Stafford Town v Stafford Rangers

REPORT

Rangers’ pre season programme got off to an inauspicious start with defeat at Stafford Town.

Dave Cooke fielded two different teams of XI for each half with fans getting their first view of new signings Sean Lawton, Oliver Jepson, Callum Preston, Joe Morley and Dan Cockerline in the first half.

Cockerline almost marked his outing with a goal inside the first minute but he fired wide after getting behind the home defence.

Before that, Town had already missed a good chance of their own when Max Van der Laan blazed over the bar.

Cockerline was one Rangers player who impressed on the night and his height is something that has been lacking in Boro front men of recent seasons.

The opening 20 minutes was fairly evenly matched and another good chance for Town went begging as Cam Belford saved a 1 v 1 against Eshan Greer.

But, it was a pass out from Belford that led to Town’s opener on 28 minutes. Van der Laan reacted quicker than Rangers’ U21 player Saihou Jobe and burst through to slot past Belford.

Four minutes later, it was 2-0 as Greer turned a low centre from the right in to the roof of the net.

There was a chance at each end in the remaining time of the first half. Cockerline headed against the post while Belford saved from Matty Hearsey.

Ben O’Hanlon and Aaron Opoku were among the XI that took to the field for the second half but it was Town who extended their lead on 51 minutes when trialist Jamie Fox – he signed for the Reds after the game – beat two Boro players to fire past Zanes Wegehaupt.

It was another trialist, James May – he also signed for the Reds post match – who completed the scoring in the 73 minute with a volley that Wegehaupt would have probably been disappointed to concede.