Stafford Rangers v Gainsborough Trinity

REPORT

A disastrous 18 minute spell in the second half saw Stafford Rangers throw away a 3-0 lead to lose an incident packed match at home to Gainsborough Trinity.

Rangers had taken a single goal lead into half time thanks to a Tom Tonks penalty then saw goals from Luis Morrison-Derbyshire and Kaiman Anderson put them seemingly in control. But, the margin of the lead was a little flattering and Gainsborough’s response showed that they agreed.

Stafford manager Matt Hill got the initial response that he had been looking for after an abject display at Belper as his side showed a more competitive edge to their game.

He made just one change to the starting XI with Alex-Ray Harvey returning in place of Jack Baxter who missed out for the first time this season.

Both sides created early chances with Gainsborough’s Liam Waldock halted by Morrison-Derbyshire after breaking into the area then, at the other end, Callum Saunders sliced well wide from 20 yards after a slip by George Hornshaw had given him a yard of space.

A couple of minutes later Saunders went closer with a hooked shot from inside the area.

A long ball from Jimmy O’Neill almost put Anderson in. The forward got ahead of Dylan Cogill but Matt Yates had advanced off his line and was close enough to grab hold of Anderson’s lob.

Harvey was the next to try his luck after clipping the ball past Waldock but his 35 yarder cleared the cross bar.

Anderson headed wide and had a penalty claim turned down when he appeared to be caught by Hornshaw. Referee Jake Allsopp saw it differently and cautioned the Stafford forward.

Gainsborough always looked a threat but good defensive play from the home side saw them fail to test Cam Belford.

Instead, it was Rangers who got their noses in front on 45 minutes when Isaac Rice tripped Joe Willis and Tonks dispatched the resulting spot kick.

Gainsborough made a positive start to the second half with Belford forced to come out of his area to clear from Curtis Durose, but Rangers stunned the visitors with two goals in three minutes.

Morrison-Derbyshire doubled the lead on 52 minutes when he headed in from close range after O’Neill and Anderson had contributed to Tonks’ throw into the danger area.

It should have been game over two minutes later when Anderson turned in a square ball from Saunders after the initial ball from Tonks.

But Gainsborough were far from finished. They had a strong penalty claim dismissed after Tonks had challenged Waldock in the area.

Gainsborough manager Neil Bishop went too far with his protestations and, on 62 minutes, he was sent from the dug out for saying something out of turn to the referee’s assistant. To make matters worse for the visitors, Bishop was one of his side’s named substitutes.

Gainsborough’s fight back began just four minutes later. Rangers failed to clear their lines after a free kick and Hornshaw reduced the arrears with a well struck drive from just outside the area.

The deficit was down to one goal on 72 minutes. Once again Rangers failed to clear – this time after a poor corner – Fraser Preston sent in a deep centre which was met by the unchallenged Hayden Cann at the back post.

Rangers were rocking and Gainsborough drew level on 78 minutes when Jay Glover found Waldock in space.

The seemingly inevitable fourth came on 83 minutes. Hornshaw was allowed to get in a cross from the Gainsborough right for Clayton Donaldson to head home.

It could have been worse for Rangers but Belford saved from both Waldock and Preston in the final stages. By this time, many of the home fans among the 805 gate were already on their way home.

Stafford Rangers: 1 Cam Belford, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Akeem HInds, 4 Alex-Ray Harvey, 5 Luis Morrison-Derbyshire, 6 Jimmy O’Neill, 7 Alex Kiwomya (15 Joe Kenton 79m), 8 Tom Tonks, 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 Callum Saunders, 11 Joe Willis. Unused subs 12 Ethan Stewart, 14 Joe Dunne, 16 Jack Baxter, 17 Darius Smith

Gainsborough Trinity: 1 Matt Yates, 2 George Hornshaw, 3 Joe West, 4 Bailey Conway (12 Andrew Wright 53m – 16 Prosper Keto 88m), 5 Hayden Cann, 6 Dylan Cogill, 7 Curtis Durose, 8 Isaac Rice (15 Jay Glover 53m), 9 Clayton Donaldson, 10 Liam Waldock, 11 Fraser Preston. Unused Subs 13 Ethan Cowan, 17 Neil Bishop

Referee: Jake Allsopp

Cautions: Anderson (Stafford) Conway, Cann, Durose, Preston, Glover (Gainsborough)

Sent Off: Bishop (Gainsborough)

Att: 805

Report by Chris Elsley