Stafford Rangers v Stalybridge Celtic

REPORT

Stafford Rangers put on their best all round performance of the season to record a convincing victory over a Stalybridge Celtic side who are among the chasing pack at the top end of the table.

The scoreline was no more than what Rangers deserved. With better finishing, they could easily have doubled the four goals they did score, although it was only in the final moments that they finally put the game to bed.

Rangers made one change with Jimmy O’Neill back from suspension replacing Tomasi Wara who was in action with his parent club, Port Vale.

Rangers started positively and were rewarded with an opener in the 7th minute. It was direct football as John Atherton flicked on a long kick from Arron Davies. Visiting defender Jack Byrne and keeper Charlie Monks left it for each other and Joe Thomas pounced to put Stafford ahead.

Ash Fallon issued out with a couple of long range volleys before Kaiman Anderson made it 2-0 on 19 minutes.

Again it was direct football. A pin point diagonal ball from O’Neill was taken down by Callum Wilson who found Anderson ahead of his marker.

Anderson should have added a third five minutes later when put clear by Callum King-Harmes but he was denied by Monks as he tried to go round the Celtic keeper.

A misplaced pass from Jack Birch saw another good chance go begging while Monks made a good double save to block Anderson.

Atherton skied over from the edge of the area and Scott Wara saw his header cleared off the line by Michael Koral as Rangers totally dominated the opening 45 minutes.

Stalybridge – 6th in the table at the start of play – could only improve and made a double substitution at the break but Rangers remained in control as Birch had a shot deflected wide.

The visitors did begin to enjoy more possession and Koral should have done better when he burst through only to shoot wide.

O’Neill then headed off the line, Davies pushed away a well struck drive from Liam Tongue then saved again from the same player as the two goal lead suddenly began to look fragile.

With time ticking on, Stalybridge had to push forward if they were going to salvage anything and that left space at the back for Stafford to exploit.

King-Harmes shot wide and Anderson missed another one on one with Monks. At the other end, O’Neill made another clearance to keep out Max Leonard.

In the end, Rangers made the scoreline as look as comfortable as it should have been some time earlier. King-Harmes went on a break away from just outside his own area before being bundled over by the unfortunate Charlie Doyle. The Stalybridge man received his marching orders for a second yellow and King-Harmes beat Monks with his 95th minute spot kick.

Two minutes later, Anderson made another break after a quick exchange with Logan Cousins and this time he got the better of Monks to notch his 50th goal for the club.

Stafford Rangers: 1 Arron Davies, 2 Callum Wilson, 3 Andy Burns, 4 Ashley Fallon, 5 Scott Wara, 6 Jimmy O’Neill, 7 Callum King-Harmes, 8 Jack Birch, 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 Joe Thomas (14 Logan Cousins 66m), 11 John Atherton (12 Kingsley Adu-Gyamfi 86m). Unused Subs 13 Zac Noble, 15 James McQuilkin, 16 Zidan Sutherland

Stalybridge Celtic: 1 Charlie Monks, 2 Michael Koral, 3 Kyle Brownhill, 4 Jordan Butterworth (12 Benni Smales-Braithwaite 46m), 5 Jack Byrne (16 Max Leonard 77m), 6 Jack Tinning, 7 Charlie Doyle, 8 Liam Tongue, 9 Rubin Jerome, 10 Jack Irlam (17 Tunde Owolabi 62m), 11 Andy Scarisbrick (15 Ellis Horan 46m). Unused Subs 14 Brandon Newell

Goals: Rangers: Thomas 7m, Anderson (2) 19m, 90+7m, King-Harmes pen 90+6m

Referee: James Owen

Cautions: Wilson (Rangers); Koral (Stalybridge)

Sent Off: Doyle – two cautions (Stalybridge)

Att: 551

Report by Chris Elsley