Stafford Rangers v Marine

REPORT

Stafford Rangers came from behind to beat a classy Marine side on a thrilling night of football at Marston Road.

In a dramatic finale, Kaiman Anderson netted the stoppage time winner to maintain the Boro’s fine start to the season.

There was no quarter given as the two sides went at each other in a great advert for the Northern Premier League.

Referee Ben Cooke handed out a total of 11 yellow cards, including four to members of staff in the two technical areas. Marine’s defender Joseph Ferguson collected two of the yellows, resulting in a red card on 72 minutes.

Matt Hill made his first changes to the starting line up with four players making their first starts of the campaign but it was the visitors who did the early pressing.

Jake Burton was inches away from putting Marine ahead after a smart turn past Ethan Stewart created the space.

Burton then hit a half volley over while Joshua Wardle headed wide.

It took Rangers a good half an hour to settle. Jaiden White turned an effort goalwards but it lacked the power needed to worry Bayleigh Passant.

Ntumba Massanka had the ball in the Marine net but his effort was ruled out for a foul on the visiting keeper while a good header from Stewart was straight at the Marine custodian.

The best effort of the half came from Marine’s Alex Doyle who saw his first time shot fly inches over the bar.

Early in the second half, Rangers went close through Jack Baxter. In the build up Marine defender Joshua Solomon-Davies picked up an injury which brought an early end to his night.

Stafford born Hayden Campbell almost found his way through the home defence but found Stewart a solid wall at the last.

The contest was now an even battle. Tom Tonks hit the post after a centre from Alex Kiwomya then Massanka flicked one over his shoulder but also cleared the crossbar.

Ferguson was cautioned after getting frustrated by White’s clever skills just in front of the Marine dug out. Tempers flared and remained high for the remainder of the evening.

The opening goal fell to Wardle on 67 minutes. The Marine captain had been involved in a fascinating tussle to keep Massanka at bay but popped up at the opposite end to head home Mo Touray’s Cross.

Touray himself went just wide before Marine’s evening started to fall apart as Ferguson saw red for preventing a free kickbeing taken.

Rangers threw everything forward but there were just 7 minutes of normal time remaining when Baxter dispossed Touray and advanced to the edge of the area before firing home the equaliser.

Anderson curled one just over while Massanka couldn’t keep the ball down as he tried to divert Kiwomya’s shot past Passant.

The game was into the sixth minute of added time when Anderson headed in a dramatic winner following a long throw from Tonks.

Stafford Rangers: 1 Cameron Belford, 2 Andrew Burns, 3 Joe Dunne, 4 Jack Baxter, 5 Ethan Stewart, 6 Luis Morrison-Derbyshire, 7 Alex Kiwomya, 8 Tom Tonks, 9 Ntumba Massanka, 10 Chris Clements (12 Kaiman Anderson 76m), 11 Jaiden White (14 Adam Livingstone 73m). Unused Subs 13 Aiden Jeynes, 15 Joe Wilis, 16 Nathan Caine

Marine: 1 Bayleigh Passant, 2 Joshua Solomon-Davies (16 Mo Touray 52m), 3 Sean Smith, 4 Mark Howarth, 5 Joshua Wardle, 6 Joseph Ferguson, 7 Jordan Lussey, 8 Alex Doyle, 9 Djavan Pedro, 10 Jake Burton (12 Luke Clark 73m), 11 Callum Harris (15 Hayden Campbell 9m). Unused Subs: 14 Kielen Adams, 17 Jack Dunn

Cautions: Burns, Morrison-Derbyshire (Rangers), Wardle, Pedro, Campbell (Marine)

Sent Off: Ferguson – two cautions (Marine)

Ref: Ben Cooke

Att: 786