Jul 13, 2024
Rangers recorded their first win courtesy of a goal from Joe Morley at the start of the second half.
Rangers started the brighter of the two sides but it was Telford who had the first real chance when Kyle Cassell lobbed Belford but saw his effort go just wide. Soon after, Opoku was in a 1 v 1 but saw his effort saved by the Telford keeper.
Cassell went close again for the home side when his 25 yard free kick struck the post. Cockerline did likewise for Stafford when he flicked on Sean Cooke’s cross.
Cooke was involved in what was to be the only goal of the game on 46 minutes when he picked out Morley who took it past a defender before shooting in to the corner.
Rangers made XI substitutions on the hour which affected the flow of the game and fewer chances were produced although Lewis Porter went just wide with a lob and Fletcher Rushbury saw his late free kick turned away for a corner.
Jul 9, 2024
Rangers’ pre season programme got off to an inauspicious start with defeat at Stafford Town.
Dave Cooke fielded two different teams of XI for each half with fans getting their first view of new signings Sean Lawton, Oliver Jepson, Callum Preston, Joe Morley and Dan Cockerline in the first half.
Cockerline almost marked his outing with a goal inside the first minute but he fired wide after getting behind the home defence.
Before that, Town had already missed a good chance of their own when Max Van der Laan blazed over the bar.
Cockerline was one Rangers player who impressed on the night and his height is something that has been lacking in Boro front men of recent seasons.
The opening 20 minutes was fairly evenly matched and another good chance for Town went begging as Cam Belford saved a 1 v 1 against Eshan Greer.
But, it was a pass out from Belford that led to Town’s opener on 28 minutes. Van der Laan reacted quicker than Rangers’ U21 player Saihou Jobe and burst through to slot past Belford.
Four minutes later, it was 2-0 as Greer turned a low centre from the right in to the roof of the net.
There was a chance at each end in the remaining time of the first half. Cockerline headed against the post while Belford saved from Matty Hearsey.
Ben O’Hanlon and Aaron Opoku were among the XI that took to the field for the second half but it was Town who extended their lead on 51 minutes when trialist Jamie Fox – he signed for the Reds after the game – beat two Boro players to fire past Zanes Wegehaupt.
It was another trialist, James May – he also signed for the Reds post match – who completed the scoring in the 73 minute with a volley that Wegehaupt would have probably been disappointed to concede.
