan Scott 87m), 5 Harry Flowers, 6 Callum Wilson, 7 John Atherton (17 Max Chimenes 60m), 8 Marsel Tola (15 James McQuilkin 68m), 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 Jack Birch, 11 Matthew Hearsey (12 Leon Hughes 90m).

Referee: Adam Watson

Cautions:

Runcorn: Rain 45m, Ferguson 76m
Stafford: Wilson 56m, Flowers 76m, O’Hanlon 77m, Anderson 79m, Burns 90+2m, Deakin 54m

Goals:
Runcorn: Arsan 24m

Att: 720

Report by Chris Elsley

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