Stafford Rangers v Mossley AFC

REPORT

Jimmy O’Neill was the unlikely hero as the makeshift forward scored twice in Stafford Rangers’ win over Mossley with a performance that demonstrated their continued improvement since Dale Belford took charge.

Keeper Cam Belford was a surprise inclusion in the Stafford side after injury against City of Liverpool appeared to have ruled him out for some time. Loan signing Abdulrasaq Alamu-Tajudeen made his debut on the left wing.

The visitors – sitting in the top 5 at the start of play – made a positive start and saw Sean Kgwakgwa send in a 20 yard drive that swerved in the air before bouncing off Belford and out for a corner.

Soon after, Luke Barlow headed over while Nicholas Hepple sent the ball across the face of the Stafford goal.

A challenge from Hepple resulted in an early end to Ben O’Hanlon’s afternoon as the defender fell heavily and appeared to pick up a shoulder injury. Midfielder Sam Fitzgerald came on for his debut and slotted in well at the left back position.

By this time, Rangers had established a foothold on the game and they bounced back from this set back to take a 24th minute lead. Kaiman Anderson did well to flick the ball into the danger area after John Atherton’s centre had been partially blocked and O’Neill, who had earlier missed the target with a couple of opportunities, made it third time lucky with a header placed beyond the reach of Finley Madigan.

Mossley had a great chance for an instant reply when Guilherme Baltazar picked out Hepple with a crossfield ball. Belford was initially out of position but recovered well to make the save. Within 60 seconds, the Stafford keeper also held on to a shot from Obua Mugalula.

Rangers finished the half on top as Atherton – at full stretch – volleyed over and Madigan turned over a rising shot from Anderson.

After a quiet first half, Alamu-Tajudeen got more involved in the second and forced a save from Madigan. Then, on 55 minutes, he showed his skills to get to the by-line and send in a deep cross for O’Neill to double the lead with a close range header.

Alamu-Tajudeen came close to getting his own name on the scoresheet when he headed wide and almost certainly would have done had Atherton chosen to pass rather than going it alone with a shot that Madigan saved.

The Mossley keeper then clung on to a header from Joe Morley but it was the Stafford sub who played his part in the third goal of the afternoon on 71 minutes when he drilled in a low centre across the face of goal and Atherton capped a fine performance when he slid in to ensure Rangers would take all three points.

Stafford Rangers: 1 Cam Belford, 2 Callum King-Harmes, 3 Ben O’Hanlon (16 Sam Fitzgerald 22m), 4 James McQuilkin, 5 Michael McGrath, 6 Scott Wara, 7 Abdulrasaq Alamu-Tajudeen (15 Joe Morley 69m), 8 Jack Burgess, 9 Jimmy O’Neill (14 Oliver Jepson 90+1m), 10 Kaiman Anderson, 11 John Atherton (12 Callum Coyle 80m). Unused Subs 13 Oliver Sayer

Mossley: 1 Finley Madigan, 2 Jack Marrow, 3 Kacper Mialkowski, 4 Mark Lees, 5 Mateusz Kardacz, 6 Luke Barlow, 7 Guilherme Baltazar (14 Michael Brewster, 8 Bailey Marsden, 9 Nicholas Hepple, 10 Sean Kgwakgwa (16 Joe Berks 59m), 11 Obua Mugalula. Unused Subs 12 Adam Sherratt, 13 Rhys Holmes, 15 Sonny Reeves

Referee: Brandon Scaife

Cautions: Atherton, Burgess, Belford (Stafford) Marrow, Brewster

Attendance: 488

Report by Chris Elsley