Stafford Rangers v Buxton

Aug 3, 2024

Stafford Rangers completed their pre-season programme with another defeat, this time at the hands of National League North side Buxton.

Pre season performances from the Boro have been inconsistent at best with 17 goals leaked and only two scored but Saturday’s showing was more promising and Rangers ended the first half on level terms.

Although Buxton enjoyed the majority of the possession, they didn’t pose much of a threat on the Stafford goal. It was a similar story at the other end as Aaron Opoku fought a solo battle with Kieran Burton

The best chances of the opening 45 minutes saw Burton force a save from Cam Belford in the 9th minute while Stafford’s Joe Robbins saw his shot blocked by Josh Williams shortly before half time.

The only other incident of note was a caution for Andy Burns following a mistimed tackle on Connor Kirby.

It took Buxton less than five minutes of the second half to open the scoring. Josh Granite advanced into the area and though his run was halted by Oliver Jepson, the ball fell kindly to Sam Tomlinson who fired home.

Rangers, who started the game with three trialists, introduced several more during the second half – a total of eight were on show during the 90 minutes.

Buxton found more openings come their way and Kirby saw a shot well saved by Belford while Tomlinson should have doubled his side’s lead but sent his shot wide.

Recent signing Tyrone Cadeau gave Stafford a little more in attack and he was just off target with a couple of efforts.

Buxton grabbed their second with 10 minutes remaining when Josh Popoola drilled in a low centre which was turned into his own net by the Stafford trialist playing at the heart of the defence.

 

Stafford starting line up: Cam Belford, Andy Burns, Ben O’Hanlon, James McQuilkin, Oliver Jepson, Trialist A, Trialist B, Trialist C, Aaron Opoku, Joe Robbins, Joe Morley. Substitutes include Sean Lawton, Tyrone Cadeau

Att 264

 

 

Stafford Rangers v Whitchurch Alport

Jul 27, 2024

Rangers’ pre season programme continues to give cause for concern after their latest defeat came at home to Shropshire side Whitchurch Alport.

But, despite the result, Rangers were the better side for much of the game and the biggest worry may surround the fitness of striker Dan Cockerline who limped out of the game midway through the first half with a hamstring injury.

Rangers had started the brighter of the two sides and Aaron Opoku fired over the visitors’ bar.

Joe Robbins – he was one of the trialists who signed after the Sutton Coldfield fixture – went wide with a couple of chances then Cockerline saw an effort roll across the goal line before being cleared.

The visiting keeper Sheward then made two saves in the final minutes of the first half as he twice denied Joe Morley.

The second half was evenly congested with play switching from end to end but it was Whitchurch who opened the scoring on 72 minutes when Josh Beaumond took advantage of a poor kick out from Cam Belford which wasn’t dealt with by Sean Lawton and the Whitchurch man fired into the top corner from around 25 yards.

A second goal followed on 78 mins and again it was avoidable. This time it was a mix up between Belford and Andy Burns that let in one of the visitors’ trial players for a simple tap in.

Stafford keeper Jack Sandel came on as a substitute for Whitchurch and kept his side’s goal intact with a late save from Morley’s free kick.

 

Rangers: 1 Cam Belford, 2 Jacob Edwards, 3 Ben O’Hanlon, 4 James McQuilkin (Trialist B), 5 Andy Burns, 6 Jimmy O’Neill, 7 Tyrone Cadeau, 8 Joe Robbins, 9 Dan Cockerline (Joe Morley 25m) , 10 Aaron Opoku (Sean Lawton 70m), 11 Trialist A

Whitchurch: 1 Jack Sheward, 2 Trialist A, 3 Josh Madeley, 4 Ellis Turner, 5 Freddie Bishton, 6 Lewis Brown, 7 Trialist B, 8 Adam Hailes, 9 Josh Beaumond, 10 Elliot Jukes, 11 Tom Meesham. Subs Harry Farnsworth, Harry Parkinson, Lewis Bloor, Billy West

Cautions – O’Hanlon (83m)

Att 251