Stafford Rangers v Hanley Town

REPORT

Stafford Rangers began the new year with a vital win over fellow strugglers Hanley Town and, at the same time, ended a three match losing run.

Manager Dale Belford introduced Zidan Sutherland to lead the attack and the Hednesford loanee obliged by scoring the opener just before the half hour. Sutherland’s Hednesford team mate, Ras Alamu, scored the crucial second with a little over 20 minutes remaining but Hanley proceeded to set up a nervy finish when Michael McGrath diverted the ball into his own net in the closing stages. Thankfully, Rangers held out to lift themselves up to 19th in the table.

After taking some time to establish themselves, Rangers generally held the upper hand but struggled to make it count.

Although Alamu should have done better with an early header that came his way, the first real chance fell to the visitors when an error in the Stafford defence saw the ball fall to the feet of Lewis Holdham. Cam Belford came quickly off his line to back the block.

James Askey – one of six former Stafford players in the Hanley starting XI made an important clearance from under the cross bar after John Atherton had sent the ball into the dangers area with Kaiman Anderson just missing out.

Hanley created a similar opportunity at the other end following Sean Cooke’s low centre.

Hanley keeper Adam Whitehouse – a veteran of over 200 appearances for Stafford – prevented his old club from going ahead with a smart one handed save to deny Alamu then, a minute later, had to go to his right to keep out a well struck drive from James McQuilkin.

But Whitehouse was left helpless when Sutherland stroked Rangers ahead on 27 minutes. The move started with a long ball from Belford and Atherton pulled the ball back for the debutant to score.

McQuilkin and Sutherland were both some way off target with opportunities to add to the score while Whitehouse made another save to keep out Anderson on the stroke of half time.

Rangers continued to have the upper hand after the break but their finishing was lacking quality with Whitehouse not tested.

When Sutherland did get a header on target, he found Reece Jones doing the defensive duties on the goal line.

Whitehouse was called into action midway through the second half when he made a block at the near post with Sutherland looking to add to his tally.

A rare attack from the visitors resulted in Belford saving from AJay Leitch-Smith before Alamu made it 2-0 to Stafford on 69 minutes when he fired home after Whitehouse pushed Anderson’s shot in to his path.

A couple of half chances came and went for Hanley but the fragility of a two goal lead was exposed when Hanley reduced the arrears on 87 minutes.

Sean Lawton beat Reinaldo Forbes to the ball to get Remi Thompson away on the left and his cross struck McGrath and deflected past Belford.

But, Rangers held their nerve to pick up three welcome points in their fight against relegation.

Stafford Rangers: 1 Cam Belford, 2 Callum King-Harmes, 3 Sam Fitzgerald, 4 James McQuilkin, 5 Andy Burns, 6 Michael McGrath, 7 Abdulrasaq Alamu-Tajudeen (12 Jimmy O’Neill 75m), 8 Jack Burgess (15 Ashley Fallon 80m), 9 Zidan Sutherland (14 Ben O’Hanlon 86m), 10 Kaiman Anderson, 11 John Atherton (17 Reinaldo Forbes 81m). Unused Subs 16 Joe Morley

Hanley Town: 1 Adam Whitehouse, 2 James Askey, 3 Sean Lawton, 4 Corey Muirhead, 5 Joel Stair, 6 Henry Briscoe (17 Remi Thompson 40m), 7 Reece Jones, 8 Lucas Sant (15 Josh Bowden 46m), 9 Lewis Holdham (14 Will Igoe 65m), 10 Sean Cooke, 11 AJay Leitch-Smith (16 Tom Wakefield 72m). Unused Sub 18 Henry Brereton

Referee: William Murray

Cautions: Belford, Fallon, Fitzgerald (Stafford), Whitehouse, Askey Cooke (Hanley)

Attendance: 639

Report by Chris Elsley