Avro — Stafford Rangers

Dec 20, 2025

There were several changes but a similar outcome as Stafford Rangers were beaten 3-0 away to Avro.

After the match, manager Neil Kitching described the home side as the best in the division and the gulf in class between the two sides was clear.

With Jimmy O’Neill unavailable and Scott Wara having departed for a career in Fiji, Kitching brought in local lad Harry Flowers while there was a surprise return for Michael McGrath. Also making his debut was forward Bradley Mansell with another newcomer Harley Irwin on the bench.

Avro created an opportunity as early as the fourth minute when the lively Harry Salt played in Ryley Smith but Arron Davies parried the shot away.

There was an element of misfortune for Rangers as they went a goal down on 8 minutes.

Jadel Musanhu was first to Samuel Davidson’s free kick but headed it against Adam Owen who wouldn’t have known too much as the ball looped into the net.

With Kyle Hawley waiting to pounce, Andy Burns cut out a dangerous cross from Salt after he had outpaced Musanhu.

At the other end, Rangers appealed in vain when John Atherton went down under a challenge in the Avro area.

But it was Avro who kept creating the openings. Hawley headed over at the back post and Salt sent a shot a couple of feet over the bar from the edge of the area.

Hawley went closer – but not close enough – with another good strike from around 20 yards while Jake Cottrell’s free kick was just off target.

At half time, Kitching replaced Musanhu with Irwin as Rangers tried to be more effective in midfield but they were undone again 10 minutes after the resumption when Hawley got away from McGrath to double the Avro lead.

A minute earlier, Avro had gone close when Davidson’s free kick hit the bar and Hawley’s follow up came back off the post.

It was more or less game over on 65 minutes when a ball out from Davies put Flowers under pressure from Hawley and Salt and it was the latter who eventually snapped up the opportunity.

Rangers didn’t test home keeper Cameron Mason and a fairly tame free kick from Irwin was the only shot on target they produced. Other efforts from Kaiman Anderson, Logan Cousins and Dylan Scott were all off target as Rangers’ struggles continued and their winless run extended to 8 games.

Avro: 1 Cameron Mason, 2 Ethan Kershaw (12 Cameron Bell 81m), 3 Adam Owen, 4 Deane Smalley, 5 David Fitzpatrick, 6 Jack Morrow (16 Kane Hickman 85m), 7 Samuel Davidson (18 Owen Warburton 74m), 8 Jake Cottrell, 9 Kyle Hawley, 10 Harry Salt (14 Darren Ehimamiegho 66m), 11 Ryley Smith (17 Belchoir Rodrigues 69m).

Stafford Rangers: 1 Arron Davies, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Ben O’Hanlon, 4 Michael McGrath, 5 Jadel Musanhu (16 Harley Irwin 46m), 6 Harry Flowers, 7 John Atherton (14 Ashley Fallon 72m), 8 Mason Rees (12 Jack Sherratt  69m), 9 Bradley Mansell (17 Dylan Scott 69m), 10 Jack Birch (15 Logan Cousins 59m), 11 Kaiman Anderson.

Goals: Avro: Owen 8m, Harley 55m, Salt 65m

Referee: Francis Sibley

Cautions: Flowers 53m (Stafford)

Att: 267

Report by Chris Elsley

 

Stalybridge Celtic — Stafford Rangers

Dec 13, 2025

Manager Neil Kitching rung the changes again with six to the side beaten by Atherton Collieries. Three were enforced by due to injuries suffered by Zach Noble, Scott Wara and Dan Cockerline.

Kitching’s game plan was to frustrate Stalybridge but it was a plan that gave the home side plenty of possession and, with it, opportunity to shoot from distance.

Their first effort on goal came via Liam Tongue as early as the third minute when the home skipper fired just wide.

Rangers responded quickly with Joe Thomas going close as his shot was blocked by Jack Tinning.

Kitching’s tactic was working to a degree it was but not helped as his side gave away possession too easily.

But Rangers did create chances and good play from Kaiman Anderson allowed Thomas to put in a deep cross from the right but Logan Cousins’ volley high over.

At the other end, Celtic missed out when Ruben Jerome failed to attack a dangerous ball in from Mike Koral but the better chances fell to Rangers and Anderson probably should have put his side ahead on 35 mins when he broke through on the right but keeper Charlie Monks saved with his legs. Soon after, Jack Birch had a shot blocked on the line.

Stalybridge stepped up in the closing stages of the half. Arron Davies kept out a near post flick from Andy Scarisbrick then reacted well to save a close range effort from Jerome. A couple of minutes later, the Stalybridge forward was allowed to get in behind the defence but he headed wide.

Instead, it was Stafford who managed to get themselves ahead, a minute before the break.

Stalybridge half cleared a free kick from Birch but Max Leonard gifted possession to Jack Sherratt. He gave it back to Birch whose deep cross found Jadel Mushanhu and he had time to fire past Monks.

The first exchanges of the second half were evenly contested but Stalybridge hit Rangers with two goals in three minutes.

The equaliser came on 59 minutes via a well struck drive from Ellis Horan but Rangers’ disappointment will be how they failed to halt the attack down their left hand side.

The home side went ahead after a corner was not dealt with and the unmarked Aaron Chalmers beat Davies with a scuffed shot that went in off the post.

Rangers were given a boost when Stalybridge were reduced to 10 men on 76 minutes.

Anderson’s lay off allowed Thomas to surge forward but he was crudely brought down by Jack Tinning before he could reach the area. The Stalybridge man was sent off but he had done his bit as the free kick was put wide by Thomas.

Rangers pressed for the equaliser but a shot wide from sub James McQuilkin was as close as they got.

