Stafford Town v Stafford Rangers

REPORT

The Boro began their pre-season campaign with a win at Evans Park, beating Stafford Town 1-0 thanks to Joe Willis’ goal.

The Rangers begin where they left off last season, taking the victory and getting off to a good start as they prepare for the Northern Premier League with a busy pre-season schedule.

Matt Hill looked to youth in the second half introducing several players who have been members of the U18’s sides as the boys in black and white got their first outing of the season in the ‘local derby’.

Willis’ goal could’ve been one of many as the Rangers looked comfortable throughout the 90 against the step six opposition and were presented with little threat to the goal.

The opener and only goal of the game came in the 32nd minute as Nathan Blissett and Tyreece Onyeka combined well for the midfielder to earn the lead. Willis found the ball in the box with the goal in front of him after a perfect pull-back, and converted well with a composed finish low to the left.

Blissett – busy for the Boro throughout the first half that he played, combined well on several occasions with Tyreece Onyeka and Willis in midfield. The trio combined superbly prior to the goal for winger Onyeka to test Town goalkeeper Adam Jenkins, forcing a good save from the keeper diving to his right to save the shot.

However, it was the Reds who had the first chance of the match early in the third minute as Williams fired over from close-range and maybe should’ve tested Cameron Belford from the cross on the right. Joe Dunne playing at centre-back headed over from an eighth minute corner before he found Ben Wood on the left who fired over. Wood, who’s returned to the Rangers after an absence last season, was involved again in the 36th minute turning well and nearly finding the right-side of the goal with his curling effort.

Although Town worked the ball well at the back looking to build attacks, they only found their forward play thwarted by the rangers defence. Blissett and Onyeka combined once again with a ball over the top for the winger leading to a cross back, but the striker couldn’t find the ball with his head. The number nine went wide minutes later as he looked evermore a threat before Onyeka’s low shot was held easily by Jenkins.

Half time came about without Belford worked and forced to make a save as Hill swapped him out for 17-year-old Jack Sandel who made his first team debut at the end of last season. Ethan Morgan, also retained recently for the Rangers, and Kaiman Anderson joined the youngster on the pitch as the game resumed.

Sandel was called into action holding a cross from the right in what was a quiet second half. Anderson’s header at close-range was held by Jenkins in the 53rd minute as Matt Hill turned to youth as the quiet 45 continued.

With half an hour gone in the second half Stafford Town had a penalty appeal turned down before substitute Ben Herrington shot wide a minute later looking to test the goal. The youngster came closest of anyone in the 86th minute as his volley hit the left-side woodwork rebounding away to safety for the Reds.

The home side’s effort in the 82nd minute didn’t threaten Sandel enough in goal to force a save unlike Ethan Morgan with his optimistic effort on the turn at the other end. The forward blasted a powerful strike towards goal and forced a good save from the Town keeper diving to his right.

Young Fletcher Rushbury found himself with a golden opportunity running through on goal late on in the half but fired straight at Jenkins in goal who saved well with his legs.

That brought an end to the pre-season clash between the local sides, and neither team can be disappointed with the way it played out. For Town, they reduced the Rangers to just one goal in the game while Hill’s Boro begin their pre-season campaign season with a win, and plenty got a good run out on the field.