Feb 28, 2023
Stafford Rangers manager Matt Hill labelled his side’s 3-0 defeat to Leek Town in the Staffordshire Senior Cup at Marston Road as an ‘eye-opener’.
The current holders of the cup crashed out of the competition with last night’s heavy home defeat which saw the Blues three up at half-time.
Aaron Opoku scored twice for the away side adding to Rob Stevenson’s goal that took Leek to the victory.
Matt Hill was left unhappy with the defeat and his side’s performance as he gave an opportunity to many players who’ve not had much game-time.
“It’s an eye-opener for me in terms of what I’ve seen tonight,” said Hill
Adding: “It’s disappointing, you never like to lose games. I’ve said before about winning and getting into good habits. I had a great opportunity tonight to change it up and have a look at a few players which we did do.
I’ve just said to them ‘when you knock on the door and ask why you’re not playing and you then get the opportunities to play, then you’ve got to really show why you should be in the side’.”
Opoku’s first goal and the opener for the night was an extraordinary goal. The striker riffled the ball into the top left corner from the left edge of the box, leaving Cameron Belford only able to get a hand to the shot which proved not enough to stop it.
Prior to this, the Rangers had started the game well, creating opportunities and looking bright early on, but Hill’s men were unable to convert, much to his annoyance.
“We started the first 15-20 minutes with some good sustained pressure with good opportunities to put the ball in the box, but again without really testing working the keeper.
You huff and puff around the box, but we’ve got to be ruthless like I’ve said pretty much all season.
When you’re on top you’ve got to take those opportunities and press on, but if you don’t you have to keep the back-door shut and we didn’t.
We we’re 3-0 down at halftime and the game is pretty much gone then, it’s game over.
I did ask the question about the reaction and how we’re going to be in the second half, are we going to wilt and feel sorry for ourselves or are we going to show a reaction.
Whether it’s too little to late nor not there was a positive reaction and a better performance by certain people. But it was too little too late.”
Tuesday night’s defeat was Stafford’s first in the competition since 2017.
The Rangers are the current holders of the Staffordshire Senior Cup and have claimed the title for the past three years beating Hednesford Town, Rushall Olympic and Stone Old Alleynians in the three finals.
However, after last night’s defeat the trophy won’t be going back to Marston Road for the fourth consecutive year, leaving just the league for Matt Hill and his side to concentrate on.
Asked if there’s disappointment that Stafford’s journey comes to an end in the competition this year Hill said: “Definitely because it was a fantastic feeling to win it last season.
It’s something to play for at the end of the season and the way we finished it last year, it was a great moment and something that I cherish from that point onwards from a playing and manager point of view.
Yeah, it’s disappointing, I say all the time that we want to win games and whoever comes on and plays has got to be bang at it to win the game.”
Report by Luke Powell
Feb 18, 2023
Stafford Rangers completed their first league double of the season with a 2-1 victory at Marston Road over Lancaster City.
The win built up on the progress made on Tuesday night that saw them pick up a point against Ashton United.
Rangers were missing Callum Saunders through injury which allowed Kaiman Anderson an opportunity to return to the starting line up. The other change saw Jimmy O’Neill return in place of Luis Morrison-Derbyshire.
Stafford started brightly and almost took a second minute lead through O’Neill but visiting keeper Sam Waller got down to save at the foot of his right hand post.
Stafford dominated the opening 10 minutes but gradually Lancaster began to enjoy more of the ball themselves. Nathan Woodthorpe got in a header from Sam Bailey’s free kick but Cam Belford was on watch as it drifted wide.
At the other end, Tom Tonks was off balance as he sliced a shot from the edge of the area while Jack Baxter’s shot, following a Joe Dunne free kick, also failed to threaten the Lancaster goal.
Baxter was involved as Rangers took a deserved lead on 25 minutes. The midfielder’s inswinging corner was headed down by Ethan Stewart and Anderson nipped in to put Rangers ahead with his 10th goal of the season.
Tonks made it 2-0 on 38 minutes with his second successful penalty in as many matches. The spot kick came after Joe Kenton was tripped by Woodthorpe.
Belford tipped over a looping header from Lancaster defender Rudy Misambo but the Rangers’ keeper was at fault as Lancaster reduced the arrears 3 minutes before half time.
An attempt to punch clear a corner saw the ball loop up and ,in the tangle that followed, Andy Burns tripped Woodthorpe. Bailey converted with a well taken spot kick.
After Tonks had gone just wide from distance at the start of the second half, Lancaster began to look more of a threat although they found Stewart on top form.
The defender somewhat unwittingly blocked a shot from the experienced David Norris but had the composure to clear the danger as the ball ran loose.
Christian Sloan and Nic Evangelinos both tried their luck but Belford gathered comfortably.
The visitors made a double substitution on the hour as they sought an equaliser. Captain Niall Cowperthwaite tried to set up Evangelinos but Stewart was again in the right place at the right time.
