Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Tuesday 20 February 2018
Stafford Rangers finally laid one of their bogey teams to rest on Tuesday night by beating Rushall Olympic in a league game. It was the 10th time that the two sides had met in league action and though Rangers had a good record against the Pics in cup ties, they had lost seven of the previous nine encounters in the Northern Premier League. Rangers had Robert Thompson-Brown back after suspension and also recalled Levi Reid to the starting line up with Jack Sherratt and Joe Thomas dropping to the bench.
The game got off to a scrappy start with players losing their footing frequently. After a couple of half chances at either end it was Boro captain Josh Craddock who had the first meaningful effort on goal when he fired over from around 15 yards after a scuffed shot from Levi Reid. Andre Landell did well to get in a shot on the turn following a Josh Webb free kick but Adam Whitehouse was able to claim the ball just inside his near post.
Stafford’s Thompson-Brown and Rushall’s Joshua Sermento both had shots deflected for corners while Jordaan Brown had to act to prevent Daniel Dubidat closing in on goal but neither keeper was being really tested. Then, Kyle Perry played Izak Reid in behind the defence but Rushall keeper Joe Slinn – on loan from Port Vale – came off his line quickly to block.
In the final minute, Rushall had a golden opportunity to open the scoring when Josh Hawker’s free kick picked out Simeon Maye but his outstretched foot could only steer the ball through to Whitehouse. It was an expensive miss as Rangers countered immediately on the right and when the ball fell kindly to Izak Reid, he made no mistake in firing past Slinn from around 12 yards.
The lead was nearly thrown away early in the second half when a poor back pass from Josh Craddock nearly put Dubidat in but Whitehouse was alert to the danger and raced off his line to clear. Seconds later, Dubidat headed over. At the other end, Slinn made a good block to deny Massiah McDonald who had been played in by Thompson-Brown.
Sherratt – on for the injured Craddock – was causing Rushall problems in midfield and forced an error from Hawker but McDonald was unable to take advantage. Midway through the second half, Rushall got back on level terms. A soft free kick conceded on the Rangers left saw Hawker’s in swinging kick met by the glancing header of Maye, beating Whitehouse to his left.
But Rangers were soon back in front. On 71 mins, Sherratt won possession just inside the Rushall half, McDonald flicked on and Perry drove home from the just inside the area for his first goal since rejoining the club. Izak Reid almost added a third a couple of minutes later but Slinn turned it around the post for a corner. Rangers looked largely in control although Maye wasted a great chance to level when he got behind Kieren Westwood only to pop a tame shot into the arms of Whitehouse.
Rushall: 1 Joe Slinn, 2 Joshua Webb, 3 Brian Smikle, 4 Simeon Maye, 5 Joe Hull, 6 Sam Whittall, 7 Joshua Sermento (14 Gurjit Singh 58m), 8 Joshua Hawker, 9 Daniel Dubidat (17 Lewis Archer 65m), 10 Andre Landell (15 Jordan Sangha 65m), 11 Daniel Waldron. Unused Subs 12 AJ Adelekan, 16 Mathis Fonovich
Rangers: 1 Adam Whitehouse, 2 Dan Vann, 3 Kieren Westwood, 4 Kieran Morris, 5 Jordaan Brown, 6 Josh Craddock (12 Jack Sherratt 56m), 7 Izak Reid, 8 Levi Reid, 9 Kyle Perry, 10 Robert Thompson-Brown, 11 Massiah McDonald (17 Sam Griffiths 90+3m). Unused Subs 14 Joe Thomas, 15 Dan Westwood, 16 Richard Platt
Cautions: Hawker (Rushall)
Ref: Darren Wilding
Att 266
Report: Chris Elsley
