Stafford Rangers v Congleton Town

REPORT

It’s job done for Neil Kitching after his Stafford Rangers team secured their NPL Division One status following Saturday’s 2-0 win over Congleton Town.

After a goal-less first half that saw both teams go close, Rangers took the lead soon after the restart then added a crucial second just past the hour mark.

Play off hopefuls Congleton were a shadow of the side that thrashed Rangers 5-0 last August but Rangers are a much changed side themselves with Andy Burns and Jimmy O’Neill the only survivors from that match – Cam Belford also played but is still recovering from injury.

The visitors should have taken the lead as early as the third minute when Darren Chadwick had a free header at the back post but somehow he managed to put his effort wide.

Rangers – unchanged from the side that defeated City of Liverpool 8-0 – took time to settle but started to play some good football and Kaiman Anderson’s lay off set up James McQuilkin only for Chadwick to race across and concede a corner. From the flag kick, Scott Wara’s header struck the bar.

Congleton immediately broke away and a deep centre from Carl Dickinson was met on the volley by Daniel Needham but Leon Phillips enhanced his growing reputation with a superb point blank save.

Soon after, Dickinson had a half chance but got the ball stuck under his feet and the danger was cleared.

Stafford started to assert their authority in the latter stages of the half and some excellent play brought deserved applause from the spectators.

John Atherton stabbed a shot at Dave Parton and Wara headed wide from Ashley Fallon’s initial effort. Another Fallon effort was scuffed wide as the sides went in on level terms.

O’Neill’s long throws finally produced a positive outcome for Rangers on 49 minutes when the ball fell to Atherton via Dan Cockerline and Wara and the midfielder managed to force it past Parton at the second attempt.

The lead was doubled on 62 minutes when some poor defending saw Congleton fail to deal with McQuilkin’s corner and Wara was there to take advantage.

The hardworking Anderson could have added a third after forcing Marco Fregapane into an error but his shot came back off the post and into the arms of Parton.

Cockerline’s chest down enabled a spectacular volley from Wara which would have been a goal of the season contender had it been on target before the former went close with a volley of his own.

Cockerline set up another chance for Atherton but he was well covered by Shaun Brisley and Parton was able to save.

Congleton nearly spoiled Stafford’s clean sheet in added time as the home defence scrambled away Chadwick’s overhead kick but the final whistle came soon after and the joy and relief on the faces of Kitching and his management team was clear to see.

Stafford Rangers: 1 Leon Phillips, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Ben O’Hanlon, 4 Mason Rees (12 Joe Thomas 55m), 5 Scott Wara, 6 Jimmy O’Neill, 7 John Atherton (16 Liam Brazier 84m), 8 Ashley Fallon (15 Max Barlow 85m), 9 Dan Cockerline, 10 James McQuilkin, 11 Kaiman Anderson. Unused Subs 14 Joe Morley, 17 Henry Brereton

Congleton Town: 1 Dave Parton, 2 Marco Fregapane, 3 Carl Dickinson (15 William Arnold 84m), 4 Peter Williams, 5 Shaun Brisley, 6 Darren Chadwick, 7 George Sankey (17 Thomas Hampton 64m), 8 Ethan Hartshorn, 9 Max McCarthy (14 Lewis Porter 82m), 10 Kieran Garner-Knapper (16 Matthew Gilliam 64m), 11 Daniel Needham. Unused Subs 12 Brian Barton

Referee: Chris Hodson

Cautions: Rees, Brazier (Stafford); Hartshorn (Congleton)

Attendance: 882

Report by Chris Elsley