One of those Lancaster subs, Charlie Bailey, sent a shot past Belford from a tight angle on the left. It was cut out by Joe Dunne but, in doing so, the Rangers defender set up Charlie’s brother Sam but he sent the ball high over the Shed End roof.
Matt Hill gave Tyreece Onyeka his home debut as replacement for Baxter and he enjoyed a lively 20 minutes of the action. He looked to have won his side a second penalty when he went to ground after clipping the ball past Waller but the referee turned down the appeals, posing the question why wasn’t the Stafford man cautioned?
The former Crewe Alex youngster was again in the action when he beat Sam Bailey but failed to get a shot in and Pawel Zuk cleared.
As Lancaster pressed for an equaliser in the final stages both Tonks and Onyeka tried their luck from a long way out but both efforts were just off target.
Rangers have now hit the 40 point mark with 10 games remaining and although a relegation battle is still not out of the question, this win will go a long way to ensuring their survival.
Stafford: 1 Cam Belford, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Joe Dunne, 4 Alex-Ray Harvey, 5 Ethan Stewart, 6 James O’Neill, 7 Joe Kenton, 8 Tom Tonks, 9 Kaiman Anderson (15 Ethan Morgan 87m), 10 Joe Willis (12 Luis Morrison-Derbyshire 77m), 11 Jack Baxter (14 Tyreece Onyeka 67m). Unused subs 13 Jack Sandel – only four subs named
Lancaster: 1 Sam Waller, 2 Sam Bailey, 3 Kyle Brownhill, 4 Pawel Zuk, 15 Rudy Misambo, 6 Nathan Woodthorpe, 7 Christian Sloan (16 Dominic Lawson 60m (14 Bradley Carrol 70m)), 8 Niall Cowperthwaite, 9 Nic Evangelinos, 10 David Norris, 11 Matthew Tweedley (19 Charlie Bailey 60m). Unused Subs 12 Paul Jarvis, 18 Edward Ikpakwu
Referee: Sam Wesson
Cautions: Cowperthwaite (Lancaster)
Att : 544
Report by Chris Elsley
Feb 14, 2023
Jan 28, 2023
Stafford Rangers ended a five match losing run with a comfortable victory over relegation threatened Marske United.
Manager Matt Hill made two changes to the side beaten at Marine in midweek with Alex Kiwomya and Callum Saunders dropping to the bench. In their places came Joe Kenton and Ethan Morgan, the latter having impressed as a second half substitute at Marine.
Marske, making their first ever visit to Stafford, went into the game occupying the fourth relegation spot in the table but with several games in hand over most of their rivals – they have played 8 fewer games than the Boro, but maybe more importantly, Nantwich Town who were only a point better off at the start of the day.
The visitors looked to make an immediate impact and take advantage of any lack of confidence in the Stafford side and went close inside the first minute when Donald Chimalilo’s outstretched leg saw him divert Dale Hopson’s deep centre towards goal but Cam Belford made the save.
Rangers soon had a chance themselves. Marske’s George Horbury picked up an early caution for halting Kaiman Anderson’s advance on goal but Tom Tonks could only find visiting keeper Michael Roxburgh with the free kick.
Rangers did look a little shaky at the back in the opening exchanges and it needed a good intervention from Joe Dunne to cut out a dangerous ball from Adam Boyes.
After the initial showing from Marske, their challenge faded away rapidly as Rangers not only found their feet but also their heads – Ethan Stewart getting two headers in on goal but neither threatened to open the scoring.
Despite Rangers starting to assert greater authority on the game, there was still much relief around the ground when Jack Baxter rifled them ahead on the half hour.
Roxburgh failed to cut out Kenton’s right wing cross. Morgan picked up possession at the back and played back to Baxter who, having fooled Jason Kennedy to create the space, fired across the Marske keeper from the left side of the area.
Rangers remained on top for the rest of the half without creating too much of a threat on goal. Two chances fell their way; the first a clearance that bounced to Roxburgh after striking Morgan and the second saw a Baxter volley blocked. There may have been another but Tonks’ run down the right was halted by referee Harry Tarrant for a free kick to Rangers. The man in black immediately apologised to all in the Stafford camp – including the management team – for not allowing the advantage.
Stafford went close to adding to their lead early in the second half but Tonks was denied by Roxburgh before Kevin Burgess cleared off the line from Kaiman Anderson’s follow up effort.
Marske briefly threatened as Dale Hopson had a shot blocked and Burgess volleyed from 30 yards out but it was not enough to cause great concern.
At the other end, the trio of Anderson, Morgan and Kiwomya – on for Kenton – all failed to find the target. Baxter had a better effort with a 20 yard drive that was well tipped over by Roxburgh.
A single goal lead is precarious against any side but Rangers’ nerves were eased with 8 minutes left on the clock.
If Roxburgh could take some of the blame for his part in Rangers’ opener, he was fully responsible for the second as he flapped Tonks’ left wing throw into his own net and the home side held out for their first win since Boxing Day.
