Stafford Rangers 3 Nantwich Town 0
Sep 26, 2017

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League

Tuesday 26 September 2017

Stafford Rangers responded to Neil Kitching’s demands with a comfortable three goal victory over Nantwich Town.

Kitching made four changes to the side that started against Shaw Lane three days earlier with debutant Kieren Westwood among the players coming in.

Rangers got off to the perfect start when skipper Mat Bailey put his side in front in just the 2nd minute, heading home from Jack Sherratt’s corner.

Richard Gregory went close to a second a couple of minutes later when he headed inches wide at the back post.

Dan Westwood had three chances in quick succession but missed out each time. First, he was kept out by Fabian Spiess after being sent away by Richard Batchelor.

The Nantwich keeper deflected another Westwood chance just wide after a super through ball from Josh Craddock then he hooked the ball in to the arms of Spiess from the resulting corner.

Craddock also headed wide in that spell and the inevitable second goal soon followed.

It was an excellent ball out of defence from Jordaan Brown that launched the attack and as the defender stood off, Osebi Abadaki took his chance to drill the ball past Spiess on 20 mins.

Nantwich were gifted a way back into the game on the half hour when Brown was harshly penalised when Harry Clayton went to ground in the area but Sean Cooke sent his spot kick against the underside of the bar and Rangers cleared.

But the Dabbers had their spirits lifted and for a time Rangers looked a little rattled but Jordan Davies’ shot into the side betting was as close as they came to a goal and Rangers were able to weather the brief storm.

The visitors were first to show after the break with Cooke going wide from a free kick. Sub Troy Bourne hit a low shot which flicked up off Adam Whitehouse’s right foot and Bailey was required to clear.

But Rangers who struck with their first real attack of the second half just past the hour.

Batchelor chased and caught ball own the line from Brown and his cross was brought down by Gregory and with a quick turn he fired past Spiess to make it 3-0 on 62 mins.

A poor clearance presented Westwood with another chance to get his name on the score sheet but Spiess saved.. Sherratt and Westwood both had follow up shots blocked by Casper Hughes.

Moments later, the Nantwich defender headed off the line from Bailey.

Bailey, a former Nantwich player, then kept his old team at bay with a goal line stoppage to deny Clayton as Rangers recorded their first league win in seven.

Rangers: 1 Adam Whitehouse, 2 Sam Griffiths, 3 Kieren Westwood, 4 Jordaan Brown, 5 Mat Bailey, 6 Josh Craddock, 7 Osebi Abadaki (12 Kai Davis 84m), 8 Jack Sherratt, 9 Dan Westwood, 10 Richard Gregory (15 Izak Reid 78m), 11 Richard Batchelor. Unused subs 14 Levi Reid, 16 Louis Briscoe, 17 Joe Thomas

Nantwich: 1 Fabian Spiess, 2 Casper Hughes, 3 Jamie Morgan, 4 Joel Stair, 5 Clayton McDonald (15 Troy Bourne 50m), 6 Sam Hall, 7 Jordan Davies, 8 Matthew Bell (12 Toby Mullarkey 45+3m), 9 Harry Clayton, 10 Sean Cooke, 11 Nathan Cotterell (16 David Forbes 60m) Unused subs 13 Krystian Burzynski, 14 Sam Phillips

Cautions: Craddock, Batchelor (Rangers), Stair, McDonald (Nantwich)

Referee: Simon Brown

Att: 412

Chris Elsley

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NPL Premier Division

Stafford Rangers v Workington AFC

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