Stafford Rangers — Lichfield City

REPORT

It wasn’t an easy passage against fellow Step 4 side Lichfield City – who currently sit 13th in the NPL Midlands Division – as the County Town side had to come from behind before going through on penalties.

Graham Deakin took the opportunity to give Callum Wilson some game time after the right sided midfielder had been out of action for 7 weeks. Also making a return as a second half substitute was Dan Cockerline.

Making his debut in goal was Scott Moloney and he played his part in the victory, most notably with a superb save during the shoot out.
Ironically, both of Lichfield’s goals during the 90 minutes came from the penalty spot.

Joe Haines gave the visitors a deserved lead on 17 minutes when Harry Flowers was penalised for a foul on Harvey Smith, then moments after Rangers thought that they had won it through Jack Birch, John Mills levelled the scores in added time following a shirt pull by Jimmy O’Neill on Smith.

Even before they opened the scoring, Lichfield had threatened to give the home side another miserable night. Smith hit the bar in just the second minute when he lunged to get on the end of Luca Taylor’s cross then Moloney got just enough to keep out another effort from the Lichfield number 9.

Charlie Foots missed out when he drove wide following a lay off by Hisham Chiha before Moloney saved his side again to deny Jay Clements.
Rangers’ best chance in an otherwise disappointing first half fell to Flowers who heard wide from a corner.

But as much as the first half was Lichfield’s, the second was Stafford’s. An injury to Shay Willock saw the introduction of Cockerline and he soon showed the talents that Rangers have been missing during his absence.

Ash Fallon and John Atherton were also having a greater influence on proceedings and it was the former who got Rangers level on 64 minutes.
He set off on a determined run down the centre before releasing Joe Thomas on the right.

Brendan Bunn saved from Thomas but Fallon had continued his run and though his first effort was blocked on the line by Josh Mansell, he managed to score at the second attempt.

Rangers’ best move of the night saw Atherton and Thomas combine before Birch’s shot was parried by Bunn. Birch then fired wide while Flowers also missed the target with a header.

In the closing stages, Moloney saved from Foots before Rangers struck what looked to have been the winner in the 90th minute as James McQuilkin’s free kick was headed on by Flowers and Birch fired in.

But there was still time for more drama and three minutes in to added time, John Mills levelled from the spot after O’Neill offended.

Rangers went first in the shoot out and Cockerline gave his side an early advantage which was extended when Jamie Spiers fired over for Lichfield. Kaiman Anderson saw his saved but Moloney kept Rangers ahead with an excellent dive to his right to keep out Mansell.

McQuilkin and Mills both scored their respective kicks, as did Birch to put Stafford 3-1 up. Foots had to score to keep Lichfield in the competition but fired wide to send Rangers through to a home tie against either Foley Meir or Wolverhampton Casuals.

Stafford Rangers: 1 Scott Moloney, 2 Callum Wilson (16 Andy Burns 71m), 3 Ben O’Hanlon, 4 Ashley Fallon, 5 Jimmy O’Neill, 6 Harry Flowers, 7 John Atherton, 8 Jack Birch, 9 Shay Willock (15 Dan Cockerline 54m), 10 Joe Thomas (14 James McQuilkin 77m), 11 AJ George (12 Kaiman Anderson 68m). Unused Subs 17 Max Barlow

Lichfield City: 1 Brendan Bunn, 2 Joshua Mansell, 3 Joseph Haines (15 John Mills 86m), 4 Jamie Spiers, 5 Leighton McMenemy, 6 Harry Eden, 7 Charlie Foots, 8 Jay Clements (17 Lewi Burnside 60m (16 Thomas Brown 74m)), 9 Harvey Smith, 10 Hisham Chiha, 11 Luca Taylor (12 Jack Edwards 60m). Unused Subs 14 Jim Elkes

Goals: Stafford: Fallon (64m), Birch (90m); Lichfield: Haines (17m pen), Mills (90+3m pen)

Referee: Alex Rolfe

Cautions: None

Att: 239

Report by Chris Elsley