Northern Premier League
Tuesday 27 October 2020
Stafford Rangers’ problems at the foot of the Northern Premier League deepened with a heavy defeat at home to Atherton Collieries and, to add to the Boro’s woes, they had Joe Cuff sent off midway through the second half.
It was even stevens while the scores were level and Rangers could even count themselves unlucky not to have been given an early advantage when Atherton keeper Danny Taberner got caught in possession on the edge of his area under pressure from Cuff. Appeals for handball outside the area against the visiting keeper fell on deaf ears as the referee waved play on.
Earlier, Callum Coyle had wasted a good chance when well placed on the edge of the area – his shot going high and wide. Atherton had a penalty claim waved away when Gareth Peet went to ground but it was Rangers who looked the most likely to open the scoring as Coyle ended a smart move with a shot that was deflected wide.
Atherton grabbed the opening goal of the evening on 29 minutes. Ben Conway linked with Marcus Cusani to put Elliot Rokka away on the right, stretching the Rangers’ defence and Dylan Glass was on hand to finish off from close range.
For a side who has only managed two league goals all season – one of them being an own goal – the psychological effect of falling a goal behind was clear for all to see. Less than two minutes after their opener, Atherton broke clear through Conway and only a good block from Lewis King prevented the visitors from extending their lead.
Danny Lafferty’s header past King was ruled out due to a foul but Atherton extended their lead a minute into added time via a deflected free kick from Rokka after Liam Langford had inexplicably conceded possession just inside the Stafford half.
The second half commenced with Sam Coulson on as a replacement for Langford, but things did not improve as Atherton created the early chances with Peet’s free kick hitting the side netting and Cusani shooting over after cutting in from the left. Mitch Candlin’s ball over the top of the Atherton defence almost put Cuff in but Taberner came out of his area to win the race and clear the danger. Soon after, Taberner beat Cuff to another 50-50. The Stafford man caught the keeper, but the yellow card shown was harsh.
Less than four minutes after the first yellow, the same two players were involved in yet another 50-50 and Taberner’s theatrical antics saw Cuff dismissed for a second yellow. An already tough task then became an almost impossible one when Atherton extended their lead still further as Rick Smith’s back post header following Vinny Bailey’s deep free kick found its way past King.
The final score could have been worse had there been a visiting player to finish off Peet’s square ball or sub Niall Battersby not been denied by King. For Rangers, their evening was summed up by the fact that it took until two minutes into added time for them to create an effort on target but Candlin’s header was straight at Taberner.
Stafford Rangers: 1 Lewis King, 2 Liam Langford (14 Sam Coulson 29m), 3 Joe Kenton, 4 Ben Forrest, 5 Dan Burns, 6 John Welsh, 7 Reece Jones (16 Cieron Keane 53m), 8 Alex-Ray Harvey, 9 Joe Cuff, 10 Callum Coyle (15 Michael Williams 77m), 11 Mitch Candlin. Unused Subs: 12 Aaron Cole, 17 Matt Hill
Atherton Collieries: 1 Danny Taberner, 2 Clive Smith, 3 Gareth Peet, 4 Danny Lambert, 5 Danny Lafferty, 6 Rick Smith, 7 Ben Conway (16 Jack Lenehan 71m), 8 Vinny Bailey, 9 Dylan Glass (12 Jordan Darr 74m), 10 Elliot Rokka (15 Jack Banister 81m), 11 Marcus Cusani. Unused Subs: 13 Elliot Wynne, 14 Niall Battersby
Ref: Steve Durnall
Cautions: Langford, Welsh (Rangers)
Sent Off: Joe Cuff – two cautions (Rangers)
Goals: Atherton Collieries: Glass 29, Rokka 45+1, R Smith 72
Attendance: 457
Report by Chris Elsley