Stafford Rangers: 1 Cam Belford, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Joe Dunne, 4 Jack Baxter, 5 Ethan Stewart, 6 Jimmy O’Neill, 7 Joe Kenton (16 Alex Kiwomya 72m), 8 Tom Tonks, 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 Alex-Ray Harvey, 11 Ethan Morgan (14 Luis Morrison-Derbyshire 90+3m). Unused subs 12 Joe Willis, 15 Callum Saunders, 17 Tyreece Onyema
Marske United: 1 Michael Roxburgh, 2 Connor Smith (14 Joshua Scott 46m), 3 Jordan Emery, 4 Jason Kennedy (15 Ethen Vaughan 46m), 5 Kevin Burgess, 6 Alexander Storey, 7 Josh MacDonald, 8 George Horbury, 9 Adam Boyes, 10 Dale Hopson, 11 Donald Chimalilo (12 Jorge Sikora 78m). Unused Sub 16 Jaan Yaqub – only four subs named
Referee: Harry Tarrant
Cautions: Morgan (Stafford), Horbury (Marske)
Att: 647
Report by Chris Elsley
Jan 14, 2023
Stafford Rangers were left still searching for their first point of 2023 after slipping to their third defeat of the year and a third of the season against visiting Matlock Town.
After last week’s loss at home to Gainsborough which had seen the Boro throw a three goal lead, Rangers recalled defenders Ethan Stewart and Joe Dunne to the starting line up with Luis Morrison-Derbyshire and Akeem Hinds missing out – the latter not even making the 16 after a couple of disappointing performances.
Rangers made a dreadful start to their afternoon going a goal behind within 10 seconds of the kick off. A poor touch from Jimmy O’Neill allowed Karl Demidh in and, despite an initial slip, he was able to fire past Cameron Belford from 25 yards out.
Visitors Matlock were all over Rangers and made it 2-0 in the 7th minute. Again it was an avoidable goal as far as the home side were concerned. Stewart’s back pass put Belford under pressure and the Stafford keeper sliced his clearance for a throw in on the Matlock left.
Alex Duhameau received the ball back from Demidh and sent in a deep cross that was met on the volley by John Johnson, leaving Belford grasping thin air.
After a double strike so early, the game took some time to settle. Both sides were guilty of scrappy play with Rangers launching desperate long balls to Kaiman Anderson – most of which were easily dealt with by the experienced Adam Yates – while Matlock failed to extend their lead with some poor play in the final third.
Chances were few and it wasn’t until the half hour mark that either goal was put under any further danger. The source of the chance, when it came, was a long clearance from Saul Deeney. Jorome Slew played in Demidh but Andy Burns recovered from a collision with Dunne to block the shot.
Rangers had a let off on 35 minutes when O’Neill clearly tugged the shirt of Dan Evans in front of referee James Lunn but the man in black allowed play to continue.
It took until just before the half time break for Rangers to have a shot on goal but Alex-Ray Harvey’s effort from the edge of the area was blocked by a visiting defender.
Jack Baxter replaced Joe Willis for the second half and he played his part in a much better showing from the home side.
Within a minute Tonks fired over then Baxter himself fired wide.
Baxter, dropped to the bench after the Belper defeat, looked keen to prove a point as another shot hit Yates before sending the rebound over.
Chances kept coming but Anderson fired over then saw Deeney make his first save of the afternoon though the shot lacked the necessary power, making Deeney’s job much easier.
The key moment to a possible Stafford comeback came 15 minutes from time when Jamie Sharman tripped Callum Saunders in the area. Tonks stepped up but his spot kick typified his afternoon and, once Deeney had chosen correctly, it was a routine save for the Matlock keeper.
As Rangers pushed further forward, Matlock had a couple of chances to add to their lead but Belford ensured no further damage with saves from Alex Byrne and Johnson.
Stafford Rangers: 1 Cam Belford, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Joe Dunne (14 Ethan Morgan 84m), 4 Alex-Ray Harvey, 5 Ethan Stewart, 6 Jimmy O’Neill, 7 Alex Kiwomya, 8 Tom Tonks, 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 Callum Saunders, 11 Joe Willis (16 Jack Baxter 46m). Unused subs 12 Luis Morrison-Derbyshire, 15 Joe Kenton, 17 Darius Smith
Matlock Town: 1 Saul Deeney, 2 Jamie Sharman, 3 Alex Duhameau, 4 Simon Njaria (14 Saul Milovanovic 77m), 5 Adam Yates, 6 Dan Evans, 7 Alex Byrne, 8 Tyrone Cadeau, 9 Karl Demidh (12 Jack Deakin 39m), 10 Jorome Slew, 11 John Johnson. Unused Subs 15 Jaz Gounry, 17 Dylan Hough – only four subs named
Referee: James Lunn
Cautions: Sharman, Slew (Matlock)
Att: 751
Report by Chris Elsley
