Stafford Rangers v Avro

REPORT

Stafford Rangers’ poor start to the season continued on a blustery Saturday afternoon in the sunshine, as Neil Kitching’s side followed up last week’s disappointing FA Cup exit with a 0-2 home defeat to Avro on the opening day of the Northern Premier League West campaign.

After making a flurry of midweek signings in Callum Wilson, Jack Birch and the returning Jack Sherratt, Kitching wrung the changes, bringing all three into the starting line up, alongside the Ben O’Hanlon who was fit to play, with James McQuilkin, Zidan Sutherland & Alex Worley dropping to the bench.

In truth, the scoreline was probably a little bit harsh on a Stafford side who started the game brightly and created a couple of chances in the opening exchanges, firstly with Sherratt finding himself some space in a crowded area to get away a sweetly struck volley that was blocked by the impressive Jack Kenny, and then, in the 10th minute, Sherratt was involved again as his chipped ball towards the heart of the Avro backline saw defender Fortune Maphosa slip. This allowed Kaiman Anderson a run on goal, but, with the ball not settling on the very dry and hard home turf, his connection was weak and didn’t test Cameron Mason in the opposition goal, who gathered comfortably.

In the 17th minute, and with the home side looking comfortable in possession, it was slightly against the run of play when Scott Wara got caught in possession at the back and had his pocket picked by the busy Samuel Davidson who advanced unopposed from 25 yards and clinically clipped the ball past the onrushing Zac Noble.

The goal brought life into the visitors, and just five minutes later Davidson was trying his luck again, this time taking a loose ball on the edge of the Stafford box which he flicked up and volleyed towards goal where Noble was on hand to theatrically parry the ball away from danger.

With the game edging towards half time, Stafford started to create problems for the Avro backline, firstly in the 39th minute with Sherratt hitting a 25 yard stinging left footed drive straight down the throat of Mason, and then Ashley Fallon did superbly to win the ball from Maphosa in the opposition penalty area, but his pull back to the onrushing Jack Birch couldn’t be converted and the home side went in a goal down at the break.

The second half started much in a similar fashion to the first, with Stafford coming out and creating early chances to get back into the game, firstly with John Atherton slipping in debutant Wilson on the right side of the Avro area, and he tested Mason with a thumping right foot effort that was well saved, before Wara climbed highest to head wide from the resultant corner.

Both sides had chances to add to the scoreline, firstly in the 58th minute when Wilson’s looped cross landed on the top of Mason’s net, and then it was Wara again, a constant danger on set pieces but failing to find the target once more. At the other end, Avro substitute Anton Dudik went close with a header over from Owen Warburton’s cross.

Midway through the half, Kitching made a triple change to try and get something out of the game, and a chance presented itself within five minutes when another Wilson set-piece found its way to Wara. The centre back adjusted his body well to send a right-footed shot through a crowd of players, but it clipped the crossbar, much to the agony of the Boro’ faithful in the Shed End behind the goal.

Avro then made a change of their own in the 73rd minute, introducing left winger Tawab Djankpata to the game, and it was he who would make the difference to the final outcome.

Rangers were warned initially when Djankpata was left free at the backpost following great work from fellow substitute Kane Hickman, however he could only stab the ball wide of Noble’s goal.

Then, in the 81st minute, came the knockout blow when Djankpata beautifully dummied the ball on the left hand side to get past Wilson and burst into the penalty area where he was brought down, giving Kyle Hawley the opportunity to open his season account from the penalty spot, confidently sending Noble the wrong way and all three points back home to Lancashire.

Stafford Rangers: 1 Zac Noble, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Ben O’Hanlon (12 Joe Cuff 66m), 4 Jack Sherratt, 5 Scott Wara, 6 Jimmy O’Neill, 7 Callum Wilson, 8 Ashley Fallon (15 Mason Rees 66m), 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 John Atherton (14 Zidan Sutherland 66m), 11 Jack Birch (17 Alex Worley 85m). Unused Sub 16 James McQuilkin

Avro: 1 Cameron Mason, 2 Owen Warburton, 3 David Fitzpatrick, 4 Jack Kenny, 5 Fortune Maphosa, 6 Jack Morrow, 7 Darren Ehimamiesho, 8 Samuel Davidson (14 Kane Hickman 69m), 9 Kyle Hawley, 10 Dylan Gairns (16 Anton Dudik 56m), 11 Adam Owen (17 Tawab Djankpata 73m). Unused Subs 12 Harry Salt, 15 Joel Igwenwanne

Goals: Davidson 17, Hawley 81 (pen)

Referee: Alex Rolfe

Cautions: Fallon (Stafford) Fitzpatrick, Warburton (Avro)

Att: 545

Report by Craig Cartwright