Stafford Rangers v Matlock Town

REPORT

The sending off of Cameron Belford was the key moment of the afternoon as Stafford Rangers lost out to Matlock Town.

The Stafford keeper was dismissed for a high foot into the body of Matlock’s Harry Wakefield just before the interval. With no goalkeeper on the substitute’s bench, defender Jake Moult was forced to don the goalkeeper’s jersey.

The resultant penalty was easily dispatched by Jonathan Margetts to restore the lead for the visitors just as Rangers were threatening to move ahead themselves.

Matlock had taken the lead in the 4th minute when Margetts slotted home after Moult had blocked an initial effort from Wakefield.

Rangers responded well and, after several half chances had gone by, they levelled the scores through a 17th minute penalty from Kaiman Anderson after Sam Bird had been tripped by Ewan Catt.

It was a soft decision as far as Matlock were concerned but no more than Rangers deserved.

Stafford kept probing for a second but got no further joy from referee Jonathan Wyatt who allowed countless incidents of holding and shirt pulling to go unpunished.

Anderson wasted a good opportunity when he found some space – his final ball could barely be described as a shot or a cross – then Aaron Braithwaite dispossessed Kemy Augustien but was unable to find the target as he got in to the penalty area.

Matlock keeper Saul Deeney pulled off a superb block to deny Niah Payne at close range while Rangers’ appeals for a penalty when Anderson was hauled to the ground fell on deaf ears.

The turning point came five minutes before the break when Belford collected a defensive header from Joe Dunne. The Stafford keeper had a raised boot as Wakefield followed in, catching the Matlock man in the ribs. Referee Wyatt was left with little choice other than to show Belford the red card and Margetts scored the 42nd minute spot kick.

Rangers needed to keep in touch for as long as possible but it was their own undoing that saw Matlock extend their lead a couple of minutes into the second half.

A slip from Niah Payne near the Matlock goal line was followed by a poor ball from an otherwise faultless Aaron Braithwaite. Matlock sub Oliver Clark played the ball over the top of the Stafford defence and Margetts lobbed Moult to complete his hat trick.

Still Rangers kept coming and looked the better side for large periods.

Joe Willis was inches over with a terrific 35 yarder while Payne found the side netting with another effort.

But, as Rangers battled to get back into the game, they did become exposed at the back and Wakefield extended Matlock’s lead on 75 minutes with a shot that squeezed inside Moult’s right post.

Stafford still didn’t give up and Willis pulled another back on 81 minutes, finally managing to fire past Deeney at the third attempt.

But it was to be little more than a consolation for a terrific battling effort from the ten players on the pitch.

Stafford Rangers: 1 Cameron Belford, 2 Sam Bird, 3 Joe Dunne (16 Ethan Morgan 70m), 4 Alex-Ray Harvey (12 Andy Burns 43m), 5 Ethan Stewart, 6 Jake Moult, 7 Kaiman Anderson, 8 Aaron Braithwaite (12 Andy Burns 89m) 9 Nathan Blissett (16 Ethan Morgan 73m), 10 Joe Willis, 11 Niah Payne (15 Ben Woods 77m). Unused Subs, 14 Jay Ford, 17 Rory Roberts

Matlock Town: 1 Saul Deeney, 2 George Wilkinson, 3 Joseph West, 4 Kemy Augustien (15 Oliver Clark 46m), 5 Ioan Evans, 6 Jamie SHarman, 7 John Johnson (14 Mason Bridden 84m), 8 Andrew Wright, 9 Harry Wakefield, 10 Jonathan Margetts, 11 Ewan Catt (12 Karl Demidh 63m). Unused Subs: 19 Miles Wright – only 4 subs named

Referee: Jonathan Wyatt
Cautions: Bird, Dunne (Stafford) Augustine, Demidh (Matlock)
Sent Off: Belford (Stafford)
Att 743

Report by Chris Elsley