Whitby Town v Stafford Rangers

REPORT

Stafford Rangers went three points clear at the top of the table after a hard fought victory at Whitby Town.

Rangers were forced to make a change in defence with the injured Andy Burns missing his first game since joining the club last season. Tom Tonks dropped in to the right back slot and did a solid job but Rangers missed his presence in midfield.

While the Boro went into the game unbeaten, their hosts had lost all four of their games and were sitting at the bottom of the table.

Whitby created the first opening of the game when Marcus Giles picked out Nicky Walker but Cameron Belford was equal to the shot making a good save to his right.

The Stafford keeper then smothered the ball after a shot from Giles had struck a Stafford defender.

Ethan Stewart and Alex Kiwomya were unable to take advantage of half chances that fell to them but Ntumba Massanka should have done better when Kiwomya sent him clear but Shane Bland saved with his feet.

The all important goal came on 33 minutes. Jack Baxter floated a free kick in from midway inside the Whitby half and Stewart placed his header beyond the reach of Bland.

Soon after, the Rangers’ goalscorer was in his more familiar defensive role to clear away a dangerous cross from Walker.

Just before the interval, Lewis Hawkins fired over after Walker had declined to shoot moments earlier.

Whitby made a half time change, replacing Giles with Aaron Haswell and the Whitby substitute gave his side a fresh impetus.

Harry Green drilled in a low ball that was just beyond the reach of both Haswell and Hawkins.

Belford saved well from Hawkins before Stewart blocked a shot from Haswell.

Whitby kept pressing for the equaliser and almost got it in the final minute.

Walker got the ball in from the left and Haswell’s shot beat Belford only to come back off the post. The ball bounced straight to Whitby veteran Lee Bullock but Belford scrambled across his goal to divert the shot on to the post and secure the win.

Whitby captain Daniel Rowe was sent off after the final whistle for comments made to the referee.

Whitby Town: 1 Shane Bland, 2 Priestley Griffiths, 3 Jake Hackett, 4 Luke Hogg (15 Soni Fergus 63m), 5 Daniel Rowe, 6 Lee Bullock, 7 Harry Green (14 Aaron Cunningham 72m), 8 Lewis Hawkins, 9 Marcus Giles (18 Aaron Haswell 46m), 10 Nicky Walker, 11 Coleby Shapherd. Unused Subs 12 Ryan Fogarty, 16 Jonathan Franks

Stafford Rangers: 1 Cameron Belford, 2 Joe Willis, 3 Joe Dunne, 4 Jack Baxter, 5 Ethan Stewart, 6 Luis Morrison-Derbyshire, 7 Alex Kiwomya (16 Nathan Caine 90+2m), 8 Tom Tonks, 9 Ntumba Massanka (14 Jaiden White 70m), 10 Chris Clements (12 Kaiman Anderson 59m), 11 Adam Livingstone. Unused Subs 13 Aiden Jeynes, 15 Ryan-Jay Malbon

Cautions: Fergus (Whitby), Belford, White (Stafford)

Sent Off (after final whistle): Rowe (Whitby)

Ref: Martin Conroy

Att: 429

Report: Chris Elsley