Details

Date Time Competition Season Day Att
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

 

Ground

Marston Road
Marston Road, Stafford, Staffordshire, ST16 3BX

Stafford Rangers

1Cameron Belford
2Callum King-Harmes
3Sam Fitzgerald 16
4James McQuilkin
5Michael McGrath
6Scott Wara 69'
7Abdulrasaq Alamu-Tajudeen 14
8Jack Burgess 15
9James O’Neill
10Kaiman Anderson
11John Atherton
12Callum Coyle
13Oliver Sayer
14Joe Morley 7
15Ashley Fallon 8
16Oliver Jepson 3

Wythenshawe Town

1Greg Hall
2Fenton Green 16
3Matthew Liptrott
4Niall Fallon
5Sam Sheridan
6Christie Grogan
7Chinedu Uche 15
8Rodney Ajayi
9Alex Panter 14 27'
10Domaine Rouse 5', 28'
11Ryan Morton 17
12Jibran Ahmed
14Jean Louis Akpa-Akpro 9
15Edvards Servuts 7
16Luke Merrill 2
17Luke Nock 11
Goals
0
2
Total Shots
8
3
Shots on Target
2
2
Assists
0
2
Yellow Cards
0
1
Red Cards
1
0

Stafford Rangers KO Wythenshawe Town KO 5 27 28 66 69 69 82 85 88 89 94 FT

Past Meetings

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