Stafford Rangers — Sporting Khalsa

REPORT

It was a tough but entertaining encounter that saw a mix of quality and scrappy play with both sides squandering excellent chances to take all three points but, on a day when legendary striker Neil Grayson and his former team-mates came together, goals were a missing ingredient to the afternoon.

Graham Deakin made just one change to the side that drew with Newcastle Town a week earlier with Dan Cockerline replacing Kaiman Anderson for his first start in a month.

Rangers had a couple of early efforts on the Khalsa goal through Matt Hearsey and Marsel Tola before the visitors responded through Andre Landell.

The best chance of the opening 10 minutes fell to Stafford’s John Atherton but he dragged his shot wide of the near post.

A sustained period of pressure from the visitors saw them win a hat trick of corners which nearly produced a goal.

Scott Moloney spilled a deflected shot from Chay Tilt but Landell was denied in the follow up while Andy Burns threw his body in front of a shot from Dom Perkins.

At the other end, Atherton again got himself into a good position but appeared to be in two minds whether to shoot or pass. In the end, his ball was too far ahead of Cockerline and went wide of the goal.

Ash Fallon was another Stafford player to miss out. Two chances came his way but the first went over and the second was blocked by Perkins.

Cockerline will rue a missed opportunity after he got the better of Perkins but a tame shot was saved by R’avan Constable. Jack Birch looked certain to score with the follow up but Alex Foreshaw made an excellent block on the line.

A couple of minutes later, Birch sent another good opportunity across the face of the Khalsa goal.

Half Time: Stafford Rangers 0 Sporting Khalsa 0

The combination of poor finishing and good defending continued after the break. A poor effort from Perkins was woefully off target while Hearsey saw his header kept out by Narel Phillips.

Landell found some space in the Stafford area only for Moloney to save before the Khalsa forward sent a dangerous ball across the face of the Stafford goal with Callum Wilson and Burns defending desperately to keep the home goal intact.

Hearsey hit the post for Stafford on the hour and Constable went in bravely at the feet of Cockerline while Birch and Hearsey both had efforts blocked as Stafford enjoyed a good spell.

The final ten minutes saw both sides pressing for a winner. Moloney had to race out of goal to clear from Kieron Whittaker while Constable saved from Hearsey.

Rangers may be a little disappointed to only claim a point from a game that they had the better of the chances created although Khalsa would have understandably felt hard done to had they not earned something from their endeavours.

For Rangers, the positives were the extension of their unbeaten run and a first clean sheet in 17 league games, dating back 4 months.

Full Time: Stafford Rangers 0 Sporting Khalsa 0

Stafford Rangers: 1 Scott Moloney, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Ben O’Hanlon, 4 Ashley Fallon (16 Joe Thomas 79m), 5 Harry Flowers, 6 Callum Wilson, 7 John Atherton (12 Kaiman Anderson 62m), 8 Marsel Tola, 9 Dan Cockerline (17 Max Chimenes 62m), 10 Jack Birch (15 James McQuilkin 89m), 11 Matthew Hearsey. Unused Sub 14 James O’Neill

Sporting Khalsa: 1 R’avan Constable, 2 Narel Phillips, 3 Dominic Perkins, 4 Zach Kourouiyanni, 5 Alex Foreshaw, 6 Daniel Broni-Phillips, 7 Chay Tilt, 8 Kartell Dawkins, 9 Andre Carvalho-Landell (12 Isai Marselia 90+2m), 10 Kieron Whittaker, 11 Luke Shearer (16 Peter Taylor 74m). Unused Subs 14 Rio Sawyers, 15 Kristian Green, 17 Jordan Clarke

Referee: Thomas Hales

Cautions: Burns 89m (Stafford), Perkins 35m (Sporting Khalsa)

Att: 784

Report by Chris Elsley

Dan Cockerline Interview