Stafford Rangers — Mossley AFC

Mar 14, 2026

With Ben O’Hanlon facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines following the injury he picked up at Runcorn, Graham Deakin brought in Luke Edwards on a work experience loan from Shrewsbury Town to fill the left back position.

Another absentee with injury was Derby County loanee Marsel Tola. In his place came Dylan Scott for just his third start in the NPL.

One other change in the XI at kick off saw James McQuilkin replace John Atherton.

Rangers started brightly winning a corner inside 30 seconds but their plans were soon disrupted when Harry Flowers was forced out of the action after picking up an injury in the 4th minute.

Despite this, Rangers just about edged the first half although their inability to test visiting keeper Finley Madigan remained a concern.

A shot on the turn from Flowers’ replacement – Jimmy O’Neill – was only just off target before Matt Hearsey was only a couple of inches away from connecting with an angled centre from Callum Wilson.

Pressure from Hearsey and Kaiman Anderson forced an error from Jack Marrow but the danger was averted by Jack Grundy while Anderson put another shot wide from the edge of the D.

A flick header from Wilson and a shot across the face of goal from Anderson maintained the Stafford threat but nothing was finding the target. When a

Jack Birch volley looked more promising, it struck the unwitting Harry Barbour-Olufowobi.

Although Stafford had created the better of the chances of the first half, Mossley had the final opportunity as Scott Moloney was forced to turn over a well struck drive from Reece Webb-Foster.

Half Time: Stafford Rangers 0 Mossley 0

A minute into the second half, Rio Alston struck a free kick that deflected wide off the Stafford defensive wall. It was from the subsequent corner that the visitors struck.

Moloney didn’t deal with Alson’s delivery, Callum Stringer returned the ball to the danger area where Barbour-Olufowobi was free to head home.

Once ahead, Mossley never looked in too much danger and could have extended their lead soon after when Webb-Foster got on the end of a long ball from Callum Jones but Edwards was on hand to clear the lob.

Rangers lacked ideas to break down a well organised Mossley defence although pressure from Anderson late on did force an error from Sean Kgwakgwa but John Atherton’s heavy touch brought an end to his break away.

The result leaves Rangers now without a goal for 3 games and they need to find their shooting boots if they are going to start winning games.

Full Time: Stafford Rangers 0 Mossley 1

Stafford Rangers: 1 Scott Moloney, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Luke Edwards, 4 Ashley Fallon (14 Joe Thomas 46m), 5 Harry Flowers (15 James O’Neill 6m), 6 Callum Wilson, 7 Dylan Scott (16 Leon Hughes 90m), 8 James McQuilkin (12 John Atherton 74m), 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 Jack Birch, 11 Matthew Hearsey (17 Max Chimenes 65m).

Mossley: 1 Finley Madigan, 2 Jack Marrow, 3 Callum Jones, 4 Mark Lees, 5 Jack Grundy, 6 Harry Barber-Olufowobi, 7 Joseph Adams (17 Guilherme Baltazar 74m), 8 Callum Stringer, 9 Reece Webb-Foster, 10 Sean Kgwakgwa, 11 Rio Alston (16 Isaac Noble 74m). Unused Subs: 12 Connor Marsh, 14 Joe Berks, 15 Ben Connolly

Referee: Keiron Rogers

Cautions:

Rangers: Wilson 39m, Edwards 69m

Mossley: Webb-Foster 63m, Alston 72m

Goals:
Mossley: Barber-Olufowobi 47m

Att: 761

Report by Chris Elsley

Graham Deakin Interview

Stafford Rangers — Sporting Khalsa

Feb 28, 2026

It was a tough but entertaining encounter that saw a mix of quality and scrappy play with both sides squandering excellent chances to take all three points but, on a day when legendary striker Neil Grayson and his former team-mates came together, goals were a missing ingredient to the afternoon.

Graham Deakin made just one change to the side that drew with Newcastle Town a week earlier with Dan Cockerline replacing Kaiman Anderson for his first start in a month.

Rangers had a couple of early efforts on the Khalsa goal through Matt Hearsey and Marsel Tola before the visitors responded through Andre Landell.

The best chance of the opening 10 minutes fell to Stafford’s John Atherton but he dragged his shot wide of the near post.

A sustained period of pressure from the visitors saw them win a hat trick of corners which nearly produced a goal.

Scott Moloney spilled a deflected shot from Chay Tilt but Landell was denied in the follow up while Andy Burns threw his body in front of a shot from Dom Perkins.

At the other end, Atherton again got himself into a good position but appeared to be in two minds whether to shoot or pass. In the end, his ball was too far ahead of Cockerline and went wide of the goal.

Ash Fallon was another Stafford player to miss out. Two chances came his way but the first went over and the second was blocked by Perkins.

Cockerline will rue a missed opportunity after he got the better of Perkins but a tame shot was saved by R’avan Constable. Jack Birch looked certain to score with the follow up but Alex Foreshaw made an excellent block on the line.

A couple of minutes later, Birch sent another good opportunity across the face of the Khalsa goal.

