Stafford Rangers v Trafford

REPORT

Stafford Rangers picked up their first point in four games but it was so close to being all three as visitors Trafford levelled with less than two minutes of the 90 remaining.

Rangers were without Dan Cockerline who dislocated his shoulder in the game at Chasetown while Ben O’Hanlon was suspended. Their absence allowed a first start for forward Andre Wright with Sean Lawton coming in at left back.

The first half was a scrappy affair with neither side able to match their commitment with quality, particularly in the final third.

The visitors were first to show with Rio Clegg cutting in from the left and forcing Stafford keeper Cam Belford to push away his inswinging shot.

Both Wright and John Atherton missed out for Stafford when chances came their way as the home side began to establish themselves.

Midway through the half, Belford made an excellent stop to keep out Clegg with the Trafford forward looking set to score – the opening came after a good run from Isaac Noble down the right.

Again, Rangers responded with visiting keeper Samuel Booth getting a hand to a shot from Jack Burgess before Jimmy O’Neill headed into the side netting.

But the best chances still fell to Trafford. Clegg forced his way through the Stafford defence but Ryley Smith put his shot wide of the far post, then Clegg also went wide with a shot from distance.

The first half ended with Rangers on top. James McQuilkin put Joe Cuff away but the recently returned forward ran out of steam and the combined efforts of Jordan Fagbola and Harry Norris extinguished the threat. Soon after, an overhead kick from Cuff landed on the roof of the net.

As with the first half, Trafford were first to threaten in the second with Belford again saving from Clegg. A minute later, the Stafford keeper came out quickly to block Matthew Morgan after Clegg had been unable to convert.

At the other end, Booth denied Kaiman Anderson but the Trafford keeper made a terrible error when he allowed Cuff’s shot to slip through his hands and present Stafford with a 62nd minute lead.

Trafford looked for an immediate response but Jerome Wright sent his free kick over the bar while Clegg missed the target once more before Belford parried away a shot from Brad Byrne.

As the game entered its final twenty minutes, it was Stafford who looked most likely to add to the score. Both Anderson and Wright had several chances but only once was Booth called into action.

Failure to take those chances proved costly when, in the 88th minute, Lawton was unable to cut out a long ball from Fagbola. Clegg squared and Trafford sub Cian Donahue converted from close range.

Ashley Fallon almost snatched a late winner for Stafford but Booth made amends for his earlier error when he dived to his right to earn his side a point.

Stafford Rangers: 1 Cameron Belford, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Sean Lawton, 4 James McQuilkin, 5 Jimmy O’Neill, 6 Michael McGrath, 7 John Atherton (14 Callum King-Harmes 63m), 8 Jack Burgess (15 Ashley Fallon 56m), 9 Andre Wright, 10 Kaiman Anderson, 11 Joe Cuff (12 Joe Morley 69m. Unused Subs 16 Dylan Barkers, 17 Stanley Anaebonam

Trafford: 1 Samuel Booth, 2 Jack Higginbottom, 3 Ryley Smith (12 Damola Sotona 60m), 4 Jordan Fagbola, 5 Harry Norris, 6 Matthew Morgan (14 Matthew Lusakueno 65m), 7 Hilal Khan, 8 Brad Byrne (17 Cian Donahue 79m), 9 Rio Clegg, 10 Isaac Noble (15 Jack Donahue 79m), 11 Jerome Wright. Unused Sub 16 Demitre Holness

Referee: Jordan Brooks

Cautions: McGrath (Stafford), J Wright (Trafford)

Attendance: 717

Report by Chris Elsley