Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Monday 26 December 2017
Massiah McDonald scored the only goal of the game as Stafford Rangers ended a two month wait for a home win with a Boxing Day victory over Stourbridge.
The visitors made a strong start and, in the first five minutes, saw Aaron Forde stuff a shot wide after Darryl Westlake and Matt Dodd had linked well on the right then Leon Broadhurst headed straight at Adam Whitehouse.
Rangers were gifted a great opportunity when Westlake’s slip let in Massiah McDonald but, as he broke into the area, the ball took a bobble, causing him to badly miscue.
Rangers survived a scare when Matt Dodd went to ground under a challenge from Kai Davis. The assistant raised his flag but referee Jack Neild waved away Stourbridge’s penalty appeals.
Kaman Anderson probably should have done better when he went just wide, the Stourbridge forward had more time than he gave himself.
But, after the visitors had enjoyed the better of the first 15 mins, Rangers came more into the contest. Dan Westwood won a free kick when he was pulled back by Stuart Pierpoint – the former Rangers defender receiving a yellow card – but the free kick came to nothing.
After Robert Thompson-Brown had shot deflected wide off Aris Christophorou, Pierpoint had to make a sliding interception to keep out McDonald.
A poor pass from Josh Craddock set up Tonks but Whitehouse saved Craddock’s blushes, racing off his line to make the block.
Stourbridge continued to create the better chances as the first half drew to a close with Whitehouse keeping out a deflected shot from Pierpoint and twice punching clear as the visitors pressed from a corner.
Anderson fired over early in the second half after Rangers struggled to clear their lines but Rangers were getting stronger.
McDonald fired over from 20 yards then floated in a cross from the left that skimmed off the head of Dan Whitehouse and just evaded Izak Reid at the back post.
Leon Broadhurst had the ball in the back of the Rangers net on 69 mins but his effort was ruled out for offside.
Instead, it was Rangers who were to find the break through when Richard Batchelor supplied McDonald and he squeezed his shot through the legs of Westlake and beyond the reach of Matt Gould.
Another big decision went Rangers’ way when Dodd was booked for simulation in the Rangers area after a challenge from Davis.
Stourbridge kept pushing for an equaliser but Paul McCone’s header was held by Whitehouse and Josh Green fired wide.
The last chance of the afternoon saw Westlake shoot over and Rangers were able to celebrate their first league win in five.
Rangers: 1 Adam Whitehouse , 2 Izak Reid, 3 Kai Davis, 4 Kieran Morris, 5 Mat Bailey, 6 Jordan Brown, 7 Josh Craddock, 8 Robert Thompson-Brown (15 Michael Calveley 86), 9 Dan Westwood (12 Karl Hawley 66), 10 Massiah McDonald, 11 Richard Batchelor. Unused Subs 14 Osebi Abadaki, 16 Joe Thomas, 17 Jack Sherratt
Stourbridge: 1 Matt Gould, 2 Aris Christophorou, 3 Darryl Westlake, 4 Paul McCone, 5 Stuart Pierpoint, 6 Aaron Forde(12 Josh Green 70), 7 Matt Dodd, 8 Leon Broadhurst, 9 Josh Cooke (14 Brandon Hague 65), 10 Kaman Anderson (16 Alex Cameron 85), 11 Tom Tonks. Unused subs 15 Louis Hall, 17 Peter Hawk
Cautions: Craddock, Davis, McDonald (Rangers), Pierpoint, Forde, Dodd (Stourbridge)
Ref Jack Nield
Att 944
Chris Elsley
