Stafford Rangers — Shifnal Town

REPORT

The result lifted Rangers up another place in the table to 17th but, more importantly, opened up a five point gap on the relegation places.

Rangers, who gave Marsel Tola a debut following his loan move from Derby County, were rewarded for a positive start when they took the lead in the 9th minute. Kaiman Anderson held the ball up well following a long pass from Jack Birch which gave the latter time to join the attack and fire home – via a deflection off Kevin Da Veiga Monteiro.

Four minutes later, it was 2-0. Callum Wilson did well to keep the attack alive after Birch’s corner had appeared overhit. Shaquille Whittingham failed to clear and John Atherton’s shot was turned in by Matt Hearsey.

Shifnal – on a run of poor form themselves – had their first effort on goal on the 20 minute mark with a dipping volley from Kyle Bennett but it was comfortably over the bar.

Rangers remained the stronger of the two sides and it needed an excellent defensive header from Shifnal’s Louis Bradford to deny Hearsey a second following Atherton’s ball in from the right.

Hearsey was in the action again five minutes before the break but his shot bobbled through to Andy Wycherley.

Play immediately switched to the other end and Shifnal were given a way back in when Tola tripped Da Veiga Monteiro and Matthew Barnes-Homer levelled from the spot.

Hearsey should have restored Stafford’s two goal lead a minute before the break but headed over from close range.

Half Time: Stafford Rangers 2 Shifnal Town 1

The second half was just 20 seconds old when that two goal margin was restored. Anderson broke on the left and released Hearsey whose low centre was drilled through past three Shifnal defenders and just inside the keeper’s right hand post.
Hearsey, Anderson and Atherton all failed to make the most of potential opportunities that came their way while Bennett’s intervention prevented a cross from Hearsey reaching the unmarked Tola.

Harry Flowers sent a header towards the top corner but Wycherley claimed it comfortably, as he also did with a 20 yard drive from Birch.

A mix up between Wycherley and defender Bradley Maslen-Jones presented Birch with another chance to claim his hat trick but he fired over from the edge of the area.

Shifnal had to get better and they put the pressure on in the final 20 minutes.

Scott Moloney saved brilliantly from Da Veiga Monteiro after the Stafford keeper had dropped the initial centre from Stephen Morley before the visitors were awarded a second penalty when Flowers tripped Abdul Alamu-Tajudeen. Kobe Hall sent his spot kick straight down the middle to make it 3-2 with 13 minutes remaining.

Panic set in amongst Stafford as Shifnal pressed for an equaliser. Andy Burns made a desperate clearance to take the ball away from Louis Bradford then, deep into added time both Burns and Wilson denied the visitors, Wilson clearing off the line after the ball had rebounded off Bradford.

Stafford Rangers a couple of weeks ago would have almost certainly conceded but there is a new found determination in the side and they saw the game out to record a victory which, over the 90 minutes, they fully deserved.

Full Time: Stafford Rangers 3 Shifnal Town 2

Stafford Rangers: 1 Scott Moloney, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Ben O’Hanlon, 4 Ashley Fallon, 5 Harry Flowers, 6 Callum Wilson, 7 John Atherton (12 Max Chimenes 66m), 8 Marsel Tola, 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 Jack Birch (16 Joe Thomas 90+1m), 11 Matthew Hearsey (15 James O’Neill 84m). Unused Subs 14 James McQuilkin, 17 Dan Cockerline

Shifnal Town: 1 Andrew Wycherley, 2 Josh Green, 3 Stephen Morley, 4 Bradley Maslen-Jones. 5 Louis Bradford, 6 Kyle Bennett, 7 Kieron Cook, 8 Kevin Da Veiga Monteiro (14 Kobe Hall 74m), 9 Matthew Barnes-Homer (12 Abdul Alamu-Tajudeen 74m), 10 Elliott Durrell (17 Lewis Jarman 62m), 11 Shaquille Leachman-Whittingham (15 Macaulay Taylor 62m). Unused Sub 16 Sam Griffiths

Goals:

Stafford: Birch (2) 9m, 46m, Hearsey 13m
Shifnal: Barnes-Homer 41m pen, Hall 77m pen

Referee: Keir Sheppard

Cautions: Moloney 76m, Flowers 90+3m (Stafford)

Att: 703

Report by Chris Elsley

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