Jul 18, 2023
The Rangers succumed to their first pre-season defeat, losing 1-0 to Stourbridge at the War Memorial Athletic Ground.
In a game which didn’t set the world on fire, Matt Hill’s side were unable to maintain their 100% winning start to the new season. Although the defeat means nothing in hindsight, and will only benefit all involved as Jake Moult made his first apperance since re-joining the club.
Alex Prosser scored the only goal in the game midway through the second half slamming it through Cameron Belford’s legs along the floor. The good finish just one of few on target with a quiet evening for both goalkeepers.
The game started lively as the two step three non-league sides battled it out. This fixture against the Southern Central Premier side Stafford’s toughest so far after wins against Stafford Town and more recently Eccleshall – both of the North West Counties League Division One South.
Belford held his first test easily early on before Tyreece Onyeka’s shot across goal ricocheted off the left post in the second minute. Then, Dexter Walters fired over for the home side a minute later prior to a Stourbridge free-kick leading to nothing.
Luke Benbow shot wide for Stourbridge in the 20th minute as the floodlights were flicked on at the half-hour mark. And, Ethan Stewart’s header was off-target from skipper Alex-Ray Harvey’s free-kick before Benbow saw his shot blocked by burns at close-range on stroke of half time.
The sides entered the break goaless after a close battle in the first half.
Joe Wills’ effort was held early on and Ethan Morgan saw his header saved easily by the Stourbridge keeper diving to his right. The home sides’ number 11 caused havoc with a header wide and shot blocked at close-range after good work cutting onto his left.
Nathan Blissett’s ball across goal found nobody as the Boro struggled to work a way through. The hour mark approached and on stepped Kaiman Anderson and Tom Tonks for his return to the side. However, their presence couldn’t prevent Prosser from powering it home with a great strike to give Stourbridge the lead. The midfielder looked for his second soon after with a long-range free-kick, and forced a good save from Belford diving to his right.
Tyreece onyeka brought out a save from the home side’s keeper with his shot across goal in the 72nd minute before Anderson dragged his effort well wide 12 minutes later.
Ben Woods’ late free-kick went into the wall before the corner that followed came to nothing, and that was it with Stourbridge taking the win.
Jul 11, 2023
The Rangers and Joe Willis made it two from two in pre-season, as Matt Hill’s side beat Eccleshall 2-1 at Pershall Park.
Everyone a part of Hill’s squad last night was involved in the game at some stage as many of the Boro boys who’ve come through the youth ranks got their second outing for the first team. Midfielder Joe Willis added to Kaiman Anderson’s first half opener early in the second 45 to give the Rangers their second victory of pre-season.
It was the Eagles who were presented with the first opportunities of the game, as their number 10 fired straight at Cameron Belford in goal in the fifth minute and wide two minutes later. Kaiman Anderson – back for the Rangers – likewise found the gloves of the man in net with his long-range effort in the 12th minute.
Ethan Morgan was busy on the right wing throughout the game, looking to create opportunities with crosses, and agonisingly his pull back across goal went through everyone and led to nothing. Tyreece Onyeka was a menace on the left wing and forced a diving save from the Eccleshall goalkeeper in the 27th minute to stop his shot making its way into the bottom right corner. And, it would be the story of Onyeka’s game with opportunities arising for the 21-year-old, but only to be denied on several occasions by the Eagles keeper.
Forward Anderson then made the breakthrough in the 35th minute firing into the bottom left corner out of the reach of the keeper after good work prior to the shot. Onyeka was then denied on the stroke of half time before Morgan optimistically tried his luck from afar and was close from the top right corner with his long-range effort.
Ethan Stewart made his return for the Boro in the second half as Willis added a second goal early on. The midfielder slammed the ball home into the left-side of the goal, on-target for the Rangers for the second game in a row.
Onyeka created a good opportunity but was unable to convert again before Jimmy O’Neill handed Eccleshall a way back into the game. The defender seemed to have got the ball first, but also all of the opposition man too, and with both feet off the ground the referee pointed to the spot. And, former Rangers player Ryan-Jay Malbon converted past Jack Sandel in net, the keeper diving the wrong way to his left as Eccleshall clawed one back.
However, that’s how it would stay until the full-time whistle as Sandel tipped over Mitch Glover’s free-kick which was on target and Matt Hill gave the youngsters on the bench another outing.
The Rangers will travel to Stourbridge next Tuesday in their third fixture as they look to make it three wins from three in their pre-season campaign.
Jul 8, 2023
The Boro began their pre-season campaign with a win at Evans Park, beating Stafford Town 1-0 thanks to Joe Willis’ goal.
The Rangers begin where they left off last season, taking the victory and getting off to a good start as they prepare for the Northern Premier League with a busy pre-season schedule.
Matt Hill looked to youth in the second half introducing several players who have been members of the U18’s sides as the boys in black and white got their first outing of the season in the ‘local derby’.
Willis’ goal could’ve been one of many as the Rangers looked comfortable throughout the 90 against the step six opposition and were presented with little threat to the goal.
The opener and only goal of the game came in the 32nd minute as Nathan Blissett and Tyreece Onyeka combined well for the midfielder to earn the lead. Willis found the ball in the box with the goal in front of him after a perfect pull-back, and converted well with a composed finish low to the left.
Blissett – busy for the Boro throughout the first half that he played, combined well on several occasions with Tyreece Onyeka and Willis in midfield. The trio combined superbly prior to the goal for winger Onyeka to test Town goalkeeper Adam Jenkins, forcing a good save from the keeper diving to his right to save the shot.
However, it was the Reds who had the first chance of the match early in the third minute as Williams fired over from close-range and maybe should’ve tested Cameron Belford from the cross on the right. Joe Dunne playing at centre-back headed over from an eighth minute corner before he found Ben Wood on the left who fired over. Wood, who’s returned to the Rangers after an absence last season, was involved again in the 36th minute turning well and nearly finding the right-side of the goal with his curling effort.
Although Town worked the ball well at the back looking to build attacks, they only found their forward play thwarted by the rangers defence. Blissett and Onyeka combined once again with a ball over the top for the winger leading to a cross back, but the striker couldn’t find the ball with his head. The number nine went wide minutes later as he looked evermore a threat before Onyeka’s low shot was held easily by Jenkins.
Half time came about without Belford worked and forced to make a save as Hill swapped him out for 17-year-old Jack Sandel who made his first team debut at the end of last season. Ethan Morgan, also retained recently for the Rangers, and Kaiman Anderson joined the youngster on the pitch as the game resumed.
Sandel was called into action holding a cross from the right in what was a quiet second half. Anderson’s header at close-range was held by Jenkins in the 53rd minute as Matt Hill turned to youth as the quiet 45 continued.
With half an hour gone in the second half Stafford Town had a penalty appeal turned down before substitute Ben Herrington shot wide a minute later looking to test the goal. The youngster came closest of anyone in the 86th minute as his volley hit the left-side woodwork rebounding away to safety for the Reds.
The home side’s effort in the 82nd minute didn’t threaten Sandel enough in goal to force a save unlike Ethan Morgan with his optimistic effort on the turn at the other end. The forward blasted a powerful strike towards goal and forced a good save from the Town keeper diving to his right.
Young Fletcher Rushbury found himself with a golden opportunity running through on goal late on in the half but fired straight at Jenkins in goal who saved well with his legs.
That brought an end to the pre-season clash between the local sides, and neither team can be disappointed with the way it played out. For Town, they reduced the Rangers to just one goal in the game while Hill’s Boro begin their pre-season campaign season with a win, and plenty got a good run out on the field.
