Stafford Rangers 3 Wolverhampton Sporting Community 1
Tuesday 17 April 2018
Stafford Rangers set up a fitting farewell for departing manager Neil Kitching as they booked themselves a place in the Staffs Senior Cup final with a hard fought victory over Wolverhampton Sporting.
Rangers had to battle hard to see off a Wolves side who showed why they have dominated the West Midlands Regional League this season, scoring 120 goals in just 30 games, but ultimately the three division gap between the two sides proved too much.
Rangers got off to the perfect start when Jack Sherratt fired them ahead in the 5th minute. The goal came after Kieren Westwood and Massiah McDonald had linked well on the left. Westwood’s centre was only half cleared and bounced up nicely for Sherratt who hooked the ball home from just outside the area.
Wolves Sporting were a lively side showing pace up front with Jon Letford showing pace on the left and making a number of runs into the Rangers’ area.
One such advance saw Letford threaten as he ran on to Angelo Franco’s flick but his touch let him down allowing Jordaan Brown to clear the danger.
Sporting’s best chance of the first half came in the 25th minute. Tom Hill hooked a long ball from Dan Scraggs back to Dimitri Dunkley. His first shot was spilled by Adam Whitehouse. Dunkley was quickest to the rebound but the Rangers keeper raced out to make sure he made the block.
For Rangers, Robert Thompson-Brown went close when he curled one over from around 22 yards then Kyle Perry twice missed out in a matter of seconds first from a Thompson-Brown corner then a cross from the same player.
But Perry was not to be denied and three minutes before the interval he glanced home Rangers’ second from Sherratt’s inswinging free kick.
Tyrell Waite tried to add a spectacular third early in the second half with an overhead kick but was instead the provider on 55 mins with some excellent play to beat Degville-Cross. Dale Reaney made the block but could not prevent McDonald from making it 3-0 with a simple tap in.
Rangers lost some discipline picking up three yellow cards in a five minute spell and Wolves reduced the arrears on 66 mins Dunkley supplying Letford who slotted past the advancing Whitehouse.
The same two players were involved a minute later but this time Letford created the chance for Dunkley who fired inches wide.
Sherratt had a shot saved by Reaney and Degville-Cross kept out McDonald’s stunning volley with a brave block though he may not have known too much about it.
Jak Barnes missed a good opportunity to pull another back for Wolves when he missed the target at the far post following a corner while Kieren Westwood was forced to clear off the line from Barnes.
Rangers missed chances of their own in the final minutes when Thompson-Brown blazed over then Reaney was forced to go full stretch to his left to turn away a shot from Waite but they had done enough to secure an meeting with local rivals Hednesford Town at Stoke City’s BET 365 ground next Tuesday.
Rangers: 1 Adam Whitehouse, 2 Sam Griffiths, 3 Kieren Westwood, 4 Levi Reid, 5 Jordaan Brown, 6 Josh Craddock, 7 Tyrell Waite, 8 Jack Sherratt, 9 Kyle Perry, 10 Robert Thompson-Brown, 11 Massiah McDonald (15 Joe Thomas 90+2m). Unused subs 12 Kieran Morris, 14 Richard Gregory, 16 Lucas Burnett, 17 Riley Stephenson
Wolverhampton: 1 Dale Reaney, 2 Chadd Degville-Cross, 3 Jamal Fuller, 4 Kieron Northwood, 5 Jak Barnes, 6 Mitch Clarke, 7 Dimitri Dunkley, 8 Angelo Franco, 9 Tom Hill, 10 Dan Scraggs (14 Chadd Birch 75m), 11 Jon Letford. Unused Subs: 12 Wes Grey, 15 Curtis Ellis, 16 Alex Moore, 17 Ben Perks
Cautions: Reid, Craddock, Thompson-Brown (Rangers); Degville-Cross, Fuller, Northwood, Barnes (Wolves Sporting)
Referee: Jamie Howe
Att: 292
Report: Chris Elsley
