Stafford Rangers v Radcliffe

REPORT

A first win in five outings saw Stafford Rangers jump back up to second place in the table as they took advantage of a reduced fixture list with a number of clubs featuring in the 2nd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup.

Visitors Radcliffe came to Stafford in third place and boasting an unbeaten away record but a solid display from the home side put an end to that.

Rangers were unchanged from the side that drew with Warrington in midweek and were first to show on a sunny afternoon as Tom Tonks whipped in a cross that bounced off Radcliffe keeper Thomas Stewart but the angle proved too tight for Ethan Stewart who could only direct his header on to the top of the cross bar.

Radcliffe were allowed plenty of possession but most of it was in their own half and they failed to do much with it in attack as Stafford kept their discipline and shape.

Jem Karacan did manage to get in a shot but any danger to the Stafford goal was ended as the ball struck team mate Jake Thompson who was standing in an offside position.

The best chances fell to Stafford. Kaiman Anderson could have done better when he got on the end of a Tonks throw but could only make a glancing contact with his head.

Jack Baxter continued the good form that won him the Man of the Match award in mid-week. He intercepted a pass from Radcliffe’s Gareth Evans and advanced on goal before shooting just over the intersection of bar and post.

The all important goal came just three minutes before the break. Baxter was involved with the pass into the channel which picked out Adam Livingstone. Defender Jack Evans was committed as the Stafford wide man cut inside then fired in a shot which took a deflection off a visiting defender before finding its way past Stewart.

Livingstone had a chance to add to the score early in the second half but sent his effort high over.

Radcliffe changed shape and began to create a few more openings and Harry Nevin had to be alert to clear one dangerous ball in to the 6 yard box.

But Stafford also kept pressing and Ethan Stewart went close with a header that went just over.

Luca Navarro headed wide for the visitors while another solid piece of defensive work from Joe Dunne halted Thompson’s advance in a Radcliffe counter attack.

Radcliffe’s best effort came from the boot of Jem Karacan who rattled the Stafford cross bar with a fierce shot that Cam Belford may have got the slightest of touches to.

With five minutes remaining, Navarro skewed a shot wide while under pressure from Dunne and with it went Radcliffe’s hopes.

It was Rangers who came closest to adding to the score in the closing moments when Tom Stewart tipped over a decent strike from Kaiman Anderson.

Stafford Rangers: 1 Cameron Belford, 2 Harry Nevin, 3 Joe Dunne, 4 Jack Baxter, 5 Ethan Stewart, 6 Luis Morrison-Derbyshire (15 Darius Smith 81m), 7 Joe Kenton (14 Alex Kiwomya 54m) , 8 Tom Tonks, 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 Joe Willis (16 Nathan Caine 70m), 11 Adam Livingstone. Unused Subs 12 Ntumba Massanka, 17 Jaiden White

Radcliffe: 1 Tom Stewart, 2 Jack Evans, 3 David Fitzpatrick (16 Ben Rydel 40m), 4 Luke Joyce, 5 Richard Smith, 6 Oliver Thornley, 7 Jake Thompson, 8 Nicky Adams, 9 Gareth Evans (15 Matthew Crothers 58m), 10 Luca Navarro, 11 Jem Karacan. Unused Subs: 12 Stephen Carter, 14 George Mercer, 17 Nivaldo Ferreira Rodrigues

Cautions: Joyce (Radcliffe)

Ref:  Jamie Conde

Att: 531

Report: Chris Elsley