Stafford Rangers v Runcorn Linnets

REPORT

Andy Burns scored his first goal for the club as Stafford Rangers came from two goals behind to rescue a point at home to Runcorn Linnets.

Rangers went in to the game down to the bare bones with four players missing through injury while Jimmy O’Neill was suspended.

The absence of O’Neill coupled with Jack Sherratt having turned his ankle in training meant another reshuffle in defence. Up stepped Tomasi Wara to partner his older brother Scott at the heart of the back four. Burns switched to the left with Callum Wilson slotting in at right back.

Wilson’s afternoon got off to a bad start when his attempted header back to keeper Arron Davies presented Naim Arsan with a gift which he gratefully accepted by chipping the stranded Stafford keeper to put Runcorn ahead after just 26 seconds.

Rangers had a couple of half chances to make an early response the best of which fell to Joe Thomas who intercepted a kick out from Greg Hall but his first time shot was blocked.

Rangers enjoyed plenty of the ball but suffered a common problem as the final ball was lacking and too often they allowed the visitors an opportunity to counter attack. Kaiman Anderson put in his usual shift but got little out of Runcorn’s Adam Rooney.

A minute before the break, Runcorn won a corner on their right and Matthew Rain picked out Markell Foulds who was allowed to head in Runcorn’s second unopposed.

Rangers could only get better in the second half. They needed an early goal and they got it in the 51st minute through the most unlikely source.

Burns, captain for the day and in an unusual number 3 shirt at left back, scored his first goal for the club in his 186th appearance.

The reliable defender snapped up his chance after good work from Callum King-Harmes on the right was continued by Thomas.

Arsan missed out a chance to restore Runcorn’s lead, firing over after Jack Birch had lost possession, but sensing Rangers were fighting back, they made a double change.

Before the two introductions had had time to make their mark, Rangers were level. Anderson created himself space to deliver in a cross from the left and Thomas was allowed in to head past Hall on 69 mins.

Davies, who has just had his loan extended to the end of the season, kept Rangers on level terms with a good save from Marcus Cusani while Tomasi Wara made two good blocks in the space of a minute as he kept out Foulds and Rooney.

Rangers had their own chances as Scott Wara’s header went straight to Hall and Anderson lifted his shot onto the roof of the Runcorn net.

The best chance of a winner fell to Anderson with three minutes of the 90 remaining but he fired over when well placed.

Stafford Rangers: 1 Arron Davies, 2 Callum Wilson (14 Logan Cousins 83m), 3 Andy Burns, 4 Ashley Fallon, 5 Scott Wara, 6 Tomasi Wara, 7 Callum King-Harmes, Kingsley Adu-Gyamfi, 8 Jack Birch, 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 Joe Thomas (15 James McQuilkin 87m), 11 John Atherton (12 Kingsley Adu-Gyamfi 79m). Unused Subs 13 Zac Noble, 16 Zidan Sutherland

Runcorn Linnets: 1 Greg Hall, 2 Joseph Ferguson, 3 Matthew Rain, 4 Markell Foulds, 5 Adam Rooney, 6 Harvey Washington, 7 Oskar Rosenblatt (17 Marcus Cusani 68m), 8 Lewis Doyle, 9 Lewis Crane (14 Ryan Brooke 79m), 10 Sean Miller (16 Jacques Welsh 68m), 11 Naim Arsan. Unused Subs 12 Eden Gumbs, 15 Peter Wylie

Goals: Rangers: Burns 51m, Thomas 69m; Runcorn: Arsan 1m, Faulds 40m

Referee: Owen Moreton

Cautions: Washington, Welsh (Runcorn)

Att: 669

Report by Chris Elsley