Vauxhall Motors v Stafford Rangers

REPORT

Stafford Rangers came from two goals down to earn another point towards safety.

On paper, the trip to second placed Vauxhall Motors was the toughest test for Neil Kitching’s side since his return to the club but when the home side doubled their lead early in the second half, the points looked to be staying on the Wirral.

John Atherton replaced Liam Brazier (injured) and there was a start for Ackeme Francis-Burrell with Ashley Fallon dropping to the bench.

Rangers made a bright start and James McQuilkin went close to replicating his winning goal against Witton with a drive from the edge of the area to bounce up off keeper Alex Swindell and out for a corner.

Kaiman Anderson also had a chance but couldn’t control the direction of his header.

Vauxhall took the lead in the 11th minute with their first real opportunity, Adam Rooney arriving late to power his header past Leon Phillips from Michael Burkey’s corner.

Veteran Kevin Ellison put his shot across the face of the Stafford goal as the home side looked to build on their early advantage.

Rangers were playing some good football but were unable to create the openings to test Swindell. McQuilkin tried his luck from the edge of the area but it was always swinging away from goal while another half chance which fell to Callum King-Harmes bobbled through to the Vauxhall keeper.

Shortly before the break, referee Barry Lamb missed a clear hand ball from Rooney that denied Anderson the chance to go through on the Vauxhall goal while, with the last action of the half, a good strike from Burkey went just over the Stafford bar.

Rangers also started the second half well with John Atherton forcing Swindell to save with his feet but, again, it was Vauxhall who struck.

Good play on the right enabled Nick Rushton to lay the ball off to Burkey and he curled a low shot beyond the reach of Phillips to put the home side 2-0 up on 53 minutes.

But Rangers did not let their heads drop and pulled one back on 68 mins when Jack Burgess fired the ball into the danger area. Anderson got in just ahead of Vita Mbolokele to divert past Swindell.

From then on, it was Rangers who were on top.

Anderson got behind the back line only to be denied by Swindell. Five minutes later,it needed an excellent intervention from Mbolokele to deny the Stafford striker.

A breakdown in communication saw Andy Burns inches away from putting the ball in his own net but it was Rangers who were asking most of the questions and desperate defending from Vauxhall forced Michael McGrath to go wide in a scramble.

Two minutes into added time, Rangers got the equaliser that they deserved. The hardworking McQuilkin released Burgess on the right. He sent in a perfect cross which was met with an equally perfect header at the near post from Anderson to the delight of the travelling Stafford fans.

Vauxhall Motors: 1 Alex Swindell, 2 Vita Mbolokele, 3 Dom Hoppe, 4 Adam Rooney, 5 Adam Hughes, 6 Mitchell Duggan, 7 Michael Burkey (15 Nathan Corness 63m), 8 Paddy Kay (14 Ben Holmes 54m), 9 Josh Quarless, 10 Nick Rushton, 11 Kevin Ellison (12 Connor Rankin 75m). Unused Subs 16 Tyler Hill, 17 Max Harrison

Stafford Rangers: 1 Leon Phillips, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Ben O’Hanlon, 4 Jack Burgess, 5 Michael McGrath, 6 James O’Neill, 7 Callum King-Harmes, 8 Ackeme Francis-Burrell (14 Joe Thomas 66m), 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 James McQuilkin, 11 John Atherton (Joe Morley 81m). Unused Subs 12 Ashley Fallon, 16 Max Barlow, 17 Jack Schollar

Referee: Barry Lamb

Cautions: Hoppe, Kay (Vauxhall), Nick Amos (Stafford)

Attendance: 282

Report by Chris Elsley