Stafford Rangers v South Shields
Stafford Rangers brought the curtain down on their season with an emphatic victory over the league champions, South Shields, in front of a bumper final day crowd of 1,227.
Matt Hill named the same starting XI that had pocked up a hard earned victory at FC United of Manchester last week and they soon asserted their authority over Shields as Ethan Stewart powered home a header in just the 3rd minute – converting Tom Tonks’ corner.
Shields were dealt another blow when midfielder Robert Briggs hobbled off with injury after 10 minutes.
Rangers retained the upper hand and Tyreece Onyeka gave Blair Adams a tough time on the right.
The youngster was involved in a number of moves that saw Rangers threaten to extend their lead.
He missed one opening himself when he sliced wide before setting up a chance for Joe Willis which was blocked by Tom Broadbent.
Broadbent deflected another Willis shot out for a corner before Andy Burns headed over from Jack Baxter’s free kick.
Defender Burns was then on duty in a more familiar role to block a powerful shot from Dylan Mottley-Henry. It had taken the visitors half an hour to threaten the Stafford goal.
It was the start of a brief spell of pressure from Shields and Joe Kenton – continuing in his new role at right back – got in the way of Mackenzie Heaney’s shot.
Rangers finished the half on the search for a second goal.
Stewart headed wide, Kaiman Anderson was denied by the keeper then Willis failed to hit the target when well placed.
The first 15 minutes of the second half produced little goal mouth action until Burns put another header on to the roof of the Shields net.
Rangers finally got their second on 63 minutes when Anderson got behind Gary Liddle to collect a pass from Alex-Ray Harvey and poked the ball between the legs of Myles Boney.
Onyeka missed two more chances to get his name on the scoresheet while Baxter was kept out by the feet of Boney.
Onyeka was withdrawn on 78 minutes and before he had sat down his replacement Callum Saunders made it 3-0.
Tonks launched a trademark long throw from the right, Burns flicked on and Saunders was given a simple tap in.
Rangers should have made it 4-0 but Anderson chose to go for goal while team mates were in space in front of goal.
In a nice gesture, youth team keeper Jack Sandell made a late appearance as sub for Cam Belford as Stafford’s season finished on a high note.
The result sees Stafford finish in 12th place with just one defeat in their last 12 games and one goal conceded in the final five.
Stafford: 1 Cameron Belford (13 Jack Sandel87m), 2 Joe Kenton, 3 Joe Dunne, 4 Alex-Ray Harvey, 5 Ethan Stewart, 6 Andy Burns, 7 Tyreece Onyeka (16 Callum Saunders 78m), 8 Tom Tonks, 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 Joe Willis (15 Ethan Morgan 65m), 11 Jack Baxter. Unused Subs 12 Derek Ubah, 14 Nathan Blissett.
South Shields: 1 Myles Boney, 2 Dillon Morse, 3 Blair Adams (14 Jordy Mongoy 46m), 4 Gary Liddle, 5 Thomas Broadbent, 6 Martin Smith, 7 Jordan Hunter, 8 Robert Briggs (15 Jaoa Gomes 11m), 9 Dylan Mottley-Henry (12 Harry Gardiner 58m), 10 Mackenzie Heaney, 11 Darius Osei. Unused sub 16 Ademola Shokunbi – only 4 subs named
Cautions: Adams (South Shields)
Referee: Daniel Patterson
Att 1,227
Report Chris Elsley
Stafford Rangers v Whitby Town
Stafford Rangers will have breathed a sigh of relief after Saturday’s victory over Whitby Town all but secured their NPL Premier Division.
It was a deserved victory for Rangers but one which came at a price as central defender Jimmy O’Neill hobbled off with injury after just a quarter of an hour while Tom Tonks managed to see the game out despite taking a knock to the knee in the latter stages of the first half.
Joe Willis was first to try his luck with a shot on the turn in the first minute but the attacking midfielder sent his shot high over the bar.
A long ball out of defence from Whitby’s Aaron Braithwaite looked set to pick out visiting striker Bradley Fewster until O’Neill’s outstretched leg cut out the danger. The Stafford defender appeared to be in some discomfort and his afternoon came to an early end soon after.
But not before he had seen Kaiman Anderson head Stafford into a 9th minute lead. Anderson was first to Jack Baxter’s free kick to glance home past Shane Bland.
Anderson had a chance to double the lead when he was on the end of a flick from Willis but Bland was out quickly to block the attempted chip.
O’Neill’s departure gave Derek Ubah the opportunity for some action for the first time since mid November. Ubah rejoined the squad as cover following Ethan Stewart’s recent suspension and he looked like he had never been away with a solid performance at the heart of the Stafford defence.
Nathan Blissett was recalled to the starting line up and gave the forward line the aerial strength that has been lacking for much of the season.
Blissett had a chance with the ball at his feet after his flick on had hit Jamie Bramwell but he scuffed it wide.
