29th August 2020 – Home

Report by Alan Gee

A competitive second leg of” El Staffico” saw the hosts come out with an aggregate 3-2 victory as Stafford won 2-1. Rangers edged the early part before Hednesford took the lead, on 11 minutes, with Dan Turner out-muscling the Rangers Trialist defender as he ran on to slide past Lewis King for a well taken opener. On 23 minutes Rangers drew level after Jamie Sleigh was brought down by Preston after a great through ball and Sleigh got up to convert the equalising penalty. With the game being tightly contested, chances were at a premium, with Glover heading straight at King, while Boro’s best efforts were a blocked Sleigh shot and a wide header by Candlin from a dangerous cross.

In the second half Hednesford had the first chance, as Bailey headed over before Rangers went ahead on 56 minutes when sub Callum Coyle played a slide rule pass down the right channel and Sleigh expertly finished for his second of the game, firing across Whycherley. There was then a spell when Rangers made 5 changes in a few minutes and Rangers still looked more likely to extend that lead but Hednesford held them at bay while their closest chance fell to Bailey whose header was cleared for another Stafford break, Turner came close to getting his second and an equaliser for Pitmen as he took down the ball and controlled then shot just past the post, while a deep cross from the Boro left was headed from under the Hednesford bar and sub Andre Johnson fired well over when well placed.

Both sides show signs of settling, some two weeks after their first encounter and signs are, they will both be competitive outfits in the coming season.

Rangers– King, Coulson, D.Burns (Trialist), Trialist (Trialist), Trialist, Sebbeh-Njie, Harvey, Keane (Kenton), Thorley (Trialist), Candlin, Sleigh (Johnson 58)

Hednesford Starting XI – Whycherley, Thompson, Lycett, Bailey, Preston, Smith, Norcross, Dodd, Glover, Dodds, Turner.

Att 300 – Star Man Jamie Sleigh (Stafford)