Stafford Rangers v Atherton Collieries

REPORT

It was a disappointing afternoon for Stafford Rangers who failed to build on last week’s victory over FC United by going down 2-1 at home to Atherton Collieries.

Rangers, who welcomed back striker Kaiman Anderson after a five match absence through injury, made the perfect start when they went ahead after just one minute.

Jack Baxter exchanged a short corner with Alex Kiwomya and sent in an inswinging cross that found its way past visiting keeper Nico DeFreitas-Hansen. Stafford defender Luis Morrison-Derbyshire claimed the goal but video replays showed that the ball had glanced off the head of Atherton’s Danny Lafferty.

But, as Rangers had scored with their first opportunity, Atherton levelled the scores with theirs, on 14 minutes.

Morrison-Derbyshire fouled Scott Bakkor on the Stafford left touchline and, from Jay Fitzmartin’s free kick, Adam Rooney rose highest at the back post to head home.

It was the opening that Atherton needed and Gareth Peet had a shot blocked by Andy Burns then, in the same attack, Arran Pettifer sent his effort high over.

A couple of minutes later, Bakkor charged down a clearance from Cam Belford but the Stafford keeper managed to regain possession despite protests from the visitors that he was outside the area.

At this stage, it was a fairly even contest. Rangers, had been wasteful with a couple of earlier free kicks in good positions, finally got one past the wall only for the secondary line of defence – Peet’s outstretched leg – to make the block.

Anderson almost marked his return with a goal when he pounced upon hesitation between Lafferty and Rooney but he could keep the ball down.

In between these two efforts, at the other end of the field, Bakkor tried his luck from distance but failed to test Belford who collected comfortably.

A poor finish from Joe Kenton saw another opportunity go begging for Stafford while the half came to a close with a shot from Marcus Cusani which Belford parried before taking control in both hands.

Belford was called upon again early in the second half as he made a smart save to push away Bakkor’s 25 yard free kick but it was the former Stalybridge man who grabbed what proved to be the winner on 56 minutes.

Clive Smith launched a deep throw from the right which was only partially cleared and Bakkor hooked his volley into the roof of the net from a couple of yards inside the area.

Rangers made a couple of substitutions with Joe Dunne and Kenton being replaced by Joe Willis and Jaiden White but Atherton were now in control of the game and managed their lead well, using every opportunity to take time out.

Jimmy O’Neill got a brief run out – his first since returning to Stafford – as a last hope striker. A couple of half chances fell his way but both went unconverted.

Stafford: 1 Cam Belford, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Joe Dunne (16 Joe Willis 62m), 4 Jack Baxter (15 James O’Neill 89m), 5 Ethan Stewart, 6 Luis Morrison-Derbyshire, 7 Alex Kiwomya, 8 Tom Tonks, 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 Alex-Ray Harvey, 11 Joe Kenton (12 Jaiden White 65m). Unused subs 14 Ethan Morgan, 17 Darius Smith

Atherton Collieries: 1 Nico DeFreitas-Hansen, 2 Clive Smith, 3 Gareth Peet (15 Bailey Thompson 86m), 4 Joel Amado, 5 Danny Lafferty, 6 Adam Rooney, 7 Arran Pettifer (14 Aaran Smith 69m), 8 Jack Lenehan, 9 Scott Bakkor, 10 Jay Fitzmartin (12 Ethan Kershaw 69m), 11 Marcus Casani. Only 3 subs named

Referee: Daniel Patterson

Cautions: Kiwomya (Stafford) Lafferty, Rooney, Lenehan, Bakkor, Cusani (Atherton)

Att : 676

Report by Chris Elsley