Stafford Rangers v Witton Albion

REPORT

Stafford Rangers were on the losing end of a 5 goal thriller as their winless run was extended to five games.

Rangers were always chasing the game after gifting their visitors three early goals and, despite a rousing fight back in the second half, the early damage proved too much although had Dan Cockerline converted a late penalty, Rangers would surely have gone on to win it.

With the injured Ben O’Hanlon an expected absentee from the side that drew with Bootle, Kaiman Anderson and Ash Fallon were also left out of the starting line up. In their places came Callum Wilson, Zidan Sutherland and James McQuilkin.

The game got off to a lively start but it took Witton less than 7 minutes to make the breakthrough. Scott Wara got caught in possession allowing Joe Duckworth to send Tom Hoyle clear. Arron Davies hesitated and Hoyle slotted past the Stafford keeper.

Two minutes later and further sloppy defending allowed Hoyle to fire in Witton’s second.

A poor start got worse on 16 minutes when James Lawrie picked out Duckworth and he turned the ball into the net with ease to give Witton a luxury 3-0 lead.

Rangers remained disjointed and lost. Ben Harrison flicked a header wide as Witton looked to add a fourth.

It was approaching the half hour mark before Stafford threatened with Cuff’s volley forcing a near post save from Morgan Sutton. Five minutes later, Cockerline’s curler had Sutton going full length to his right.

In between, Rangers survived a penalty appeal when Wara challenged Duckworth with referee Kieron Rogers giving the visitors no more than a corner.

Witton missed another opportunity shortly before the break with neither Harrison nor Tom Farrall able to add the finishing touch and there was a rare sound of boos from Rangers fans as their team went off at the half time break.

Mason Rees replaced Sutherland at the interval and his presence helped to trigger a much improved display in the second half.

Rangers needed an immediate response and nearly got one when Sutton saved well from Jack Birch. But the goal wasn’t long in coming and Wara reduced the arrears on 49 minutes when he steered his header past Sutton following a James O’Neill throw.

O’Neill’s throws caused Witton further trouble on the hour when Sutton dropped one only for Birch to fire over.

Cuff struck a low free kick straight at the Witton keeper before another O’Neill throw pulled another back on 68 minutes as Cockerline got the final touch after Wara’s initial flick.

Rangers were then given an excellent opportunity to draw level on 78 minutes when Andy Burns was tripped in the area but Sutton went the right way to save Cockerline’s penalty.

Rangers still had their chances. James Baillie cleared away a goal bound effort from John Atherton while O’Neill fired over. Harry Brazel kept out a header from Cockerline and McQuilkin missed out twice in a matter of minutes.

Sutton had the final say with a good save from Wilson but Rangers only had themselves to blame following that dreadful start.

Stafford Rangers: 1 Arron Davies, 2 Callum Wilson, 3 Andy Burns (17 Tamasi Wara 90+6m), 4 Jack Sherratt (14 James McQuilkin 73m), 5 Jimmy O’Neill, 6 Scott Wara, 7 John Atherton, 8 Jack Birch, 9 Dan Cockerline, 10 Zidan Sutherland (12 Mason Rees 46m), 11 Joe Cuff (15 Kaiman Anderson 66m). Unused Sub 16 Ash Fallon

Witton Albion: 1 Morgan Sutton, 2 Jacob Hamman (14 James Baillie 50m), 3 Tom Farrall, 4 Ben Harrison (16 Remi Raymond 82m), 5 Geffry Ebhote. 6 Adam Bott, 7 James Lawrie, 8 Harry Brazel, 9 Joe Duckworth (12 Freddy Garbutt 73m), 10 Tom Hoyle, 11 Max Harrop (15 Aaron Fleming 66m). Unused Sub 17 Harry Woods

Goals: Stafford: Wara 49m, Cockerline 68m Witton: Hoyle (2) 7m, 9m, Duckworth 16m

Referee: Kieron Rogers

Cautions: Cuff, Cockerline, Wara (Stafford) Lawrie, Brazel (Witton)

Att: 503

Report by Chris Elsley