Wythenshawe Town v Stafford Rangers

REPORT

A week can be a long time in any walk of life and Stafford Rangers showed that they had put their defeat at Shifnal a week earlier firmly behind them as they recorded a convincing 3-0 win at Wythenshawe Town.

But Wythenshawe started the better of the two teams and Arron Davies was called into action after 9 minutes but made an easy save from Dylan Woods’ shot from outside the box. The Stafford keeper then tipped Danny Edwards’ free kick around the post for a corner.

Rangers started to come into the game, and created a chance for Scott Wara but his header was straight at Aidan McKerney.

Rangers took the lead in the 37th minute when Zidan Sutherland’s initial shot was saved by the keeper but it spilled into the path of Ashley Fallon, and the midfielder was the quickest there to slide it into the net.

Rangers were pushing for a second and Alex Worley saw his effort go wide. Then, just before half time, a great run from Sutherland saw him cut inside to get in a shot, but the Wythenshawe keeper made the save at his near post.

Rangers came out the second half the better of the two teams, and within 5 minutes, efforts from Sutherland and Worley had been saved by McKerney.

Wythenshawe made two substitutes in the 57th minute and the two introductions started to make a difference to the game.

But it was Rangers who struck a crucial second to quell the spirit of the home side. The goal came in the 76th minute via Dan Cockerline who volleyed a cross from John Atherton into the ground and it bounced over the keeper.

Rangers put the game out of sight in the 85th minute with a crossfield pass from Fallon to Joe Cuff who controlled it on the half volley and sent his strike from the edge of the box past the keeper and in to the net via the inside of the post.

Unfortunately, Cuff, who had only come on as a 78th minute substitute, picked up a second yellow card following the goal and was sent off.

With a man advantage, Wythenshawe pushed forward and Davies was called into service to save Luke Roscoe’s shot at his near post and Rangers held onto to their clean sheet and levelled out their goal difference at the same time.

Wythenshawe Town: 1 Aidan McKerney, 2 Darius Smith, 3 J’nai Steede (17 Eddie Cooper 68m), 4 Aaron Hart, 5 Sam Corbishley, 6 Domaine Rouse, 7 Demi Rhami (12 Astley Mulholland 57m), 8 Dan Dolling, 9 Jonny Nixon, 10 Danny Edwards (14 Kayle Power 57m), 11 Dylan Woods (16 Luke Roscoe 68m). Unused Subs 15 Teddy Mfuni

Stafford Rangers: 1 Arron Davies, 2 Callum Wilson, 3 Alex Worley, 4 Jack Sherratt, 5 Andy Burns, 6 Scott Wara, 7 Ashley Fallon, 8 Jack Birch, 9 Dan Cockerline (16 Joe Cuff 78m), 10 Zidan Sutherland, 11 Kaiman Anderson (15 John Atherton 74m). Unused Subs 12 Ben O’Hanlon, 13 Callum Smith, 14 Mason Rees

Goals: Stafford: Fallon 35m, Cockerline 75m, Cuff 85m

Referee: Nigel D’arcy

Cautions: Corbishley, Dolling (Wythenshawe); Wara, Cuff x2 (Stafford)

Sent Off: Cuff (Stafford) – 2 cautions

Att: 266

Report by Mark Bennett