Stafford Rangers v Hednesford Town

REPORT

Stafford Rangers and Hednesford Town both gave it their all and took away a share of the spoils from this Staffordshire derby, watched by the highest league gate at Stafford since 1991 (2,033).

Hednesford came into the game in second place in the table having gone top for 24 hours on Good Friday before being leapfrogged by Widnes.

Defeat for Hednesford and a win for Widnes in the day’s fixtures would have handed the title to the Cheshire club and that’s the way it was going until Jake Jervis converted an 84th minute equaliser for the Pitmen.

Kaiman Anderson had given Rangers the perfect start when he put the home side ahead on 35 seconds.

Dan Cockerline flicked on a trademark throw from Jimmy O’Neill and Anderson was first to it to record his 10th goal of the season.

O’Neill’s throws continued to cause problems in the Hednesford defence as Stafford controlled affairs early on but Hednesford eventually established a foothold.

It was midway through the half before the Pitmen created their first chance and what a chance it was.

Dominic McHale advanced down the right and got the ball across to Simeon Maye via Niall Watson.

Maye sent in a shot that fell perfectly to Jervis but, somehow, he was kept out by the superb Scott Wara.

At the other end James McQuilkin lifted a shot over the Hednesford bar while a first time volley from Ash Fallon took a deflection and landed on the roof of the net.

Stafford keeper Leon Phillips was called into action to save from Jervis, then, a couple of minutes later, he saved well at the feet of Nathan Blissett before Ben O’Hanlon blocked McHale when a goal seemed certain.

Phillips was alert again right at the end of the first half when turned away a well struck drive from Chris Hussey.

Rangers went close to doubling their lead early in the second half when John Atherton robbed Joel Taylor but, with Tony Breeden off his line, Dan Cockerline’s shot from distance was off target.

Liam Brazier, on for the injured Anderson, missed out when he failed to get a clean connection with Mason Rees’ cross.

Finally getting the message, Hednesford began to press with more intent.

A clearance from Rees bounced wide off Watson then Phillips saved well from McHale before Jamie Morgan fired into the side netting.

Hednesford made four changes in a five minute spell midway through the half as they went in search of the much needed equaliser.

But it was Rangers who had the chances to add to the score. Cockerline sent Atherton away and the ball ran through to Brazier but he scuffed his shot wide. Soon after, a flick from Wara beat Breeden but no one was on the end to apply the finish.

But Hednesford pushed Rangers deeper with Breeden playing a long way out of his area.

Eventually the pressure told when, in the 84th minute, McHale drilled in a low shot from the left hand side and Jervis slid in at the back post.

Ollie Harrison and Jack Bearne both missed chances to win it for Hednesford in the final exchanges but Rangers deserved to take at least a point for producing a resolute defensive performance.

Widnes’ victory at Vauxhall Motors means that they need just a point from their game against Trafford on the final day to win the league while Hednesford must beat Runcorn Linnets to stand a chance of upsetting the Cheshire club.

For Rangers, they travel to Clitheroe knowing that victory will give them a place in the top half – a feat that seemed extremely unlikely when they were sitting 20th in the table at the time when Kitching was appointed.

Stafford Rangers: 1 Leon Phillips, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Ben O’Hanlon, 4 Mason Rees, 5 Scott Wara, 6 Jimmy O’Neill, 7 John Atherton, 14 Ashley Fallon (15 Joe Thomas 73m), 9 Dan Cockerline, 10 James McQuilkin (16 Joe Morley 55m), 11 Kaiman Anderson (18 Liam Brazier 33m)

Unused Subs 12 Henry Brereton, 17 Max Barlow

Hednesford Town: 1 Tony Breeden, 2 Jamie Morgan, 3 Joel Taylor (15 Jack Bearne 69m), 4 Simeon Maye (12 Ahkeem Rose 64m), 5 Ollie Harrison, 6 Chris Hussey, 7 Niall Watson (14 Elliott Johnson 69m), 8 Joe Doyle-Charles, 9 Nathan Blissett (16 Dan Trickett-Smith 64m), 10 Dominic McHale, 11 Jake Jervis.

Unused Subs 17 Ryan Brown

Goals: Kaiman Anderson 1m (Stafford); Jake Jervis 84m (Hednesford)

Referee: Ben Stott

Cautions: Fallon, Cockerline, Brazier (Stafford) Blissett, Rose (Hednesford)

Att: 2,033

Report by Chris Elsley