Sporting Khalsa — Stafford Rangers

REPORT

Match report kindly sponsored by Abbey Polymers

On a stormy night in Willenhall, strong gusty wind, torrential rain and hail at times made the game farcical, particularly in the first half when conditions were at their worst.

Rangers had the wind in their backs but it was so strong that it didn’t give any advantage although there was one moment when a defensive block from Dominic Perkins on the edge of the area looped high in the air and almost blew into the Khalsa net, the ball going a few inches wide of the goal.

Graham Deakin gave a debut to Adisa Osayande – on loan from Derby County – while there was a return for left back Ben Woods who begins his third spell with the club.

Ben Woods back in action for the Boro

There was little in the way of clear goal chances in the opening half hour.

Kaiman Anderson went wide at the near post following some good play on the left and Osayande should have hit the target with a free header from Matt Hearsey’s centre.

For Khalsa, Andre Landell always looked threatening but Scott Moloney didn’t have a shot to save.

Chay Tilt came close to opening the scoring just past the half hour when he lobbed Moloney from distance but his effort drifted wide.

Rangers’ best effort came from Matt Hearsey after a good exchange between Marsel Tola and Joe Thompson. Hearsey cut in from the left but his curling effort lacked sufficient inswing and went inches wide.

Half Time: Sporting Khalsa 0 Stafford Rangers 0

Rangers controlled play in the opening exchanges of the second half but still struggled to test Brandon Ganley in the Khalsa goal.

Gradually Khalsa started to turn the game their way. A good block from Andy Burns denied Tilt before an error from Callum Wilson let in Jordan Clarke but his effort went the wrong side of the post.

It was Khalsa who finally made a breakthrough on 75 minutes when Perkins got on the end of Kieron Whittaker’s deep centre to head past Moloney.

Rangers’ subs Jack Sherratt and Dan Cockerline both had chances to level but it was another replacement – Dylan Scott – who was on the mark in the 90th minute with an excellent header from Jack Birch’s corner.

Dylan Scott levels the scores

Full Time: Sporting Khalsa 1 Stafford Rangers 1

The game went straight to penalties and, after Birch had cancelled out Luke Shearer’s opener, Zach Kourouiyanni sent his effort high into the night sky.

Ben Woods penalty shootout kick

Cockerline, Tola and Woods all found the mark to maintain Rangers’ advantage before a save from Moloney to stop Rio Sawyers sent Rangers through 4-3.

Graham Deakin and Marsel Tola applaud the travelling faithful

Sporting Khalsa: 1 Brandon Ganley, 2 Rio Sawyers, 3 Mikkel Hirst, 4 Narel Phillips (15 Zach Kourouiyanni 46m), 5 Dominic Perkins, 6 Kartell Dawkins, 7 Chay Tilt, 8 Kieron Whittaker, 9 Andre Landell (17 Jordan Clarke 55m), 10 Luke Shearer, 11 Sam Fitzgerald (12 Daniel Broni-Phillips 73m). Unused Subs 13 R’Avan Constable, 14 Peter Taylor

Stafford Rangers: 1 Scott Moloney, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Ben Woods, 4 Marsel Tola, 5 Adisa Osayande, 6 Callum Wilson, 7 Matthew Hearsey (17 Dylan Scott 76m), 8 Joe Thompson (14 Jack Sherratt 81m), 9 Kaiman Anderson (12 Dan Cockerline 76m), 10 Jack Birch, 11 Devarn Green (16 John Atherton 29m). Unused Subs 15 Luke Edwards

Referee: Brandon Scaife

Cautions: Whittaker 86m, Perkins 90+4m (Khalsa), Scott 83m, Burns 90+2m (Rangers)

Goals:
Sporting Khalsa: Perkins 75m
Stafford: Scott 90m

Att: 185

Match report kindly sponsored by Abbey Polymers