Stafford Rangers v Widnes

REPORT

Stafford Rangers’ manager Dave Cooke stepped down from his role just minutes after watching the club slump to their third consecutive home defeat.

Cooke had been in charge for a little over 10 months and in that time had failed to prevent the side from being relegated from the NPL Premier Division last season and slip into what looks like another relegation battle in the current campaign.

It is fair to say that Rangers have suffered with injuries and other players letting them down but many see the failure to find a recognised central defender as a key to the club’s problems this season.

On Saturday, Rangers weathered an initial opening that saw Widnes looking the livelier of the two sides and probably had the better of the chances in a goal-less first half.

Widnes’ wide man Sharif Deans was a constant threat to Stafford and missed out on a couple of early opportunities that came his way.

It took Rangers some 15 minutes to establish themselves and good play by Joe Robbins resulted in a centre from Sean Cooke striking Joe Morley before going wide.

Moments later, Stanley Anaebonam delayed his shot too long although Dan Cockerline should have done better when the ball ricocheted his way – the tall striker blazed over from around 12 yards.

The two Stafford players combined again but again Anaebonam missed out as his shot came back off Ben Rydel before Niall Battersby hacked clear.

Although they still looked the better of the two sides, that was the end of the Rangers’ challenge and Widnes had a couple more opportunities before the interval.

The closest of these was a mis-hit shot from Deans that looped up and Cam Belford had to take a couple of steps back before catching just under his cross bar.

Both sides made changes at the break with Tyrone Cadeau replacing Anaebonam but it failed to inspire the home side.

Instead, it was Widnes who opened the scoring on 61 minutes. Matty Rain’s corner was knocked back in by Dominic McGiveron and James Steele placed his header beyond the reach of Belford.

From then on, there was only one team in it. Rangers’ heads dropped and they looked as though they knew they were beaten.

Belford made a point blank save to keep out Jack McGowan with Steele going wide from the rebound.

But Steele wasn’t going to be denied and hit his second on 75 minutes when he found himself free on the right hand side of the area and lashed in a shot inside the left post.

A looping header from Cadeau was tipped over by Mark Halstead in a brief moment of encouragement for Stafford but Widnes finished off the job without much resistance.

Steele, on a counter attack, set up Adam Bott to make it 3-0 on 80 minutes then completed his hat trick on 86 minutes with a simple tap in after Deans squared from the left.

Stafford Rangers: 1 Cameron Belford, 2 James McQuilkin (12 Aaron Opoku 72m), 3 Ben O’Hanlon, 4 Dylan Barkers, 5 Andy Burns, 6 Sean Lawton, 7 Stanley Anaebonam (16 Tyrone Cadeau 46m) , 8 Joe Robbins, 9 Dan Cockerline, 10 Sean Cooke, 11 Joe Morley (17 Joe Mwasile 62m). Unused Subs 14 Jimmy O’Neill, 15 Luca Whitney

Widnes: 1 Mark Halstead, 2 Ben Rydel, 3 Matty Rain, 4 Brendon O’Brien (17 Jadel Musanhu 73m), 5 Niall Battersby, 6 Adam Bott, 7 Ste Irwin, 8 Paul Kyffin (16 Dominic McGiveron 46m), 9 Jack McGowan, 10 James Steele, 11 Sharif Deans (15 Nathan Caine 87m). Unused Subs 12 Nathan Corness, 14 Liam Paton

Cautions: O’Hanlon, Cockerline, Cooke (Stafford) Rain (Widnes)

Referee: Ashley Allen

Attendance: 461

Report by Chris Elsley