Willis – still searching for his first goal in Stafford colours – had a number of chances to get off the mark but failed to hit the target with any of them.His best opportunity came just after the half hour but again it sailed high over the bar as did a well struck drive just before the break.Baxter also missed out when he volleyed over from the edge of the area.
As the half drew to a close, Tonks picked up his injury while defending a long throw from Harrison Beeden. Clearly struggling, he was then on the end of a couple of robust challenges from the opposition but managed to soldier on.
Whitby made a bright start to the second half. A good turn from Fewster took him away from Stewart before his run was ended by a foul challenge from Tonks. Preistley Griffiths’ free kick swung high and away from goal. Stewart then threw himself in to block a shot from Connor Simpson.
Stafford keeper Cam Belford was making his 500th appearance in senior football but it was his opposite number Bland who was the busier of the two custodians as he twice pushed away goal bound headers from Ubah.
Tonks posed less of a threat with two chances that fell his way – the first a tame shot then a looping header over the bar.
Whitby pressed for a late equaliser with Harry Green replacing Griffiths. The sub did well to dispossess Andy Burns but when he went to ground as Stewart came across to cover, all he got was a caution for his dive.
Whitby put in another late penalty claim when Ubah challenged Daniel Rowe but the referee showed no interest and Rangers were left to celebrate a league double over their North Yorkshire opponents and a third successive clean sheet.
Stafford: 1 Cameron Belford, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Joe Dunne, 4 Alex-Ray Harvey, 5 Ethan Stewart, 6 James O’Neill (16 Derek Ubah 16m), 7 Kaiman Anderson, 8 Tom Tonks, 9 Nathan Blissett, 10 Joe Willis (17 Ethan Morgan 82m), 11 Jack Baxter. Unused Subs 12 Tyreece Onyeka, 13 Kieran Boucher, 15 Callum Saunders
Whitby Town: 1 Shane Bland, 2 Harrison Beeden, 3 Jamie Bramwell, 4 Adam Gell, 5 Dan Rowe, 6 Priestley Griffiths (15 Harry Green 69m), 7 Aaron Braithwaite, 8 Jos Starr, 9 Bradley Fewster, 10 Connor Simpson, 11 Aaron Haswell. Unused Subs 12 Jonathon Franks, 14 Andre Bennett, 17 Nick Cranston – only four subs named
Referee: Jack Shepherd
Cautions: Blissett (Rangers) Rowe, Green (Whitby)
Att 627
Report by Chris Elsley
Stafford Rangers v Morpeth Town
It was stalemate at Marston Road as Stafford Rangers and Morpeth Town failed to produce a goal in an uninspiring game.
With no games taking place in the Premier League or EFL Championship, the day was deemed “Non League Day” with various clubs offering incentives to encourage new fans through the gates. Sadly, this was a poor advert and any fans witnessing NPL football for the first time may take a little persuasion to make a return visit.
Much of the blame for the lack of entertainment can be placed on the visitors who arrived with the sole intention of taking a point back to the north east, but considering that they are in a relegation battle, it was an understandable tactic.
Morpeth set out with five at the back and a midfield four. Rangers were more ambitious but they have often struggled to break down opposition defences and this game was no different.
Morpeth captain, Jeff Henderson was his side’s stand out player winning plenty of ball in the centre of defence while Stafford forward Nathan Blissett didn’t find the same success as he had at Liversedge last week.
The first half had passed its midway point before either side produced a shot on goal. Unsurprisingly, it came from Rangers but Jack Baxter’s effort from the edge of the area was always swinging away from goal at the Shed End.
Morpeth responded immediately but Connor Pye headed over from Connor Thomson’s cross.
Rangers were missing the long throws of the suspended Tom Tonks but Jimmy O’Neill was doing his best whenever the opportunity arose. One such chance came three minutes before the interval. Visiting keeper Dan Lowson failed to clear the lines with his punch but Joe Willis saw his shot blocked by Ben Sayer before Baxter hooked the rebound over.
Lowson was involved in Rangers’ next chance a couple of minutes later when he tried to head clear a yard outside of his area. Blissett managed to head the loose ball towards the Morpeth goal but it went just the wrong side of goal.
Hopes of an improvement after the turnaround failed to materialise.
Callum Saunders had a chance with a free kick from just outside the area but this was deflected off the defensive wall for a corner. Willis was next to try his luck only to be blocked by Michael Turner.
Morpeth did show a little more enterprise in the latter stages but this was a game that ended as it began and the first goal-less draw seen at Marston Road this season.
