Pitching In Northern Premier League
Saturday 29 January 2022

Stafford Rangers’ refusal to give up saw them earn a point at Gainsborough Trinity via a stoppage time equaliser from Michael Tait after former Boro player Cieron Keane had looked to have won it for the home side.

Kicking into a strong wind, Rangers should have been ahead inside two minutes. Ethan Stewart’s header produced a good reaction save from home keeper Matt Yates and, from the resultant corner, the unmarked Stewart volleyed over with the goal at his mercy.

Stafford continued to create the better chances as Tom Tonks dispossessed Neal Bishop near the right touchline but his speculative shot fell short of Yates.

Joe Cuff, back in the starting line up after only making the bench in the previous two games, then made a couple of threatening runs which eventually came to nothing.

It was midway through the first half before Gainsborough had their first look in but Luke Pilling made a fine double save to keep out Jovon Makama’s initial shot and Elicha Ahui’s follow up.

It needed a timely intervention from Joe Dunne to deny Makama a free run on goal after a smart turn from the Lincoln City loanee.

As the half drew to a close, a free kick just evaded Lewis Carr’s head while Brad Grayson was just wide after a misjudgement from Stewart.

Rangers didn’t use the wind to their advantage after the turn around although they went close to an opener with Cuff and Stewart in the mix before Gainsborough cleared the danger.

Soon after, Tonks failed to connect with Tait’s centre while Cuff had two bites of the cherry before Kaiman Anderson went wide with the final touch.

Makawa wasted a golden opportunity for the home side when he blazed over but it was Rangers who looked the most threatening as Tonks went wide from distance while Yates kept out Stewart.

When Tonks sent a late header on the roof of the net, the game appeared set to end goal-less but, as the clock reached 90 minutes, Keane clipped a 25 yarder that floated over Pilling to put Gainsborough ahead.

But the drama was not yet over and Rangers snatched a point with an equaliser in the third minute of added time when Tonks’ cross fell to Alex Fletcher and Tait diverted his shot past Yates.

Gainsborough Trinity: 1 Matt Yates, 2 George Hornshaw, 3 Isaac Rice, 4 Neal Bishop, 5 Lewis Carr, 6 Callum Minkley, 7 Alex Wollerton (15 Cameron Johnson 59m), 8 Elicha Ahui, 9 Jovon Makama, 10 Brad Grayson, 11 Cieron Keane. Unused Subs 12 Charlie Jemson, 14 Curtis Morrison, 16 Declan Bacon, 17 Tom Cursons

Stafford Rangers: 13 Luke Pilling, 2 Andrew Burns, 3 Joe Dunne (14 Ben Woods 70m), 4 Alex-Ray Harvey, 5 Ethan Stewart, 6 James O’Neill, 7 Michael Tait-Moran, 8 Tom Tonks, 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 Alex Fletcher, 11 Joe Cuff (12 Tre Pemberton 76m). Unused Subs: 1 Tyrell Belford, 15 Louis Malandjou – four subs named

Cautions: None

Referee: Daniel Woolley

Att: 542

Report: Chris Elsley