

Details
Date | Time | Competition | Season | Day | Att |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
08/10/2024 | 7:45 pm | NPL West Division | 2024/2025 | Tue | 466 |
REPORT
No goals but plenty to entertain in this Staffordshire derby.
Rangers had the better chances but found visiting keeper Kieran Harrison on top form and, on the one time he was beaten, Dan Cockerline’s terrific shot came back off the cross bar.
Dale Belford made one change to the side that won at Bootle three days earlier with Kaiman Anderson coming straight in to the side following his return to the club from troubled Walsall Wood. Making way was Dylan Barkers who had to settle for a place on the bench.
Rangers played some good football in their approach. James McQuilkin had his best game to date with an energetic display in midfield while newcomer Ashley Fallon also played his part providing some of the grit that has been lacking.
First half chances were plentiful with Anderson failing with an overhead kick after Harrison had parried away Joe Morley’s centre. Soon after, Fallon saw his drive fly over after Anderson had delayed pulling the trigger himself.
It wasn’t all one way and Kidsgrove were keen to launch their own attacks but they didn’t ask the same questions of Cam Belford as Rangers were of Harrison.
This was down to some committed defending typified when Michael McGrath threw himself in front of a shot from Kyle Diskin on the half hour.
Rangers quickly switched to the opposite end through an accurate long ball from Belford. It was taken down well by Cockerline and saw his opportunity only for the ball to rattle the cross bar.
Anderson had two further chances to break the deadlock before the half time whistle but he was denied by Harrison diving low to his right with the first and put the second just wide after good work from Stanley Anaebonam.
The second half started on the same script with Anaebonam causing more problems on the right. Anderson helped the ball across the face of goal where Morley was waiting to pounce but good defending from Harry Goode allowed Harrison to smother.
Less than a minute later, Morley headed forward to Cockerline who, spotting Harrison off his line, tried a lob with the outside of his right boot but it lacked accuracy.
Soon after, Kidsgrove’s Owen Harrison tried a similar lob over Belford with the same outcome.
Keeper Harrison twice denied Anaebonam – the second when the Stafford midfielder was clear through after he was put in by Cockerline.
McGrath headed wide and Cockerline was just unable to get a touch on an inswinging centre from Anderson as Rangers continued to threaten. Harrison made another great save to keep out another Cockerline effort.
It was one of those nights when it would just not go in for Rangers but fears of a late ‘smash and grab’ from the visitors never materialised, despite them making a late push.
Stafford Rangers: 1 Cameron Belford, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Ben O’Hanlon, 4 Ashley Fallon, 5 Michael McGrath, 6 Scott Wara, 7 Stanley Anaebonam (14 Luca Whitney 77m), 8 James McQuilkin, 9 Dan Cockerline, 10 Kaiman Anderson, 11 Joe Morley (16 Jon Atherton 69m), Unused Subs 12 Aaron Opoku, 15 Sean Cooke, 17 Dylan Barkers
Kidsgrove Athletic: 1 Kieran Harrison, 2 Harry Goode, 3 Kyle Stubbs (14 Aaron Bott 82m), 4 Jack Bromfield, 5 Shaun Rhodes, 6 Ritchie Sutton (15 Jimmy Garlick 26m), 7 Kyle Diskin (12 Kingsley Gyamfi 64m), 8 Ernie Ofusu, 9 Matt Rhead, 10 Robbie Hatton (16 Dan Holdcroft 73m), 11 Owen Harrison. Unused Sub 17 Josh Oultram
Cautions: O’Hanlon, Fallon (Rangers), K Harrison, Bromfield (Kidsgrove)
Referee: Andrew Biggin
Attendance: 466
Report by Chris Elsley
0 | 0 |
9 | 1 |
5 | 1 |
0 | 0 |
2 | 1 |
0 | 0 |
KO KO 26 45 64 69 73 77 81 82 94 FT
Past Meetings
Date | Home | Results | Away | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
Stafford Rangers | 4 - 2 | Kidsgrove Athletic | ||
Stafford Rangers | 0 - 6 | Kidsgrove Athletic |