Stafford Rangers v Nantwich Town

REPORT

Stafford Rangers made it three wins in a row with a Bank Holiday Monday victory over Nantwich Town – a result that lifts the Boro into 2nd place in the table and sets them up nicely for next week’s top of the table match at current leaders Lower Breck.

Rangers made just one change to the side that defeated Wythenshawe Town 48 hours earlier with Joe Cuff making his first start of the season at the expense of Kaiman Anderson who dropped to the bench.

The game couldn’t have got off to a better start for Stafford who scored after just 36 seconds – and that included a 15 second delay caused by an aborted kick off!

It was Zidan Sutherland who gave the Boro the lead as he hooked home a cross from Callum Wilson who had advanced on the right after breaking up a Nantwich attack.

Rangers had two great chances to add to their lead in the opening 10 minutes. Ben Garratt saved from both Jack Birch and Cuff in 1v1 situations.

Nantwich, with 5 former Stafford players in their starting line up and another on the bench, eventually came in to the game and it needed a good close range save from Arron Davies to prevent Perry Bircumshaw from levelling the scores.

Jack Sherratt then blocked a shot from Kelvin Mellor before both Ben Hockenhull and Patrick Kennedy went off target with headers.

Rangers responded but Garratt saved his side again as Dan Cockerline got clear while a flick header from the Stafford striker went across goal and just wide of the far post.

Garratt – a one time loanee at Stafford – denied his former club again when he held on to a shot from Cuff after some clever work from the no 11 but he was finally beaten for a second time on 44 mins when Birch was on the end of a deep cross from Wilson and side footed home.

Both Sutherland and Cockerline missed chances to add to the score early in the second half following Alex Worley’s corner – the former failing to connect with the ball when in front of goal.

Nantwich made a change at half time with the introduction of Alex Panter and his presence appeared to give them a greater threat but Stafford keeper Davies kept out their first chance with a save from Callum Saunders.

It needed a timely intervention from Birch to deny Byron Harrison while Joel Connelly’s free kick was sent high over the cross bar.

Nantwich finally got the goal they probably deserved on 73 minutes when Panter hit the post from Byron Moore’s cross and Harrison followed up to score from the rebound.

The goal set up a nervy finish for Stafford. Worley blocked from Aidan Roxburgh before a super double save from Davies kept out Harrison.

Mellor and Hockenhull both had chances to snatch a point for the visitors but Rangers held out to take all three points.

Stafford Rangers: 1 Arron Davies, 2 Callum Wilson, 3 Alex Worley, 4 Jack Sherratt, 5 Andy Burns, 6 Scott Wara, 7 Ashley Fallon (15 Mason Rees 87m), 8 Jack Birch, 9 Dan Cockerline, 10 Zidan Sutherland (16 John Atherton 79m), 11 Joe Cuff (12 Kaiman Anderson 67m). Unused Subs 13 Callum Smith, 14 Ben O’Hanlon

Nantwich Town: 1 Ben Garratt, 2 Aidan Roxburgh, 3 Josh Williams (15 Alex Panter 46m), 4 Kelvin Mellor, 5 Ben Hockenhull, 6 Patrick Kennedy, 7 Callum Saunders (17 Ben Greenhop 61m), 8 Fenton Green (16 Byron Moore 66m), 9 Byron Harrison, 10 Joel Connolly, 11 Perry Bircumshaw. Unused Subs 12 Patrick Jarrett, 14 Joe Robbins

Goals: Stafford: Sutherland 1, Birch 44; Nantwich: Harrison 73

Referee: James Hall

Cautions: Mellor, Saunders (Nantwich)

Att: 789

Report by Chris Elsley