Boro beat Chasetown

Stafford Rangers U18’s boss Andy Turner has set his side a challenge to win the Midland Floodlit Youth League as they beat Chasetown 2-0 at Marston Road last Wednesday.

Miles Mawson and Ben Shaw found the net to give the Boro boys the home league win, their fourth in a row under Andy Turner.

The Rangers move up to 4th in the table, seven points adrift of top spot, but have three games in hand to the leaders and catch-up to play on some other sides.

Turner, the former Spurs and Ireland U21 has been impressed with what he’s seen so far and has challenged his side to make a title charge.

He said: “I’ve given the lads a challenge. I took this on when we were eighth and I just said let’s finish first or second.

It’s not about me, I help them but I want them to do something.

There’s loads of points being dropped around us in the league and there will be. We may drop some but it’s about consistency and being the best we can be.

And, if it’s still there to be won, then you go and win it. If we don’t then we’ve still done our best.

We take it one game at a time and the lads are enjoying it. I’m pleased for the guys, it’s four wins out of four.

Another clean sheet, two on the bounce and we’ve got a free week next week before the cup game.

It’s all good and there’s lots to look forward to.”

Goalscorer Ben Shaw impressed Turner, as well as Lewis Dodd from the bench as he returned from an injury vying to earn his spot back in the starting side.

“I think Ben did well and Lewis Dodd impressed when he came on.

He’s been waiting for his chance, he was away when we first got together and then injured.

I feel sorry for him a little bit because we’ve been winning and the forward players have been scoring.”

Things are on the up for the Boro boys and they’ll look to continue their fantastic form next Wednesday against Inkberrow in a cup clash.

“It was another hard-working, effective display where we had a little more quality than them in the end,” said Turner.

“There was lots of hard work and effort shown. We never looked like losing.”

In the first half, Miles Mawson opened the scoring after just over a minute of play. The full-back finished fantastically into the bottom left-corner of the goal from the right side of the box to give his side an early lead.

Chasetown came close later on, hitting the post and unlucky to be behind at the break.

In the second 45, Mawson looked for his second but shot wide before Ben Shaw doubled the home side’s advantage in the 64th minute. The winger fired home at close-range from the back post after a cross from Fletcher Rushbury on the right-side.

Skipper Jack Sandel was superb in front of the net when required, denying Chasetown with his feet in the 73rd minute. Though a quiet night for the goalkeeper, he was faultless when called into action.

Despite Chasetown’s best efforts and a late free-kick, the home side held on for the win. The victory was their fourth in a row after thrashing Walsall Wood 7-0 the previous week with confidence high, and everyone performing well.