Stafford: 1 Cameron Belford, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Joe Dunne, 4 Alex-Ray Harvey, 5 Luis Morrison-Derbyshire, 6 James O’Neill, 7 Kaiman Anderson, 8 Jack Baxter, 9 Nathan Blissett, 10 Joe Willis, 11 Callum Saunders (16 Alex Kiwomya 61m). Unused Subs 12 Tyreece Onyeka, 13 Kieran Boucher, 14 Derek Ubah,15 Ethan Morgan
Morpeth Town: 1 Dan Lowson, 2 Josh Robson, 3 Chris Reid, 4 Ben Sayer, 5 Jeff Henderson, 6 Michael Turner, 7 Jack Foalle (16 Ben Ramsey 37m), 8 Ryan Donaldson (12 Tom Chiabi 68m), 9 Connor Thomson, 10 Andrew Johnson (14 Sam Fishburn 85m), 11 Connor Pye.nUnused Subs 13 James Anderson, 15 Josh King
Referee Jake Allsopp
Cautions: Pye (Morpeth)
Att 718
Report by Chris Elsley
Stafford Rangers v Warrington Rylands
It was an afternoon of mixed emotions for Stafford Rangers as they were held to a draw at home to Warrington Rylands.
Rangers let a two goal lead slip but it could have been much worse after they were forced to play for 70 minutes with 10 men following the sending off of Ethan Stewart.
Stafford got off to an ideal start as Jack Baxter fired the home side ahead on 9 minutes. Joe Kenton was the creator as he dispossessed visiting skipper Dean Furman. The ball was released to Joe Willis who, in turn, picked out Baxter on the left hand side of the area and he planted his shot past Luke Pilling.
Rangers looked to build on their lead but missed out when Jimmy O’Neill headed wide from close range.
The key moment of the afternoon came on 19 minutes when Stewart was dismissed for a poor challenge on Rylands’ midfielder Matt Sargent, but it was the ten men who dealt the perfect response.
Tom Tonks’ throw from the left bounced across the Rylands goal mouth before being forced in by Kenton. Despite the best efforts of Pilling, the assistant indicated that the ball had crossed the line.
With Stewart gone, Stafford were forced to make a change to maintain their defensive formation and Willis was replaced by Luis Morrison-Derbyshire while Kaiman Anderson was left to tackle a lone battle up front.
Matt Hill’s side put on one of their most organised and hard working performances of the season to keep the visitors out. Meanwhile, Anderson was pushed, pulled and prodded up front but barely got a decision in his favour.
Tonks tried his luck from just inside the Warrington half but couldn’t manage to find the target with Pilling out of his goal.
Kenton nearly added a third In what was almost a carbon copy of his earlier goal but this time, former Rangers keeper Pilling was able to claw the ball away.
As the first period edged towards 45 minutes, Warrington began to push Stafford further back but a curling cross-shot from Osebi Abadaki was the nearest they came to threatening the Stafford goal.
Rangers maintained their shape after the break but were pushed further back into defence.
For the first time, Rylands got behind the Stafford line as AJ Leitch-Smith got on the end of a long ball from Furman but the former Crewe and Port Vale forward was denied by the legs of Cam Belford who stood up superbly.
The Rylands forward glanced a header wide before he was frustrated again by another superb save from Belford.
Leitch-Smith continued to pose the greatest threat to Stafford as it needed some good defending from Joe Dunne to prevent him getting a clear run on goal.
At the other end, Rangers missed a chance to extend their lead when Baxter slipped at the crucial moment.
After making a double substitution, Rylands managed to reduce the arrears. Abadaki – facing his former club for the third time with his third club this season – benefitted when O’Neill misjudged the bounce of a high ball and slotted past Belford with 11 minutes remaining.
Rylands now sensed some reward but they had to wait until the final minute to get it. Dunne failed to clear his lines, forcing Tonks to trip Mo Touray on the edge of the area. Sean Cooke used all of his experience to put the free kick beyond the reach of Belford.
The result was hard on Rangers, particularly the likes of Al-Ray Harvey and Tonks who were outstanding, but they will also be relieved that they were able to extend their unbeaten run to 4 league games.
Stafford: 1 Cam Belford, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Joe Dunne, 4 Alex-Ray Harvey, 5 Ethan Stewart, 6 James O’Neill, 7 Joe Kenton (17 Callum Saunders 84m), 8 Tom Tonks, 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 Joe Willis (14 Luis Morrison-Derbyshire 22m), 11 Jack Baxter (15 Nathan Blissett 90m). Unused subs 12 Tyreece Onyeka, 16 Ethan Morgan
Warrington Rylands: 1 Luke Pilling, 2 James Neild, 3 Scott Duxbury, 4 Dean Furman, 5 Sam Egerton, 6 Ben Hockenhull, 7 Osebi Abadaki, 8 Matt Sargent, 9 Mo Touray, 10 A-Jay Leitch-Smith (12 Sean Cooke 75m), 11 Jordan Mustoe (14 Jack Hindle 75m). Unused Subs 13 Matt Wright, 15 John Hunt – only four subs named
Referee: Thomas Swift
Cautions: Furman, Abadaki, Sargent (Warrington)
Sent Off: Stewart (Stafford)
Att : 496
Report by Chris Elsley
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