Evo-Stik Northern Premier League

Saturday 31 March 2018

Stafford Rangers’ seven match unbeaten run came to an end thanks to a late winner from Grantham sub Jordan Hempenstall.

After an unproductive but keenly contested opening, Rangers got their noses in front on 12 mins through Osebi Abadaki.

The wide man latched on to a long ball from Kieran Morris and outwitted Tom Batchelor before beating former Bpro keeper Kieran Preston at his near post.

The goal put Rangers firmly in command and Abadaki went close again a couple of minutes later, firing over from 20 yards, before Kyle Perry was denied twice in quick succession – his first shot blocked by Tom Potts then his second effort was clawed away by Preston.

Robert Thompson-Brown also fired over but Grantham became more threatening with Danny Meadows side footing a volley wide. Mohammed Hakeem also fired wide but Grantham’s pressure was rewarded 10 mins before the interval. Lee Shaw got behind his man and squared the ball into the goalmouth. The immediate danger seemed to have been averted as the ball by passed Makeem but Kieren Westwood’s attempted clearance merely rebounded off Meadows and over Adam Whitehouse to bring the scores level.

Grantham came out sharper at the start of the second half but a shot and a header from Shaw didn’t really trouble Whitehouse. At the other end, Massiah McDonald fired across the face of the Grantham goal after Dan Vann had intercepted a poor ball from Preston.

Both sides went within a whisker of taking the lead when they struck the crossbar – a tremendous drive from Michael Hollingsworth crashed back off the Stafford bar via the faintest of touches from Whitehouse before Curtis Burrows put the rebound high over. At the other end, Boro skipper Josh Craddock saw his header hit the Grantham bar from Thompson-Brown corner.

The visitors immediately broke away with a solo run from Jack McGovern but his shot went wide.

It was the visitors who looked the most likely winners in the closing stages. Meadows, Shaw and Batchelor all went close before the threat went away thanks to the linesman’s flag.

The pressure finally told and Grantham got their goal in the 89th minute as Hempenstall side footed home from close range after the Rangers’ defence had failed to cut out Andrew Wright’s square ball.

There was still time for some late drama as Grantham’s Batchelor, already cautioned for a foul on Perry, saw a straight red for an elbow on the Stafford striker but it was too late for the home side to take advantage.

Rangers 1 Adam Whitehouse, 2 Dan Vann, 3 Kieren Westwood, 4 Kieran Morris, 5 Jordaan Brown, 6 Josh Craddock, 7 Massiah McDonald (14 Tyrell Waite 86m), 8 Jack Sherratt, 9 Kyle Perry, 10 Robert Thompson-Brown, 11 Osebi Abadaki. Unused Subs: 12 Sam Griffiths, 15 Levi Reid, 16 Kai Davis, 17 Riley Stephenson

Grantham: 1 Kieran Preston, 2 Tom Potts, 3 Oliver Luto, 4 Michael Hollingsworth (14 Andrew Wright 77m), 5 Stefan Galinski, 6 Tom Batchelor, 7 Danny Meadows, 8 Jack McGovern, 9 Mohammed Hakeem (16 Jordan Hempenstall 77m), 10 Lee Shaw, 11 Curtis Burrows (12 Sam Osborne 86m). Unused subs: 15 Jack McMenemy, 17 Harry Vince

Cautions: Perry (Rangers), Batchelor, McGovern (Grantham)

Sent Off: Batchelor (Grantham)

Ref: Bradley Hall

Att: 563

Report Chris Elsley