Stalybridge Celtic: 1 Charlie Monks, 2 Mike Koral, 3 Kyle Brownhill, 4 Aaron Chalmers, 5 Jordan Butterworth, 6 Jack Tinning, 7 Andy Scarisbrick, 8 Liam Tongue,  9 Ruben Jerome,  10 Max Leonard (12 Jack Byrne 78m), 11 Ellis Horan. Unused Subs 14 Sean Tse, 15 Greg Wilkinson, 16 Elliot Rokka, 17 Charlie Doyle

Stafford Rangers: 1 Arron Davies, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Ben O’Hanlon, 4 Ashley Fallon (18 James McQuilkin 81m), 16 Jadel Mushanhu, 6 Jimmy O’Neill, 7 Joe Thomas (15 Che Ranger 88m), 8 Jack Sherratt, 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 Jack Birch, 11 Logan Cousins (12 Dylan Scott 72m). Unused Subs 14 Kingsley Adu-Gyamfi, 17 Mason Rees

Goals: Stalybridge Horan 59m, Chalmers 62m:

Stafford: Musanhu 44m

Referee: Lewis Atkinson 

Cautions: Monks 81m, Tongue 70m, Jerome 57m (Stalybridge) O’Hanlon 54m, Musanhu 12m (Stafford)

Sent Off: Tinning 76m (Stalybridge)

Att: 558

Report by Chris Elsley

 

 

Stafford Rangers — Atherton Collieries

Dec 6, 2025

Once again soft goals were conceded but the scoreline doesn’t tell the full story as three Rangers players ended up in hospital.

After conceding 14 goals in their previous four league games, Rangers manager Neil Kitching promised changes and he was true to his word with no less than seven made to the starting XI.

Some were enforced with the likes of Jimmy O’Neill, John Atherton and Callum Wilson all injured. Goalkeeper Arron Davies also reported unfit in the morning while Joe Thomas was unwell although he was named as one of the five substitutes.

Heavy overnight rain left some muddy areas of the pitch and the referee insisted on one goal mouth being sanded before the game eventually kicked off some 10 minutes later than scheduled.

There were less than three minutes played when Dan Cockerline fell awkwardly and dislocated his troublesome left shoulder. Dylan Scott replaced him and was involved as Rangers created a good chance for Kaiman Anderson but, with the ball also going away from him, Anderson was unable to keep his shot on target.

Atherton took the lead on 16 minutes with their first meaningful attack. Che Ranger was dispossessed on the right. Colls moved the ball to the opposite side of the field and Rodney Ajayi’s one touch put Kielen Adams through to slot past Zach Noble.

The visitors then extended their lead on 36 minutes and the ease of how Javid Swaby-Nevin was able to get into the area annoyed Kitchen. The Atherton man found Harry Showman and he beat Noble at his near post from an acute angle.

Rangers needed a response and got it as the clock ticked into added time at the end of the first half. Rangers showed his attacking qualities with a run at the Colls defence. Ben O’Hanlon sent in a deep cross to the back post where Scott had the relatively simple task of heading in.

Whatever Kitching and his team may have said at half time was deemed almost worthless within a minute of the restart when Scott Wara collided with Noble as he shepherded the ball back to the Stafford keeper. After lengthy treatment, Noble went off with a suspected broken arm and collar bone while Wara was suffering from concussion. Both joined Cockerline in hospital for further treatment.

With no substitute goalkeeper, it was left to forward Anderson to take on the role.

A goal down, Rangers could not afford to simply protect the stand in keeper and James McQuilkin almost levelled with a low drive that struck the post.

But, Anderson was left exposed when Chinedu Uche won possession on the left and advanced to put in Showman to make it 3-1 on 57 minutes.

It probably should have been four when the ball fell to Remi Effunnuga but he was unable to get in a shot.

At the other end, Scott missed a chance to pull one back when Luke Lomax saved with his feet after an initial poor clearance from the Atherton keeper.

Anderson made a good save to turn away a well struck drive from Sam Sheridan before Jack Birch gave Rangers hope by reducing the arrears on 84 minutes following a ball over the top from Kingsley Adu-Gyamfi.

But, it was not to be and the visitors held out for the win.

The bad luck that dogged Rangers with three injuries can not be helped but the game was essentially lost, once again, by defensive errors that presented the opposition with three goals.

Stafford Rangers: 1 Zach Noble (15 Kingsley Adu-Gyamfi 51m), 2 Andy Burns, 3 Ben O’Hanlon, 4 Mason Rees, 5 Scott Wara (17 Jadel Mushanhu 51m), 6 Jack Birch, 7 Che Ranger, 8 James McQuilkin, 9 Dan Cockerline (16 Dylan Scott 5m (12 Joe Thomas 89m)), 10 Kaiman Anderson, 11 Jack Sherratt (14 Ashley Fallon 60m).

Atherton Collieries: 1 Luke Lomax, 2 Ben Rydel (16 Tom Warren 58m), 3 Javid Swaby-Nevin, 4 Rodney Ajayi (15 Luke Nock 83m), 5 Alex Doyle, 6 Niall Battersby, 7 Harry Showman, 8 Remi Efunnuga, 9 Kielen Adams (12 Mark Isong 67m), 10 Joe Piggott (14 Sam Sheridan 67m), 11 Chinedu Uche (17 Sonny Reeves 83m).

Goals: Stafford: Scott 45+1, Birch 84m; Atherton Collieries: Adams 16m, Showman (2) 36m, 57m

Referee: Liam Corbett

Cautions: Burns 90+2m (Stafford)

Att: 429

Report by Chris Elsley