Stafford Rangers v Newcastle Town

REPORT

Stafford Rangers and Newcastle Town played out a goal-less draw in a fairly uninspiring Staffordshire derby.

Although the best chances fell to the home side, they were few and Rangers lacked the penetrative quality to make them count.

With Mason Rees absent following the injury picked up at Kidsgrove a week earlier, there was a start for Joe Thomas while Kingsley Adu-Gyamfi made his return from injury. Callum King-Harmes who has rejoined the club for a short spell before he departs for Australia was named among the substitutes.

Rangers began well and promised a bright afternoon as miscommunication between Cameron Dourish and Jensen Tortoishell allowed Kaiman Anderson to get behind the Castle back line but his shot was tame and Joe Slinn saved with his feet.

Stafford continued to look for an early goal and Jimmy O’Neill headed wide from a James McQuilkin free kick before Jack Birch hit the side netting from a very tight angle.

But, with chances not taken by Stafford, Newcastle settled and began to enjoy more of the ball in the Stafford half although they seemed devoid of ideas in the final third.

The game had past the half hour mark before they managed to produce a shot on the Stafford goal with Angus Lloyd working himself an opening before his shot was straight at Arron Davies. A couple of minutes later, Davies parried away a long range effort from Lewis Brown.

At the other end, Anderson steered his header over following a flick on from Scott Wara and Thomas could only put his drive into the arms of Slinn.

In addition to their own failings in front of goal, Rangers went in at the break clearly frustrated by some of the decisions from the referee.

The visitors brought on striker Tim Grice and he gave them more physicality up front although the Rangers’ defence remained solid and Davies wasn’t really tested. Only once was there any real alarm and that was of Rangers own making as an attempted clearance by Davies was charged down by Grice. Fortunately, the ball ran wide of the immediate danger area.

Rangers should have snatched it in the closing stages but Dan Cockerline rushed his chance and volleyed over while Anderson put his close range header straight at Slinn.

The positives for Rangers will be the defensive performance but, in games like this, they need to take those chances that they create.

Stafford Rangers: 1 Arron Davies, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Jack Sherratt, 4 Ashley Fallon, 5 Jimmy O’Neill, 6 Scott Wara, 7 Kingsley Adu-Gyamfi (12 John Atherton 55m), 8 Jack Birch, 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 James McQuilkin (16 Callum King-Harmes 75m), 11 Joe Thomas (15 Dan Cockerline 68m). Unused Subs 14 Callum Wilson, 17 Tomasi Wara

Newcastle Town: 1 Joe Slinn, 2 Cameron Dourish, 3 Sean Lawton, 4 Ernie Ofosu, 5 Lewis Brown, 6 Jensen Tortoishell, 7 Will Arnold, 8 Ethan Vale, 9 Joel Jones (15 Tim Grice 46m), 10 Angus Lloyd (16 Harlan Morris-Green 75m), 11 Oli Richie

Goals: None

Referee: William Murray

Cautions: O’Neill, McQuilkin, Anderson, Sherratt (Stafford) Ofosu, Vale (Newcastle)

Att: 624

Report by Chris Elsley