Half Time: Stafford Rangers 0 Sporting Khalsa 0

The combination of poor finishing and good defending continued after the break. A poor effort from Perkins was woefully off target while Hearsey saw his header kept out by Narel Phillips.

Landell found some space in the Stafford area only for Moloney to save before the Khalsa forward sent a dangerous ball across the face of the Stafford goal with Callum Wilson and Burns defending desperately to keep the home goal intact.

Hearsey hit the post for Stafford on the hour and Constable went in bravely at the feet of Cockerline while Birch and Hearsey both had efforts blocked as Stafford enjoyed a good spell.

The final ten minutes saw both sides pressing for a winner. Moloney had to race out of goal to clear from Kieron Whittaker while Constable saved from Hearsey.

Rangers may be a little disappointed to only claim a point from a game that they had the better of the chances created although Khalsa would have understandably felt hard done to had they not earned something from their endeavours.

For Rangers, the positives were the extension of their unbeaten run and a first clean sheet in 17 league games, dating back 4 months.

Full Time: Stafford Rangers 0 Sporting Khalsa 0

Stafford Rangers: 1 Scott Moloney, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Ben O’Hanlon, 4 Ashley Fallon (16 Joe Thomas 79m), 5 Harry Flowers, 6 Callum Wilson, 7 John Atherton (12 Kaiman Anderson 62m), 8 Marsel Tola, 9 Dan Cockerline (17 Max Chimenes 62m), 10 Jack Birch (15 James McQuilkin 89m), 11 Matthew Hearsey. Unused Sub 14 James O’Neill

Sporting Khalsa: 1 R’avan Constable, 2 Narel Phillips, 3 Dominic Perkins, 4 Zach Kourouiyanni, 5 Alex Foreshaw, 6 Daniel Broni-Phillips, 7 Chay Tilt, 8 Kartell Dawkins, 9 Andre Carvalho-Landell (12 Isai Marselia 90+2m), 10 Kieron Whittaker, 11 Luke Shearer (16 Peter Taylor 74m). Unused Subs 14 Rio Sawyers, 15 Kristian Green, 17 Jordan Clarke

Referee: Thomas Hales

Cautions: Burns 89m (Stafford), Perkins 35m (Sporting Khalsa)

Att: 784

Report by Chris Elsley

Dan Cockerline Interview

Stafford Rangers — Shifnal Town

Feb 14, 2026

The result lifted Rangers up another place in the table to 17th but, more importantly, opened up a five point gap on the relegation places.

Rangers, who gave Marsel Tola a debut following his loan move from Derby County, were rewarded for a positive start when they took the lead in the 9th minute. Kaiman Anderson held the ball up well following a long pass from Jack Birch which gave the latter time to join the attack and fire home – via a deflection off Kevin Da Veiga Monteiro.

Four minutes later, it was 2-0. Callum Wilson did well to keep the attack alive after Birch’s corner had appeared overhit. Shaquille Whittingham failed to clear and John Atherton’s shot was turned in by Matt Hearsey.

Shifnal – on a run of poor form themselves – had their first effort on goal on the 20 minute mark with a dipping volley from Kyle Bennett but it was comfortably over the bar.

Rangers remained the stronger of the two sides and it needed an excellent defensive header from Shifnal’s Louis Bradford to deny Hearsey a second following Atherton’s ball in from the right.

Hearsey was in the action again five minutes before the break but his shot bobbled through to Andy Wycherley.

Play immediately switched to the other end and Shifnal were given a way back in when Tola tripped Da Veiga Monteiro and Matthew Barnes-Homer levelled from the spot.

Hearsey should have restored Stafford’s two goal lead a minute before the break but headed over from close range.

Half Time: Stafford Rangers 2 Shifnal Town 1

The second half was just 20 seconds old when that two goal margin was restored. Anderson broke on the left and released Hearsey whose low centre was drilled through past three Shifnal defenders and just inside the keeper’s right hand post.
Hearsey, Anderson and Atherton all failed to make the most of potential opportunities that came their way while Bennett’s intervention prevented a cross from Hearsey reaching the unmarked Tola.

Harry Flowers sent a header towards the top corner but Wycherley claimed it comfortably, as he also did with a 20 yard drive from Birch.

A mix up between Wycherley and defender Bradley Maslen-Jones presented Birch with another chance to claim his hat trick but he fired over from the edge of the area.

Shifnal had to get better and they put the pressure on in the final 20 minutes.

Scott Moloney saved brilliantly from Da Veiga Monteiro after the Stafford keeper had dropped the initial centre from Stephen Morley before the visitors were awarded a second penalty when Flowers tripped Abdul Alamu-Tajudeen. Kobe Hall sent his spot kick straight down the middle to make it 3-2 with 13 minutes remaining.

Panic set in amongst Stafford as Shifnal pressed for an equaliser. Andy Burns made a desperate clearance to take the ball away from Louis Bradford then, deep into added time both Burns and Wilson denied the visitors, Wilson clearing off the line after the ball had rebounded off Bradford.

Stafford Rangers a couple of weeks ago would have almost certainly conceded but there is a new found determination in the side and they saw the game out to record a victory which, over the 90 minutes, they fully deserved.

