Northern Premier League | Saturday 26 September 2020

Stafford Rangers were left still searching for their first point after defeat at Matlock Town, but it was a game that they could have picked up all three points. It was an all action first half with the home side spurning a hat full of chances in the opening 10 minutes. The best of them saw Liam Hughes skim the top of the bar while Andrew Bond headed over before Lewis King twice denied Callum Dolan with his feet.

Stafford, who had gone close themselves early on through Cieron Keane’s testing free kick, weathered the initial storm and proceeded to play the better football, creating the majority of opportunities in the process. Joe Cuff failed to make the most of a couple that came his way while Jamie Sleigh and Callum Coyle also had a couple of openings.

Another Keane free kick caused further problems in the Matlock defence but, following a scramble, Sam Coulson hit his shot at a Matlock defender and the home side were able to clear their lines.

An error from Michael Williams let in Dolan for Matlock but the defender’s blushes were spared when the eventual shot went high over. Stafford failed to maintain their authority in the second half and the home side were rewarded for early pressure when Liam Hughes stooped to head the opening goal on 61 minutes after Rangers had failed to clear Declan Walker’s free kick. The writing had been on the wall as Matlock had already gone close through Reece Kendall and a couple of efforts from Danny Greenfield.

It was substitute Greenfield who made it 2-0 on 72 minutes when he was allowed to embark on a solo run from the centre of the park before out muscling Ben Forrest and unleashing a fierce drive past King. Matlock were reduced to 10 men on 74 minutes when Kayde Coppin picked up two yellow cards within 10 minutes of coming on – both for fouls on King – but that counted against Stafford as the home side sat back and successfully defended their lead without any trouble.

Matlock Town: 1 Shaun Rowley, 2 Adam Yates, 3 Reece Kendall, 4 Sam Egerton, 5 Ryan Qualter, 6 Mark Lees, 7 Callum Dolan (14 Kayde Coppin 64m), 8 Spencer Harris, 9 Liam Hughes, 10 Andrew Bond (15 Danny Greenfield 55m), 11 Declan Walker. Unused Subs: 12 Alex Byrne, 16 Osebi Abadaki, 17 Jake Hull.

Stafford Rangers: 1 Lewis King, 2 Michael Williams, 3 Cieran Keane (17 Josh Williams 82m), 4 Sam Coulson, 5 Ben Forrest, 6 Alex Ray Harvey, 7 Joe Cuff, 8 Tom Thorley (16 Mo Sebbah-Njie 71m), 9 Jamie Sleigh, 10 Callum Coyle, 11 Joe Kenton. Unused Subs 12 Reece Jones, 14 Tom Carr, 15 Matt Hill

Ref: Elliott Kaye
Cautions: Hughes, Greenfield (Matlock)
Sent Off: Coppin (Matlock) – 2 cautions
Goals: Matlock – Hughes 61, Greenfield 72

Attendance: 453

Report by Chris Elsley