Shifnal Town v Stafford Rangers

REPORT

Stafford Rangers’ start to the season continued to stutter on Saturday, as they were well beaten 3-0 away at Step 4 newcomers Shifnal Town.

Stafford arrived in Shropshire on the back of picking up a hard-fought three points away at Darlaston Town in midweek, however there was to be no joy for the strong contingent of support on the road this time, as Shifnal Town bossed the game for the majority of proceedings, picking up their first three points of the campaign, following their promotion from the Midland Premier Division.

The away side remained unchanged on the field, although there was a welcome return on the subs bench for Dan Cockerline, who managed to get some minutes under his belt following his return.

There were some familiar faces for the home side with former full back Josh Green playing down the right alongside former Boro-loanee Abdulrasaq Alamu-Tajudeen, whilst a last minute change to the starting eleven meant another to represent Stafford last season, Sam Fitzgerald, started up front for Shifnal, and it was he who would provide the most damage throughout the afternoon.

The game started fairly evenly but Shifnal soon got into gear, passing the ball well across what looked to be a good playing surface, causing Stafford problems often when they got it wide to Alamu-Tajudeen & Jack Loughran, and it was Green who first tested Zac Noble with an effort from the right side of the area which the Stafford keeper tipped wide.

Loughran was next to try his luck as he forced Noble into another save before Fitzgerald swivelled and shot from close distance but saw it blocked by a Rangers defence that was coming under increased pressure.

The first telling point in the game came in the 22nd minute when the excellent Craig Pritchard went down under an innocuous looking challenge in the area, with the referee seeming one of few who deemed a foul as he had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Fitzgerald put himself forward for the home side and took Noble the wrong way from 12 yards to put the home side in front, and they didn’t look back from there with an unmarked Alamu-Tajuldeen heading over on the half-hour mark following great work by Kane Lewis, before, moments later, came the controversial point in the opposite penalty area when a deep cross from Callum Wilson found Jimmy O’Neill, who was seemingly floored by the onrushing Shifnal goalkeeper, Andrew Wycherley, who went straight through the Stafford man, leaving him on the floor and the Rangers fans behind the goal incensed with the referee seeing no foul.

Neil Kitching looked to ring the changes at half time, bringing on Zidan Sutherland, Ashley Fallon and Ben O’Hanlon entering the action, as Stafford looked to quickly get back into the game, and Sutherland had the first real effort of the half when he hit wide when under pressure, before Shifnal snapped back with Loughran forcing Noble into another save.

The pressure from the home side continued, and in the 56th minute it was a hopeful header forward that was picked up by Loughran who found Alamu-Tajudeen, who showed some great footwork to get the ball onto his right foot, before placing the ball beyond Noble and into the back of the net to put the home side two goals to the good.

The misery continued for Stafford just four minutes later, when Fitzgerald closed down a pass back to Noble, who hesitated on the ball and allowed the Shifnal man to steal in front of him and tap into an open net to make it 3-0 and an afternoon to forget for the visitors.

Stafford were handed something of a lifeline in the 64th minute when Pritchard recklessly went in over the top on Fallon, leaving the referee no alternative but to show the midfielder a red card, and give Stafford with a man advantage for the remainder of the game.

Shifnal held firm as Stafford desperately tried to get the ball into the opposition area, Scott Wara heading over, whilst the returning Cockerline had a headed effort saved by Wycherley in the closing moments, before turning and dragging a shot straight at the keeper before the referee called an end to the game with the visitors not finding a way through a resolute and energetic Shifnal side, who were fully deserving of the 3-0 scoreline.

Shifnal Town: 1 Andy Wycherley, 2 Josh Green, 3 Kane Lewis, 4 Jack Rowley, 5 Louis Bradford, 6 Craig Pritchard, 7 Jack Loughran (12 Harry Bower 76m), 8 Lewis Jarman, 9 Sam Fitzgerald (sub 15 Shaquille Leachman-Whittingham 68m), 11 Abdulrasaq Alamu-Tajudeen (10 Jack Hodnett 90+4m), 14 Jack Fishman. Unused Subs 16 Kyle Byrne, 17 Archie Elsdon

Stafford Rangers: 1 Zac Noble, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Alex Worley (16 Ben O’Hanlon 46m), 4 Mason Rees (14 Ash Fallon 46m), 5 Scott Wara, 6 Jimmy O’Neill, 7 Callum Wilson (17 Dan Cockerline 60m), 8 Jack Sherratt (15 Michael McGrath 69m), 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 John Atherton (14 Zidan Sutherland 46m), 11 Jack Birch.

Goals: Shifnal:  Fitzgerald (2) 23m pen, 58m; Alamu-Tajudeen 55m  Stafford: None

Referee: Thomas Wall

Cautions: Jarman, Lewis (Shifnal)    Birch, Fallon (Stafford)

Sent Off: Pritchard 63m (Shifnal)

Att: 307

Report by Craig Cartwright