

Details
Date | Time | Competition | Season | Day | Att |
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17/12/2024 | 7:45 pm | NPL West Division | 2024/2025 | Tue | 414 |
REPORT
Stafford Rangers failed to continue their recent run of good form as they were beaten at home by fellow strugglers Wythenshawe Town.
Rangers played the better football in the first half but found themselves 2-0 down at the break thanks to a brace from Domaine Rouse who converted the only two chances his side made in the opening 45 minutes.
But, Rangers failed to capitalize on having the strong wind in their favour after the break and saw their chances deteriorate when Scott Wara was dismissed midway through the half. It would have been a more miserable night for the home side had Rouse not missed a second half penalty.
There was just one change to the side that defeated Mossley with Sam Fitzgerald replacing the injured Ben O’Hanlon which meant defender Jimmy O’Neill again led the attack.
Although John Atherton had an early shot saved by Greg Hall, it was the visitors who struck first. Chinedu Uche skipped past Fitzgerald and pulled the ball back to Rodney Ajayi who in turn enabled Rouse to have a simple tap in giving Wythenshawe a 5th minute lead.
O’Neill came close to an equaliser when he shot wide after a good turn in the box and it looked certain that the goal would come soon after when Ras Alami got in a low centre that neither O’Neill nor John Atherton was able to convert then Kaiman Anderson put wide in the scramble.
Wara and Alex Panter got involved in an off the ball incident that resulted in both players getting cautioned – Wara appeared to be more of the victim but it was to be a costly action.
Wythenshawe’s Panter was in the action again a couple of minutes later as he played his part in Rouses second goal on 28 minutes. An exchange of passes between the two eventually resulted in Rouse scoring from close range.
Despite the two goal deficit, Rangers were still very much in the contest but they seemed to have left their shooting boots at home as efforts from Anderson and O’Neill were off target. A better strike from the latter appeared to strike the raised arms of Christy Grogan but referee Jordan Brooks showed no interest in Stafford’s penalty appeals.
Hopes that the wind would see Stafford fight back in the second half failed to come to fruition. Instead, Wythenshawe should have but the outcome beyond doubt when Michael McGrath hauled Uche to the ground in the 55th minute.
Rouse stepped up to take the spot kick but saw the ball strike the foot of the post and bounce away to safety.
O’Neill and Wara both headed wide but the battle between Wara and Panter that had been ongoing all game came to an abrupt end in the 68th minute when the Stafford man received a second yellow and was sent off.
Rangers never recovered from this latest set back and Wythenshawe saw out the game without too much trouble. In fact, they could have extended their lead when Panter fired across the face of goal.
Stafford Rangers: 1 Cam Belford, 2 Callum King-Harmes, 3 Sam Fitzgerald (16 Oliver Jepson 82m), 4 James McQuilkin, 5 Michael McGrath, 6 Scott Wara, 7 Abdulrasaq Alamu-Tajudeen (14 Joe Morley 66m), 8 Jack Burgess (15 Ashley Fallon 85m), 9 Jimmy O’Neill, 10 Kaiman Anderson, 11 John Atherton. Unused Subs 12 Callum Coyle, 13 Oliver Sayer
Wythenshawe Town: 1 Greg Hall, 2 Fenton Green (16 Luke Merrill 85m), 3 Matt Liptrott, 4 Niall Fallon, 5 Sam Sheridan, 6 Christy Grogan, 7 Chinedu Uche (15 Edvards Servuts 86m), 8 Rodney Ajayi, 9 Alex Panter (14 Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro 90+4m), 10 Domaine Rouse, 11 Ryan Morton (17 Luke Nock 69m). Unused Subs 12 Jibran Ahmed
Referee: Jordan Brooks
Cautions: Panter, Rouse (Wythenshawe)
Sent Off: Wara (Stafford) – two cautions
Attendance: 414
Report by Chris Elsley
0 | 2 |
8 | 3 |
2 | 2 |
0 | 2 |
0 | 1 |
1 | 0 |
KO KO 5 27 28 66 69 69 82 85 88 89 94 FT
Past Meetings
Date | Home | Results | Away | Time |
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