Full Time: Stafford Rangers 3 Shifnal Town 2

Stafford Rangers: 1 Scott Moloney, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Ben O’Hanlon, 4 Ashley Fallon, 5 Harry Flowers, 6 Callum Wilson, 7 John Atherton (12 Max Chimenes 66m), 8 Marsel Tola, 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 Jack Birch (16 Joe Thomas 90+1m), 11 Matthew Hearsey (15 James O’Neill 84m). Unused Subs 14 James McQuilkin, 17 Dan Cockerline

Shifnal Town: 1 Andrew Wycherley, 2 Josh Green, 3 Stephen Morley, 4 Bradley Maslen-Jones. 5 Louis Bradford, 6 Kyle Bennett, 7 Kieron Cook, 8 Kevin Da Veiga Monteiro (14 Kobe Hall 74m), 9 Matthew Barnes-Homer (12 Abdul Alamu-Tajudeen 74m), 10 Elliott Durrell (17 Lewis Jarman 62m), 11 Shaquille Leachman-Whittingham (15 Macaulay Taylor 62m). Unused Sub 16 Sam Griffiths

Goals:

Stafford: Birch (2) 9m, 46m, Hearsey 13m
Shifnal: Barnes-Homer 41m pen, Hall 77m pen

Referee: Keir Sheppard

Cautions: Moloney 76m, Flowers 90+3m (Stafford)

Att: 703

Report by Chris Elsley

Manager Interview

Goal Highlights

Stafford Rangers — Darlaston Town

Feb 3, 2026

After a miserable streak of 13 winless league games over 98 days, a change of manager and the Chairman stepping down, Stafford Rangers finally won a game on Tuesday night.

In contrast to the pitiful display against Kidsgrove Athletic three days earlier, Rangers put on a show for the 484 fans who braved the cold damp conditions to overcome one of their relegation threatened rivals, Darlaston Town.

Graham Deakin made three changes to the starting line up with Osaze Okuonghae and Matt Hearsey being given their first starts. The two new comers deserved their chance after being the only ones who had come out of the Kidsgrove debacle with any credit.

Hearsey arrived at Rangers with a reputation to fulfil – albeit gained a couple of levels below at Stafford Town – and he showed his eye for goal with an early effort that went over the Darlaston cross bar.

Harry Flowers and Jack Birch also cleared the horizontal as Stafford enjoyed a bright opening but Darlaston should have opened the scoring midway through the half when Scott Moloney failed to claim Lewis Gill’s corner.

The ball stuck around the six yard box as a goal mouth scramble ensued before it was hacked away to the relief of the home contingent.

But, largely, it was Rangers who were on top for the opening 45 minutes but another missed opportunity – this time from Okuonghae – ensured the two sides went in at the break on level terms.

Half Time: Stafford Rangers 0 Darlaston Town 0

After Daralston’s Jake Collins had put the first opportunity of the second half wide of the goal, Rangers got their deserved opener on 52 minutes.

It was Hearsey on the mark as he got the slightest of touches to Birch’s low free kick driven in from the left touchline. It was enough to deceive Darlaston and Rangers were one up.

Four minutes later, the lead was doubled. A brilliant turn by Birch opened up space. He sent a crossfield ball to Hearsey and was back to meet the cross but his effort was blocked on the line by Alex Foreshaw. Fortunately, Ben O’Hanlon snapped up the rebound.

There was a new found believe in Rangers’ play. A header from Okuonghae was cleared off the line by Gill and when Foreshaw tripped Hearsey in the area, Birch made it 3-0 on 68 minutes from the penalty spot.

Birch came close to a fourth before the anticipated late rally from the visitors. But, they rarely threatened – until what was literally the last kick of the game when Callum Knowles fired in a consolation from 20 yards to put the only dampener on a much needed win for the home side.

Full Time: Stafford Rangers 3 Darlaston Town 1

Stafford Rangers: 1 Scott Moloney, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Ben O’Hanlon, 4 Osaze Okuonghae, 5 Harry Flowers, 6 Callum Wilson (17 Jimmy O’Neill 87m), 7 John Atherton (14 Dylan Scott 69m), 8 Ashley Fallon (15 James McQuilkin 83m), 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 Jack Birch (16 Jack Sherratt 90m), 11 Matthew Hearsey (12 Dan Cockerline 74m).

Darlaston Town: 1 Stanley Amos, 2 Bailey Storey (16 Jake Pearson 69m), 3 Harry Chesterton, 4 Billy Corns (14 Leo Gill 83m), 5 Alex Foreshaw (12 Sam Smith 73m), 6 Roman Allen, 7 Kieron Cook, 8. Lewis Gill (17 Emillio Ballard-Matthews 64m), 9 Maxwell Chimenes (15 James Rowland 76m), 10 Jake Collins, 11 Callum Knowles.

Goals:

Stafford: Hearsey 52m, O’Hanlon 56m, Birch 68m pen

Darlaston: Knowles 90+6m

Referee: David Hinton

Cautions: Scott (Stafford), Cook, Collins (Darlaston)

Att: 484

Report by Chris Elsley

Manager Interview