Stafford Town v Stafford Rangers

REPORT

Stafford Rangers opened their pre-season programme with a short trip to Evans Park to face Stafford Town and it was the home side who triumphed thanks to two first half goals.

But there was no panic after the game from Rangers’ manager Matt Hill who used the match to give 22 players a 45 minute run out with an entirely different XI taking to the field in the second half.

A combination of signed first teamers, academy players and trialists made up the two XIs with Rangers’ fans getting their first look at new signings Cameron Belford, Jack Baxter and Joe Willis. The only player missing from the afternoon was Kaiman Anderson (holiday).

Impressing for Town was right winger Nathan Scott and he was involved in the move that saw Ryan Taylor put Town in front on 21 minutes following Josh Wilson’s cross.

Former Rangers’ player Declan Arber made it 2-0 to Town on 38 minutes – amid unsuccessful claims of handball – when he beat keeper Aidan Jeynes to the ball and rolled it into an empty net.

Rangers’ only shot on target in the first 45 minutes came from Baxter who tried his luck with a drive from outside the area that was parried away by Town keeper Zak Noble.

Academy player Fletcher Rushbury had a couple of chances to get his name on the scoresheet in the second half while Willis saw a shot deflected wide of the target but there was no addition to half time score.

Town:
Zak Noble, Matt Dudley, Henry Smith, Charlie Swingwood, Ben Douglas, Josh Wilson, Nathan Scott, Matt Wood, Declan Arber, Kaz Danilian, Ryan Taylor. Subs Joe Newey, Josh Oultran, Josh Wilson, Will Bates, Callum White

Rangers
First Half: Aidan Jaynes, Andy Burns, Trialist, Will Holt, Ethan Stewart, Ben Forrest, Louis Wright, Tom Tonks, Theo Bailey-Jones, Jack Baxter, Trialist

Second Half: Cameron Belford, Trialist, Joe Dunne, Alex-Ray Harvey, Taylor Draper, Louis Morrison, Joe Kenton, Joe Willis, Jayden Hunter-Baile, Trialist, Trialist