Newcastle Town v Stafford Rangers

Jul 9, 2022

Stafford Rangers were victorious in their second pre-season fixture against Newcastle Town at a sunny Lyme Valley Stadium.

Once again, Rangers fielded two separate sides with all ten outfield players being replaced at half time. Only keeper Cameron Belford remained on the field throughout.

The home side created the first opening with Ryan Baker’s header being pushed away by Belford.

Rangers responded a couple of minutes later with a rising shot from Alex-Ray Harvey that went a couple of inches over the Newcastle cross bar.

Kaiman Anderson should have put Rangers ahead on 21 minutes after being put through by Joe Willis but Newcastle keeper Joe Slinn made a good stop.

Harvey’s afternoon came to an early and painful end midway through the half with a foot injury that could force the Rangers’ captain out of this weekend’s match at Coleshill.

Newcastle were at their most dangerous from set pieces and went close again when Ethan Vale hit the foot of Belford’s left hand post with a free kick before Jack van der Laan put the rebound just wide.

Rangers opened the scoring six minutes before half time when No3 triallist threaded a pass through to Anderson who found some space before turning the ball past Slinn from the angle.

The all-changed Rangers went close to adding to their tally early in the second half with a shot from the No11 triallist curled his shot just wide after linking well with Jack Baxter.

Belford pushed away a Vale free kick while a corner from the Newcastle man flashed across the face of the Stafford goal. As the home side kept searching for a goal, Belford did just enough to keep out Mikey Conlon’s dipping shot.

Rangers’ second goal of the afternoon came on 64 minutes following some good play on the right hand side. Andy Burns played in Jaiden White who, in turn, picked out triallist 11 to score from close range.

Newcastle couldn’t find a way back. Connor Russo came closest to reducing the arrears ten minutes from the end but Belford tipped over.

 

Newcastle Town: 1 Joe Dlinn, Joe Hurst, Connor Russo, Ethan Vale, James Askey, Luke Dennis, Will Lloyd, Tommy van der Laan, Ryan Baker, Jack van der Laan, Mikey Conlon. Subs including Callum Parker, Ollie Torjussen

Rangers
First Half: Cameron Belford, Trialist, Triallist, Alex-Ray Harvey (Triallist 24m), Ethan Stewart, Louis Morrison, Joe Kenton, Joe Willis, Kaiman Anderson, Trialist, Theo Bailey-Jones

Second Half: Cameron Belford, Andy Burns, Trialist (Triallist 82m), Triallist, Ben Forrest, Joe Dunne, Jaiden White, Tom Tonks, Theo Bailey-Jones, Jayden Hunter-Bailey, Jack Baxter, Trialist

Ref: James Scerri

Report: Chris Elsley

 

Stafford Town v Stafford Rangers

Jul 2, 2022

Stafford Rangers opened their pre-season programme with a short trip to Evans Park to face Stafford Town and it was the home side who triumphed thanks to two first half goals.

But there was no panic after the game from Rangers’ manager Matt Hill who used the match to give 22 players a 45 minute run out with an entirely different XI taking to the field in the second half.

A combination of signed first teamers, academy players and trialists made up the two XIs with Rangers’ fans getting their first look at new signings Cameron Belford, Jack Baxter and Joe Willis. The only player missing from the afternoon was Kaiman Anderson (holiday).

Impressing for Town was right winger Nathan Scott and he was involved in the move that saw Ryan Taylor put Town in front on 21 minutes following Josh Wilson’s cross.

Former Rangers’ player Declan Arber made it 2-0 to Town on 38 minutes – amid unsuccessful claims of handball – when he beat keeper Aidan Jeynes to the ball and rolled it into an empty net.

Rangers’ only shot on target in the first 45 minutes came from Baxter who tried his luck with a drive from outside the area that was parried away by Town keeper Zak Noble.

Academy player Fletcher Rushbury had a couple of chances to get his name on the scoresheet in the second half while Willis saw a shot deflected wide of the target but there was no addition to half time score.

Town:
Zak Noble, Matt Dudley, Henry Smith, Charlie Swingwood, Ben Douglas, Josh Wilson, Nathan Scott, Matt Wood, Declan Arber, Kaz Danilian, Ryan Taylor. Subs Joe Newey, Josh Oultran, Josh Wilson, Will Bates, Callum White

Rangers
First Half: Aidan Jaynes, Andy Burns, Trialist, Will Holt, Ethan Stewart, Ben Forrest, Louis Wright, Tom Tonks, Theo Bailey-Jones, Jack Baxter, Trialist

Second Half: Cameron Belford, Trialist, Joe Dunne, Alex-Ray Harvey, Taylor Draper, Louis Morrison, Joe Kenton, Joe Willis, Jayden Hunter-Baile, Trialist, Trialist