Stafford Rangers v Hednesford Town

REPORT

Stafford Rangers picked up a moral boosting victory over their close rivals after the reverse fixture nine days earlier had ended in favour of The Pitmen.

Rangers have not been too prolific in front of goal during their pre-season campaign – this was an area where many placed the blame for their failure to reach the play offs last season – but they wasted no time in finding a way through the Hednesford defence.

There were just six minutes played when Tom Tonks’ ball back into the Hednesford area took a deflection off a visiting defender and Kaiman Anderson reacted quickest to stab the ball past Lewis Gwilliams.

Claims for a Hednesford penalty just before the half hour mark received no support from the man who mattered – referee Ben Stott – before Cam Belford was called into action to tip away a shot from Andre Landell.

Rangers were the better organised of the two sides with Hednesford not giving their fans much to cheer. The experience of Leroy Lita in their attack failed to flourish as the home defence did a better job of containing him than on the last showing.

It was still very much Rangers after the interval. Jaiden White, back ijn action after picking up an injury at Coleshill, hit the side netting following a cross from Andy Burns then a long range effort from Tonks was well saved by Gwilliams.

Rangers had a number of corners and it was from a Jack Baxter flag kick that the deserved second goal eventually came on 70 minutes as Ethan Stewart climbed highest to head home from Jack Baxter’s ball in from the right.

The two sides exchanged further chances without adding further to the scoring. For Hednesford, Riley O’Sullivan was denied by Belford while one of the Boro’s triallist players sent an effort high over the Social Club roof.

Stafford Rangers: Cameron Belford, Andy Burns, Joe Dunne, Jack Baxter, Ethan Stewart, Luis Morrison, Theo Bailey-Jones (Triallist B 67m), Tom Tonks, Kaiman Anderson (Triallist C 83m), Joe Willis, Trialist A (Jaiden White 57m)

Hednesford Town: Lewis Gwilliams (Rhys Willias 70m), Lewis Hayden (Chay Tilt 59m), Harvey Portman Carter Lycett 59m), Martin Riley, Lewis Ison, Luke Rowe, Riley O’Sullivan, Todd Parker, Leroy Lita, Cameron Ebbutt (Numair Rashad 70m), Andre Landell (Harry Manton 59m). Unused Subs: Romehl Seraton, Trialist, Joe Morley

Ref Ben Stott

Att 463