Stafford Rangers — Darlaston Town

REPORT

After a miserable streak of 13 winless league games over 98 days, a change of manager and the Chairman stepping down, Stafford Rangers finally won a game on Tuesday night.

In contrast to the pitiful display against Kidsgrove Athletic three days earlier, Rangers put on a show for the 484 fans who braved the cold damp conditions to overcome one of their relegation threatened rivals, Darlaston Town.

Graham Deakin made three changes to the starting line up with Osaze Okuonghae and Matt Hearsey being given their first starts. The two new comers deserved their chance after being the only ones who had come out of the Kidsgrove debacle with any credit.

Hearsey arrived at Rangers with a reputation to fulfil – albeit gained a couple of levels below at Stafford Town – and he showed his eye for goal with an early effort that went over the Darlaston cross bar.

Harry Flowers and Jack Birch also cleared the horizontal as Stafford enjoyed a bright opening but Darlaston should have opened the scoring midway through the half when Scott Moloney failed to claim Lewis Gill’s corner.

The ball stuck around the six yard box as a goal mouth scramble ensued before it was hacked away to the relief of the home contingent.

But, largely, it was Rangers who were on top for the opening 45 minutes but another missed opportunity – this time from Okuonghae – ensured the two sides went in at the break on level terms.

Half Time: Stafford Rangers 0 Darlaston Town 0

After Daralston’s Jake Collins had put the first opportunity of the second half wide of the goal, Rangers got their deserved opener on 52 minutes.

It was Hearsey on the mark as he got the slightest of touches to Birch’s low free kick driven in from the left touchline. It was enough to deceive Darlaston and Rangers were one up.

Four minutes later, the lead was doubled. A brilliant turn by Birch opened up space. He sent a crossfield ball to Hearsey and was back to meet the cross but his effort was blocked on the line by Alex Foreshaw. Fortunately, Ben O’Hanlon snapped up the rebound.

There was a new found believe in Rangers’ play. A header from Okuonghae was cleared off the line by Gill and when Foreshaw tripped Hearsey in the area, Birch made it 3-0 on 68 minutes from the penalty spot.

Birch came close to a fourth before the anticipated late rally from the visitors. But, they rarely threatened – until what was literally the last kick of the game when Callum Knowles fired in a consolation from 20 yards to put the only dampener on a much needed win for the home side.

Full Time: Stafford Rangers 3 Darlaston Town 1

Stafford Rangers: 1 Scott Moloney, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Ben O’Hanlon, 4 Osaze Okuonghae, 5 Harry Flowers, 6 Callum Wilson (17 Jimmy O’Neill 87m), 7 John Atherton (14 Dylan Scott 69m), 8 Ashley Fallon (15 James McQuilkin 83m), 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 Jack Birch (16 Jack Sherratt 90m), 11 Matthew Hearsey (12 Dan Cockerline 74m).

Darlaston Town: 1 Stanley Amos, 2 Bailey Storey (16 Jake Pearson 69m), 3 Harry Chesterton, 4 Billy Corns (14 Leo Gill 83m), 5 Alex Foreshaw (12 Sam Smith 73m), 6 Roman Allen, 7 Kieron Cook, 8. Lewis Gill (17 Emillio Ballard-Matthews 64m), 9 Maxwell Chimenes (15 James Rowland 76m), 10 Jake Collins, 11 Callum Knowles.

Goals:

Stafford: Hearsey 52m, O’Hanlon 56m, Birch 68m pen

Darlaston: Knowles 90+6m

Referee: David Hinton

Cautions: Scott (Stafford), Cook, Collins (Darlaston)

Att: 484

Report by Chris Elsley

Manager Interview