Stafford Rangers v Liversedge

REPORT

Stafford Rangers returned to the top of the table with victory over Liversedge.

It was a relatively comfortable three points against the struggling Yorkshire side who were promoted to the Premier Division after winning the East Division last season.

Rangers fielded new signing Derek Ubah – who has joined the club from Belper – to replace the suspended Luis Morrison-Derbyshire at the centre of defence. Two other changes from the midweek draw at Warrington Rylands saw Jaiden White starting along with a first appearance of the season from Alex-Ray Harvey who has now recovered from a broken bone in his foot.

Kaiman Anderson had an early shot on goal after being put through by Tom Tonks but couldn’t manage to beat Jordan Porter.

Anderson caused the visiting defence further problems after a low centre from Joe Dunne. The Rangers’ forward appeared to be tripped as he turned a visiting defender but referee Daniel Stokes showed no interest in Rangers’ penalty appeals.

Tonks got the ball in the net on 14 minutes but it was direct from one of his long range throws and the ‘goal’ was ruled out.

Despite playing into a strong wind, it was Rangers who continued to ask most of the questions. Jack Baxter played Tonks in but Kurt Harris’ intervention saw the ball rebound off Tonks and harmlessly through to Porter.

Porter kept out another effort from Anderson – saving with one hand before being first to react to the loose ball.

Porter continued to frustrate Rangers as he saved from Alex Kiwomya, Tonks and Anderson in the closing stages of the first half as the two sides went in at the break on level terms.

Rangers finally got the lead that they deserved three minutes after the resumption. Tonks launched another long throw into the Liversedge six yard box. It appeared to take a glance off a visiting defender but Anderson was given the credit to record his third goal in three games.

Baxter’s tidy footwork put him in a position to double the lead but he could only find the hands of Porter while the visiting keeper escaped when he dropped another Tonks throw but neither Ubah nor Stewart to punish him.

Liversdege had barely threatened but came close just before the hour with a dangerous ball from Ben Atkinson and it needed a solid block tackle from Andy Burns to prevent Joseph Walton from scoring before Belford dived over the two players to grab the loose ball.

Rangers gave themselves some breathing space when Tonks doubled the lead on 68 minutes. White played a major part as his determination saw him outwit Jack Hardacre to keep the ball in play then he laid the ball off to the incoming Tonks.

The lead was never really under threat from then on with Rangers comfortably dealing with anything that Liversedge had to offer.

The nearest the visitors came to getting on the scoresheet was five minutes from time when Casey Stewart created some space but Belford saved at the second attempt.

Stafford: 1 Cam Belford, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Joe Dunne, 4 Jack Baxter, 5 Ethan Stewart, 6 Derek Ubah, 7 Jaiden White (17 Harry Nevin 90m), 8 Tom Tonks, 9 Kaiman Anderson (16 Ntumba Massanka 90+3m), 10 Alex-Ray Harvey, 11 Alex Kiwomya (15 Joe Kenton 87m). Unused Subs 12 Nathan Caine, 14 Joe Willis

Liversedge: 1 Jordan Porter, 2 Alfie Raw, 3 Jack Hardacre, 4 Jack Stockdill, 5 Kurt Harris, 6 Jack Steers, 7 Zac Dearnley (12 Nathan Cartman 55m), 8 James Hurtley, 9 Joseph Walton (14 George Proctor 87m), 10 Benjamin Atkinson, 11 Oliver Greaves (16 Casey Stewart 73m). Unused Subs 15 Paul Walker, 17 Shiraz Khan

Referee: Daniel Stokes

Cautions: Hardacre, Stockdill (Liversedge)

Att: 698

Report by Chris Elsley