Stafford Rangers v Morpeth Town

REPORT

It was stalemate at Marston Road as Stafford Rangers and Morpeth Town failed to produce a goal in an uninspiring game.

With no games taking place in the Premier League or EFL Championship, the day was deemed “Non League Day” with various clubs offering incentives to encourage new fans through the gates. Sadly, this was a poor advert and any fans witnessing NPL football for the first time may take a little persuasion to make a return visit.

Much of the blame for the lack of entertainment can be placed on the visitors who arrived with the sole intention of taking a point back to the north east, but considering that they are in a relegation battle, it was an understandable tactic.

Morpeth set out with five at the back and a midfield four. Rangers were more ambitious but they have often struggled to break down opposition defences and this game was no different.

Morpeth captain, Jeff Henderson was his side’s stand out player winning plenty of ball in the centre of defence while Stafford forward Nathan Blissett didn’t find the same success as he had at Liversedge last week.

The first half had passed its midway point before either side produced a shot on goal. Unsurprisingly, it came from Rangers but Jack Baxter’s effort from the edge of the area was always swinging away from goal at the Shed End.

Morpeth responded immediately but Connor Pye headed over from Connor Thomson’s cross.

Rangers were missing the long throws of the suspended Tom Tonks but Jimmy O’Neill was doing his best whenever the opportunity arose. One such chance came three minutes before the interval. Visiting keeper Dan Lowson failed to clear the lines with his punch but Joe Willis saw his shot blocked by Ben Sayer before Baxter hooked the rebound over.

Lowson was involved in Rangers’ next chance a couple of minutes later when he tried to head clear a yard outside of his area. Blissett managed to head the loose ball towards the Morpeth goal but it went just the wrong side of goal.

Hopes of an improvement after the turnaround failed to materialise.

Callum Saunders had a chance with a free kick from just outside the area but this was deflected off the defensive wall for a corner. Willis was next to try his luck only to be blocked by Michael Turner.

Morpeth did show a little more enterprise in the latter stages but this was a game that ended as it began and the first goal-less draw seen at Marston Road this season.

Stafford: 1 Cameron Belford, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Joe Dunne, 4 Alex-Ray Harvey, 5 Luis Morrison-Derbyshire, 6 James O’Neill, 7 Kaiman Anderson, 8 Jack Baxter, 9 Nathan Blissett, 10 Joe Willis, 11 Callum Saunders (16 Alex Kiwomya 61m). Unused Subs 12 Tyreece Onyeka, 13 Kieran Boucher, 14 Derek Ubah,15 Ethan Morgan

Morpeth Town: 1 Dan Lowson, 2 Josh Robson, 3 Chris Reid, 4 Ben Sayer, 5 Jeff Henderson, 6 Michael Turner, 7 Jack Foalle (16 Ben Ramsey 37m), 8 Ryan Donaldson (12 Tom Chiabi 68m), 9 Connor Thomson, 10 Andrew Johnson (14 Sam Fishburn 85m), 11 Connor Pye.nUnused Subs 13 James Anderson, 15 Josh King

Referee Jake Allsopp

Cautions: Pye (Morpeth)

Att 718

Report by Chris Elsley