Stafford Rangers v Witton Albion

REPORT

Neil Kitching’s Stafford Rangers continued their climb away from the danger zone with a hard fought victory over Witton Albion.

The Rangers’ boss made three changes to the starting line up. Scott Wara was suspended while Ackeme Francis-Burrell and John Atherton dropped to the bench. In came Jack Burgess, Ashley Fallon and Liam Brazier. Cameron Belford was still injured so Leon Phillips retained his place in goal.

A drying bumpy pitch made it nigh on impossible for passing football to be a main feature of the afternoon and while there were sporadic passages, it was largely a tight physical battle between the two sides. The outcome could have gone either way but it was Stafford – through James McQuilkin – who got the all important goal.

The bounce of the ball was unpredictable and when Jack Burgess misjudged a long ball early on, it allowed Witton’s Mammadou Djabi to put in Damola Sotona but Phillips came quickly off his line to make a brave block.

At the other end, McQuilkin volleyed wide then Brazier showed his skills before going to ground under the challenge of visiting keeper Louie Fallon but Referee Keir Sheppard was not interested in Stafford’s penalty appeals.

Having missed once, McQuilkin made no mistake with a second opportunity that came his way on 20 minutes, striking smartly past Fallon from the edge of the area after Witton had failed to clear a free kick.

Too often, Rangers afforded the visitors too much space in their final third but escaped punishment as James Hooper sliced his shot badly wide while Andy Burns raced across to clear a dangerous looking ball towards Sotona from Djabi.

Either side of these chances, another opportunity fell the way of Stafford’s McQuilkin but his shot was comfortably saved to his left by the diving Fallon.

A flashpoint came shortly before half time when a poor challenge from Callum King-Harmes on Hooper sparked a reaction from the visitors. The Stafford man got away with just a yellow and Max Harrop showed his frustration with a retaliatory foul on King-Harmes soon after and also saw his name taken.

King-Harmes almost added further spice to the incident but fired over the Witton cross bar.

Hooper sent a 25 yard free kick curling just wide of the post early in the second half as Witton tried to get back on level terms while Fallon and Brazier failed to take chances to double Stafford’s lead.

Witton sub Nick Hepple had the best opportunity to equalise when Hooper put him in behind the Stafford defence but Phillips stood his ground to make an important save before Burns cleared.

At the other end, McQuilkin went close to a second for Stafford but saw his drive come back off the cross bar while Lee Jackson took the ball off Brazier’s toe as he prepared to shoot.

A late push from Witton saw Michael Koral shoot over and Rangers were celebrating a first clean sheet in 15 games.

Stafford Rangers: 1 Leon Phillips, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Ben O’Hanlon, 4 Jack Burgess (15 Joe Thomas 77m), 5 Michael McGrath, 6 James O’Neill, 7 Callum King-Harmes, 8 Ashley Fallon, 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 James McQuilkin, 11 Liam Brazier (14 John Atherton 81m). Unused Subs 12 Ackeme Francis-Burrell, 16 Joe Morley, 17 Louis Francis

Witton Albion: 1 Louie Fallon, 2 Michael Koral, 3 Lee Jackson, 4 Ben Harrison (12 Oliver Hitchcox 45m), 5 Josh Langley, 6 Joel Bailey, 7 James Hooper, 8 Alfie Henderson (17 James Lawrie 61m), 9 Mamadou Djabi (14 Nick Hepple 56m (15 Adam Watson 87m)), 10 Max Harrop (16 Danny Thompson-Edwards 73m), 11 Damola Sotona.

Referee: Keir Sheppard

Cautions: Burns, King-Harmes, Brazier, McQuilkin (Stafford) Harrison, Harrop, Hepple (Witton)

Attendance: 874

Report by Chris Elsley