Sutton Coldfield 2 – 1 Stafford Rangers
Oct 29, 2019
Match Report
Sutton Coldfield 2 – 1 Stafford Rangers
Buildbase FA Trophy 1st Qualifying Round | Saturday 26 October 2019 Report by Chris Elsley
Attendance | Attendance: 196
Stafford Rangers were dumped out of the FA Trophy at the first hurdle by NPL South East Division strugglers Sutton Coldfield Town. It was a poor display from Stafford who never really got going apart from a brief spell at the start of the second half. Rangers were missing Joe Berks who was still struggling with the injury picked up at Basford last week and Josh Green who was unwell but there was a return for captain Luke Jones after injury had kept him out of the previous two games. The home side had slightly the better of a scrappy opening and produced the game’s first effort on goal when Isai Marselia clipped in the ball from the left-hand side of the area, but Reece Leek’s shot thundered into Matt Hill and wide for a corner. Referee Tom Elliot played a good advantage when Jones pulled back Marselia but there was no one to add the finishing touch as the Sutton man drilled a low centre across the Rangers’ area. Referee: Tom Elliot Cautions: J Burns (Stafford)
Soon after, Marselia should have done better with a free header from Chinedu Okoro’s left wing cross but sent the ball well wide. It took 20 minutes for Rangers to produce their first effort on goal, Jack Sherratt advancing from the halfway line to set up Andy Haworth who drilled wide of the target. Sutton created a couple more half chances for Marselia and Reece Gibson while Rangers almost found a way through for Jack Sherratt, but a largely forgettable half ended goalless. Rangers were forced to make a change at half time with the struggling Jones replaced by Josh Burns but they took the early initiative as Haworth forced Sutton keeper Lewis Gwilliams into his first save of the afternoon with a 25 yard drive just a couple of minutes after the resumption. Encouraged, Rangers took the lead on 51 minutes through loanee Bradley Grayson who netted his fourth goal in four games. A foul throw by Aris Christophorou proved costly as Sutton conceded possession and, from the attacking position, Sherratt centred from the by-line and Grayson glanced in via the far post. But Sutton were soon back on level terms. Just four minutes after Rangers’ opener, an uncharacteristic error from Hill allowed Reece Leek to launch a counterattack and, after an exchange with Marselia, he clipped the ball over the exposed Lewis King. Gibson missed the chance to put Sutton in front a couple of minutes later when he went clear and King only half stopped the ball, but Gibson didn’t spot the opportunity and the danger was eventually cleared. But Gibson made no mistake with a far easier task on 63 mins when he tapped in from close range after Jordan Francis had played the ball back from Leek’s cross - although Rangers could rightfully question a free kick given against them in the build-up. Rangers had one good chance to level matters when Grayson was denied by Lewis Gwilliams but, overall, it was a disappointing performance which saw an early end to their FA Trophy dreams.
Sutton Coldfield Town: 1 Lewis Gwilliams, 2 Ben George, 3 Aris Christophorou, 4 Joe Halsall, 5 Regan Ganley, 6 James Beresford, 7 Chinedu Okoro (16 Jordan Francis 56m), 8 Ryan Shaw, 9 Isai Marselia (12 Edwin Ahenkorah 90+1m), 10 Reece Leek, 11 Reece Gibson (18 Charles Stanton 85m). Unused Subs: 14 Vinnie Dwyer, 15 Joel Powney, 17 James Harrison
Stafford Rangers: 1 Lewis King, 2 Paul Bignot, 3 Matt Hill, 4 Luke Jones (12 Josh Burns 46m), 5 Dan Burns, 6 Alex-Ray Harvey, 7 Andy Haworth, 8 Jack Sherratt, 9 Bradley Grayson, 10 Evan Garnett (16 Max Dixon 73m), 11 Jed Davies (15 Robert Thompson-Brown 67m). Unused Subs: 14 Louis Briscoe, 17 Ethan Stubbs

Resources

Events

  • Soul Sessions
  • Motown
  • Tribute Nights
  • Sportsman Evenings

Room Hire

  • Members Lounge
  • Stan Robinson Room
  • Jon Downing Suite
  • Chairman’s Suite

© Stafford Rangers Football Club 2019

Registered in England and Wales. Company Registration Number: 00168812

Next Match

(Sat)
3:00 pm
NPL Premier Division

Morpeth Town v Stafford Rangers

Match Report Sponsorship

Are you interested in sponsorship of all our match reports?

If so, please complete our form below and one of our sales team will contact you.

Share This