Details

Date Time Competition Season Day Att
21/01/2025 7:45 pm Staffordshire Senior Cup 2024/2025 Tue 157

REPORT

The switch from league to cup football brought no improvement in fortunes for struggling Stafford Rangers as they were knocked out of the Staffordshire Senior Cup by Sporting Khalsa.

Caretaker Manager Graham Deakin fielded a full strength side with Andy Burns the only notable absentee with the defender having picked up an injury late on in Saturday’s defeat at Widnes.

The visitors – members of the NPL Division One Midlands – started brightly with Kieron Whittaker looking a threat.

Then, just as Rangers were starting to establish themselves, they found themselves behind with a goal scored in the 11th minute. A move on the Khalsa right gave the opportunity for Jayden Campbell to get in a cross from the right. James McGrady benefitted from a slip by Ethan Petterson and beat Cam Belford with a shot that looped up after being struck into the ground.

Isai Marselia had a chance to double the lead when he got clear after Michael McGrath had failed to cut out a long ball but Belford was on hand to parry.

Lewis Collins and Callum King-Harmes both got into good positions for Stafford. The former was unfortunate to see the ball bounce off him into the arms of Brandon Ganley while King-Harmes was denied by the legs of the visiting keeper.

At the other end, Belford saved from McGrady then had to rush off his line and dive at the feet of Whittaker.

Khalsa inflicted further misery on the home side 5 minutes before the break. A breakdown in communication saw Kaiman Anderson’s pass go by McGrath and McGrady advanced to put Khalsa 2-0 ahead.

Deakin made a couple of changes at half time, introducing Jack Burgess and John Atherton to the action and the changes reaped reward within three minutes of the restart.

Atherton started the move and was there to finish it after Ganley had been unable to hold Collins’ initial shot.

For the first time in the game, Stafford looked to be in some sort of control and came close to bringing the scores level through Jimmy O’Neill at the near post.

But, Khalsa looked a threat every time they went forward and it needed a goal line clearance from Scott Wara to deny Chay Tilt and a remarkable save from Belford to prevent Whittaker from converting the rebound.

Khalsa added a third goal on 72 minutes when Marselia was given a free run to latch on to Whittaker’s through ball and he beat Belford from the edge of the area.

Atherton got Rangers back into it again when he scored his second of the night on 78 minutes with a well struck drive after cutting in from the right, but Khalsa made sure it would be their name in the 3rd round on 84 minutes when Wara lost the ball to Andre Landell on the half way line. Callum Dolman picked out the unmarked Tilt to add the final nail in the coffin.

 

Stafford Rangers: 1 Cam Belford, 2 Scott Wara (14 Joe Morley 85m), 3 Ben O’Hanlon, 4 Ashley Fallon (15 Jack Burgess 46m), 5 Michael McGrath, 6 Ethan Patterson (16 John Atherton 46m), 7 Callum King-Harmes, 8 James McQuilkin, 9 James O’Neill, 10 Kaiman Anderson, 11 Lewis Collins (17 Sam Fitzgerald 79m). Unused Subs 12 Max Barlow

Sporting Khalsa: 1 Brandon Ganley, 2 Kristian Green, 3 Zacharias Kouroviyanni, 4 Carlo Franco, 5 Luke Ward, 6 Callum Dolman, 7 Todd Ferrier (16 Chay Tilt 60m), 8 Kieron Whittaker (17 Nana Owusu-Gyimah 75m), 9 Isai Marselia (12 Andre Landell 79m), 10 Jayden Campbell (15 Robbie Bunn 60m), 11 James McGrady. Unused Subs 14 Simeon Cobourne

Referee: Harry Warner

Cautions: None

Attendance: 157

Report by Chris Elsley

 

 

Ground

Marston Road
Marston Road, Stafford, Staffordshire, ST16 3BX

Stafford Rangers

1Cameron Belford
2Scott Wara 14
3Ben O’Hanlon
4Ashley Fallon 15
5Michael McGrath
6Ethan Patterson 16
7Callum King-Harmes
8James McQuilkin
9James O’Neill
10Kaiman Anderson
11Lewis Collins 17
12Max Barlow
14Joe Morley 2
15Jack Burgess 4
16John Atherton 6 49', 79'
17Sam Fitzgerald 11

Sporting Khalsa

1Brandon Ganley
2Kristian Green
3Zacharias Kourouyianni
4Carlo Franco
5Luke Ward
6Callum Dolman
7Todd Ferrier 15
8Kieron Whittaker 17 40'
9Isai Marselia 12 73'
10Jayden Campbell 16
11James Mcgrady 15'
12Andre Landell 9
14Simeon Cobourne
15Robbie Bunn 7
16Chay Tilt 10 85'
17Nana Owusu-Gyimah 8
Goals
2
4
Total Shots
11
10
Shots on Target
8
8
Assists
2
3
Yellow Cards
0
0
Red Cards
0
0

Stafford Rangers KO Sporting Khalsa KO 15 40 46 46 49 60 60 73 75 79 79 79 85 85 FT

Past Meetings

DateHomeResultsAwayTime
Stafford RangersSporting Khalsa