Stafford Rangers v FC United of Manchester

REPORT

A first half goal from Alex Kiwomya was enough to give Stafford Rangers victory over FC United of Manchester in an entertaining game played in front of the biggest Marston Road crowd for six years.

It was very much against the run of play when Kiwomya snapped up his chance in the 36th minute, after visiting keeper could only parry Ethan Morgan’s initial effort, but at the end of the 90 minutes, Rangers were deserving of their victory.

The Boro were unchanged from the side that was started at South Shields last week. Ntumba Massanka returned to the substitute’s bench after being unavailable against Shields. He was joined there by Jimmy O’Neill who has returned to the club after a spell with Stratford Town.

With the benefit of a strong wind, FC United made the early running and created a couple of half chances inside the opening two minutes – Tom Tonks got in the way of a shot from Regan Linney before Callum Gribbin put his free kick high over the cross bar.

Jack Baxter missed the target by some distance with Stafford’s first shot on goal and it was the visitors continued to look the most threatening. Linney got in behind Cameron Belford following a long ball from Michael Potts but Ethan Stewart had tracked back and was able to clear the danger.

A fortunate ricochet off Stewart put Connor Stanley in but this time it was Belford who saved his side, blocking the shot with his legs. Soon after, Belford saved again following another long ball – this time the Rangers’ keeper denied Linney.

Rangers were struggling to clear their lines as FC United kept pressing. Defensive clearances were barely reaching the half way line and the home side soon found themselves under attack once more.

But, it was from another United attack that Rangers struck. Baxter dispossessed Linney just outside the Stafford area, allowing Alex-Ray Harvey to send Morgan away on the left. The Port Vale loanee advanced on goal and, although he was denied by Lavercombe’s left hand, Kiwomya had joined the attack and was on hand to score.

Gribbin missed a chance to level the scores a couple of minutes later when he was unable to convert a ball in to the danger area from Michael Donohue while Belford ensured Rangers would take their lead into the half time break when he kept out another shot from Linney.

Rangers had been second best in the first half but it was role reversal after the turn around as they looked more forceful with Baxter prominent in midfield.

Soon after the restart, Baxter intercepted a pass to give Morgan an opportunity for another run on the United goal but the youngster could only find the side netting. Minutes later, Baxter fired over from the edge of the area. Luis Morrison-Derbyshire was another Boro player who failed to hit the target when given the opportunity.

But with just the one goal margin, United remained in the hunt and Belford again kept his side in front, saving at his near post from Linney after the forward had linked with Donohue.
The same two United players linked again with Linney putting the ball into the danger area where Belford bravely went down at the feet of Dontai Gabidon.

The United substitute should have done better with another chance that came his way five minutes from time, thanks to Finlay Armstrong’s ball in from the left, but he could only put his effort over the bar and Rangers were able to celebrate a victory that keeps them within touching distance of the top of the table in what is promising to be the most exciting NPL season for some time with just 6 points separating the top 10 sides.

Stafford: 1 Cam Belford, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Joe Dunne, 4 Jack Baxter, 5 Ethan Stewart, 6 Luis Morrison-Derbyshire, 7 Alex Kiwomya (16 Ntumba Massanka 70m), 8 Tom Tonks (15 Joe Willis 89m), 9 Ethan Morgan, 10 Alex-Ray Harvey, 11 Joe Kenton. Unused subs 12 Jaiden White, 14 James O’Neill,, 17 Darius Smith

FC United: 1 Dan Lavercombe, 2 Alex Wollerton, 3 Finlay Armstrong, 4 Jan Palinkas (12 Paul Ennis 62m), 5 Andy Halls, 6 Curtis Jone, 7 Callum Gribbin (15 Joseph Rodwell-Grant 82m), 8 Michael Potts (16 Dontai Gabidon 72m), 9 Regan Linney, 10 Connor Stanley, 11 Michael Donohue. Unused Subs 14 Luke Griffiths, 17 Jack Degruchy

Referee: Richard Walker

Cautions: Jones, Potts (FC United)

Att : 1349

Report by Chris Elsley