Trafford v Stafford Rangers

Mar 22, 2025

Stafford Rangers left it late before securing a vital win in their battle against relegation from the NPL Division One West.

Trafford took an early lead before Rangers levelled the scores through Joe Thomas before Jimmy O’Neill fired home a 90th minute winner.

There were three changes to the side beaten by Chasetown a week earlier. Ackeme Francis-Burrell was suspended while Joe Morley and John Atherton dropped to the substitutes bench, along side newcomers Mason Rees and Zac Scott.

But it was a slow start from Rangers and, as with their visit to Vauxhall Motors a couple of weeks earlier, they conceded from a set piece as Cian Donohue unchallenged as he headed in a centre from Brad Byrne following a 6th minute corner.

Dan Cockerline had Stafford’s first effort on goal just before the half hour mark when he won the battle to get on the end of James McQuilkin’s corner but his header lacked power and was an easy take for Ollie Culkin in the Trafford goal. Culkin was a late replacement for Sam Booth and Trafford’s pre-match plans were further hit by an injury to Toba Obitayo in the warm up.

Trafford went close to a second after some good play from the impressive Rio Clegg. Good footwork enabled him to get away from three Stafford players. His shot deflected off Ben O’Hanlon but Stafford keeper Leon Phillips was alert and flicked the ball away for a corner.

Stafford began to establish a foothold in the game and created another opportunity with Liam Brazier’s deep centre but Kaiman Anderson’s header went the wrong side of the keeper’s right hand post.

Trafford missed a couple of good openings early in the second half as Hilal Khan sent a free kick over the bar and Ryley Smith shot wide after being played in by Clegg.

But Stafford were getting stronger and Thomas levelled the scores on 67 minutes when his deep cross from the right found its way in via the inside of the far post.

From then on, Rangers looked the most likely victors. Anderson did well to get in a shot on the turn but couldn’t beat Culkin then Rees – on for Thomas – rattled the Trafford cross bar with a good strike from 20 yards out.

As the clock moved into added time, O’Neill struck the all important winner. He got his head to McQuilkin’s corner but the ball came back off a Trafford defender. His left footed follow up also came back but, at the third time of asking, O’Neill’s less favoured right foot proved effective as his shot beat Culkin’s dive.

The result takes Rangers to a season high 13th but, more importantly, opens up a 7 point gap on Kidsgrove Athletic who currently sit in the fourth relegation spot.

 

Trafford: 1 Ollie Culkin, 2 Sean Higgins (14 Matty Lusakueno 83m), 3 Ryley Smith (12 Jack Higginbottom 77m), 17 Jordan Fagbola, 5 Harry Norris, 6 Brad Byrne, 7 Cian Donohue (16 Taylor Dyson 77m), 8 Hilal Khan (15 George Unsworth 77m), 9 Kevin Spinelli, 10 Jerome Wright, 11 Rio Clegg. Unused Subs – none

Stafford Rangers: 1 Leon Phillips, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Ben O’Hanlon, 4 James McQuilkin, 5 Michael McGrath, 6 Jimmy O’Neill, 7 Liam Brazier (16 John Atherton 85m), 8 Ashley Fallon, 9 Dan Cockerline, 10 Joe Thomas (12 Mason Rees 71m), 11 Kaiman Anderson. Unused Subs 14 Max Barlow, 15 Joe Morley, 17 Zac Scutt
Referee: Jacob Viera

Cautions: Donohue, Wright, Higginbottom (Trafford) McGrath, Fallon, Atherton (Stafford)

Attendance: 654

Report by Chris Elsley

 

Stafford Rangers v Chasetown

Mar 15, 2025

A tough week for Neil Kitching ended with his depleted Stafford Rangers side losing 2-0 at home to play off hopefuls Chasetown.

The Rangers’ boss saw two of his players leave the club this week while both Jimmy O’Neill and Joe Thomas were also unavailable.

The departure of Jack Burgess and Callum King-Harmes to Stratford Town and Rushall Olympic respectively took away form players from two key midfield positions. In their places came Joe Morley and Ashley Fallon.

A good crowd (1,003) was in attendance for this Staffordshire derby but the game did not deliver the entertainment that they craved for.

Both sides mustered a couple of half chances but there was little to shout about for the first half hour. The best opportunity in that time fell to the visitors but George Cater sent his free kick over the Stafford cross bar.

A brief spell saw Stafford show a little more intent and Morley benefitted from some good play by Kaiman Anderson but his shot was deflected wide by Oliver Hayward.

James McQuilkin’s corner almost found its way into the net and Ackeme Francis-Burrell failed to shoot when well placed before Michael McGrath fired over. Another opportunity came for Fallon following a sliced clearance from Curtis Pond but the midfielder lacked composure.

Chasetown enjoyed some prolonged possession at the start of the second half but the game changing moment came on 58 minutes when Francis-Burrell led with his elbow in a challenge on Luke Yates and was sent off by referee Ryan Price.

With their numerical advantage, Chasetown started to open the game up and took the lead ten minutes later when Cater got behind Liam Brazier and crossed for Yates to head past Leon Phillips.

Joseph Thompson volleyed over before Chasetown doubled their lead on 84 minutes when Cater’s corner was headed home at the back post by Dan O’Callaghan.

A last ditch tackle from Andy Burns prevented Yates from adding a third, as did a goal line clearance from Fallon to deny O’Callaghan.

One positive for Stafford was the return of striker Dan Cockerline following his hamstring injury.

 

Stafford Rangers: 1 Leon Phillips, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Ben O’Hanlon, 4 James McQuilkin, 5 Michael McGrath, 6 Liam Brazier, 7 Joe Morley (12 Dan Cockerline 57m), 8 Ackeme Francis-Burrell, 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 Ashley Fallon, 11 John Atherton (14 Max Barlow 87m). Unused Subs 15 Henry Brereton, 16 Jack Schollar, 17 Jude Hill

Chasetown: 1 Curtis Pond, 2 Oliver Hayward (15 Joseph Thompson 36m), 3 Joe Dunne, 4 Kieran Fenton, 5 Dan O’Callaghan, 6 Sam Wilding, 7 Tom Thorley, 8 Sam Unitt, 9 Ben Lund (17 Max Chimines 66m), 10 Luke Yates (12 Jordan Evans 86m), 11 George Cater (16 Alfie Taylor 89m). Unused Subs 14 Kris Taylor

Referee: Ryan Price

Cautions: McGrath (Stafford); Wilding (Chasetown)

Sent Off: Francis-Burrell (Stafford)

Attendance: 1,003

Report by Chris Elsley