Integro League Cup Round 3

Tuesday 6 March 2018

Stafford Rangers went out of the Integro League Cup after throwing away a two goal lead at home to Coalville Town.

Both sides named strong line ups after a 10 day break from action due to the weather and it was the visitors who were quickest out of the blocks with a couple of half chances inside the opening 10 minutes. The best came after Tom McGlinchey set up Nathan Watson but he barely made contact with the ball. Somewhat fortuitously, the ball ran back to McGlinchey but he sliced his shot wide when he should have hit the target.

Instead, Rangers took the lead with their first real attempt on goal and Robert Thompson-Brown showed the opposition how to finish with a clever free kick from 25 yards out. With everyone seemingly expecting Thompson-Brown to float the ball into the crowded area, the midfielder saw his opportunity and struck his free kick around the outside of the wall and beyond the reach of Elliot Taylor.

Coalville almost levelled as Rangers struggled to defend a free kick and the home side were relieved when Kieren Westwood’s clearance rebounded off Dan Creaney and just wide of the post. Watson produced some quality on the Coalville right, working hard to keep possession while also benefiting from a couple of ricochet’s but when he eventually got his shot in, Adam Whitehouse kept it out with his foot. Creaney then missed another good chance for Coalville with a miskick before Rangers once again produced the goods.

Thompson-Brown was again involved with some good play to win possession then he laid off to Kyle Perry who hammered his shot past Taylor from 25 yards out. The visitors weren’t out of the contest and threatened again and though McGlinchey was unable to convert at the near post on 41 mins, they scrambled the ball home from the resultant corner with Alex Dean credited with the final touch.

With the last kick of the first half, McGlinchey fired straight at Whitehouse but trouble was brewing as the players left the pitch resulting in cautions for Levi Reid and Danny Jenno. Rangers opened brightly after the break as Thompson-Brown opened up a chance for Levi Reid who struck wide from just outside the area, then the Joe Thomas’ shot failed to match a promising run as the ball swung so far wide it went for a throw in.

But it was Coalville who were to strike next as Rangers once again failed to deal with a 52nd minute corner and Creaney hooked the ball home from 15 yards. Two minutes later, Creaney forced a save from Whitehouse, low to his right then the Boro keeper kept out Watson who had cut in from the Coalville left.

Another chance for Creaney went begging as Rangers somehow managed to get the ball away for a corner when the goal seemed certain. Coalville were now looking the most likely victors but Rangers were not without chances of their own. Jack Sherratt fired over, Thompson-Brown’s well struck drive was parried by Taylor and Izak Reid drilled into the side netting.

With the game looking set for penalties, Coalville’s recent signing Jake Woolley found some space in the Rangers area and drilled his shot under Whitehouse to put his side ahead with a minute of normal time remaining.

There was still time for Rangers to have grabbed an equaliser but Taylor denied Kieren Westwood after he got behind the defence then the Coalville keeper kept out a good effort from Thomas to see his side through.

Rangers: 1 Adam Whitehouse, 2 Dan Vann (15 Sam Griffiths 63m), 3 Kieren Westwood, 4 Kieran Morris, 5 Jordaan Brown, 6 Josh Craddock (12 Jack Sherratt 63m), 7 Izak Reid, 8 Levi Reid, 9 Kyle Perry, 10 Robert Thompson-Brown, 11 Joe Thomas. Unused Subs 14 Dan Westwood, 16 Tyrell Waite, 17 Brad Caswell

Coalville: 1 Elliot Taylor, Cleveland Taylor, 3 Lee Torr, 4 Danny Jenno, 5 Dean Freeman, 6 Jermaine Hollis, 7 Alex Dean (15 Jake Woolley 79m), 8 Alex Howes, 9 Dan Creaney, 10 Nathan Watson, 11 Tom McGlinchey. Unused Subs 12 Jacob Spence, 13 Phil Smith, 14 Nathaniel Dixon (only four subs named)

Cautions: L Reid (Rangers), C Taylor, Jenno (Coalville)

Referee: Scott Chalkley

Att: 145

Report: Chris Elsley