Stafford Rangers v Stalybridge Celtic

REPORT

Stafford Rangers conceded two late goals as Stalybridge Celtic took the spoils in the NPL’s ‘Old Firm’ fixture. To compound Rangers’ misery, they had Scott Wara sent off for the second successive game.

The first half was a disappointing and scrappy affair and it laid the foundations for the whole game. Stalybridge looked the most dangerous going forward but were unable to breakdown the Stafford defence while the home side were guilty of handing back possession no sooner than they had taken it.

It was Rangers who came closest to a first half goal when Scott Wara headed against the bar following a Jack Burgess corner.

At the other end, Cam Belford saved well with his feet from Lewis Rawsthorn who had run on to a lay off from Joe Duckworth. Later, Belford saved from Elliot Rokka at his near post.

In between these two opportunities for the home side, Belford’s opposite number, Charlie Monks, had to come off his line quickly to block John Atherton after the Stafford wide man had outpaced Kyle Brownhill.

Rangers’ finished the half as the stronger of the two sides but Monks easily gathered after Ras Alamu scuffed his shot. Atherton did get the ball in the net just before the break but was flagged offside in a close call.

Rangers then struck just 18 seconds after the restart. The ball was played out to Alamu on the left and his cross picked out Jimmy O’Neill who hooked his shot beyond the reach of the visiting keeper.

Celtic were soon pressing for the equaliser and Belford had to dive to his right to hold on to a shot from Duckworth before pushing away a swerving shot from Rokka.

Stalybridge got back on level terms on 61 minutes when Belford punched Jordan Burton’s corner into his own net.

With their tails up, Stalybridge pressed again and Michael McGrath was on hand to make a crucial block when Rokka looked certain to score.

Stafford were at sixes and sevens when Duckworth was allowed to play a long ball from Monks into Burton but, with just Belford to beat, the Celtic no 4 fired wide.

Stalybridge sub Brandon Newell rode challenges from James McQuilkin and Wara as he advanced. Although the move came to an end, Wara picked up a yellow card for his attempt to stop Newell.

Four minutes later, Wara brought down Duckworth to see red for the second time in four days and the central defender now faces a three match ban.

With the numerical advantage, Stalybridge were always favourites to go on and win it but it took until the 3rd minute of added time before they made the extra man count.

Liam Tongue played the ball back in following Burton’s free kick and, with Stafford appealing for offside, the unmarked Jack Irlam volleyed over Belford.

Sam Fitzgerald then conceded possession straight from the kick off as his attempt to launch a long ball was charged down and Rawsthorn fired in Stalybridge’s third.

Stafford Rangers: 1 Cam Belford, 2 Callum King-Harmes, 3 Sam Fitzgerald, 4 James McQuilkin, 5 Michael McGrath, 6 Scott Wara, 7 Abdulrasaq Alamu-Tajudeen (16 Andy Burns 68m), 8 Jack Burgess (15 Ashley Fallon 56m), 9 Jimmy O’Neill, 10 Kaiman Anderson, 11 John Atherton. Unused Subs 12 Callum Coyle, 13 Oliver Sayer, 14 Joe Morley

Stalybridge Celtic: 1 Charlie Monks, 2 Jordan Butterworth, 3 Kyle Brownhill, 4 Jordan Burton, 5 Greg Wilkinson (17 Brandon Newell 25m), 6 Jack Tinning, 7 Elliot Rokka (12 Navid Nasseri 87m), 8 Liam Tongue, 9 Lewis Rawsthorn, 10 Joe Duckworth, 11 Jack Irlam. Unused Subs 14 Michael Omokua, 15 Sean Duffy, 16 Sean Tse

Referee: Alex Rolfe

Cautions: McQuilkin, Fitzgerald, McGrath (Stafford), Butterworth, Rawsthorn, Irlam (Stalybridge)

Sent Off: Wara (Stafford) – two cautions

Attendance: 546

Report by Chris Elsley