Stafford Rangers v Hednesford Town
Stafford Rangers and Hednesford Town both gave it their all and took away a share of the spoils from this Staffordshire derby, watched by the highest league gate at Stafford since 1991 (2,033).
Hednesford came into the game in second place in the table having gone top for 24 hours on Good Friday before being leapfrogged by Widnes.
Defeat for Hednesford and a win for Widnes in the day’s fixtures would have handed the title to the Cheshire club and that’s the way it was going until Jake Jervis converted an 84th minute equaliser for the Pitmen.
Kaiman Anderson had given Rangers the perfect start when he put the home side ahead on 35 seconds.
Dan Cockerline flicked on a trademark throw from Jimmy O’Neill and Anderson was first to it to record his 10th goal of the season.
O’Neill’s throws continued to cause problems in the Hednesford defence as Stafford controlled affairs early on but Hednesford eventually established a foothold.
It was midway through the half before the Pitmen created their first chance and what a chance it was.
Dominic McHale advanced down the right and got the ball across to Simeon Maye via Niall Watson.
Maye sent in a shot that fell perfectly to Jervis but, somehow, he was kept out by the superb Scott Wara.
At the other end James McQuilkin lifted a shot over the Hednesford bar while a first time volley from Ash Fallon took a deflection and landed on the roof of the net.
Stafford keeper Leon Phillips was called into action to save from Jervis, then, a couple of minutes later, he saved well at the feet of Nathan Blissett before Ben O’Hanlon blocked McHale when a goal seemed certain.
Phillips was alert again right at the end of the first half when turned away a well struck drive from Chris Hussey.
Rangers went close to doubling their lead early in the second half when John Atherton robbed Joel Taylor but, with Tony Breeden off his line, Dan Cockerline’s shot from distance was off target.
Liam Brazier, on for the injured Anderson, missed out when he failed to get a clean connection with Mason Rees’ cross.
Finally getting the message, Hednesford began to press with more intent.
A clearance from Rees bounced wide off Watson then Phillips saved well from McHale before Jamie Morgan fired into the side netting.
Hednesford made four changes in a five minute spell midway through the half as they went in search of the much needed equaliser.
But it was Rangers who had the chances to add to the score. Cockerline sent Atherton away and the ball ran through to Brazier but he scuffed his shot wide. Soon after, a flick from Wara beat Breeden but no one was on the end to apply the finish.
But Hednesford pushed Rangers deeper with Breeden playing a long way out of his area.
Eventually the pressure told when, in the 84th minute, McHale drilled in a low shot from the left hand side and Jervis slid in at the back post.
Ollie Harrison and Jack Bearne both missed chances to win it for Hednesford in the final exchanges but Rangers deserved to take at least a point for producing a resolute defensive performance.
Widnes’ victory at Vauxhall Motors means that they need just a point from their game against Trafford on the final day to win the league while Hednesford must beat Runcorn Linnets to stand a chance of upsetting the Cheshire club.
For Rangers, they travel to Clitheroe knowing that victory will give them a place in the top half – a feat that seemed extremely unlikely when they were sitting 20th in the table at the time when Kitching was appointed.
Stafford Rangers: 1 Leon Phillips, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Ben O’Hanlon, 4 Mason Rees, 5 Scott Wara, 6 Jimmy O’Neill, 7 John Atherton, 14 Ashley Fallon (15 Joe Thomas 73m), 9 Dan Cockerline, 10 James McQuilkin (16 Joe Morley 55m), 11 Kaiman Anderson (18 Liam Brazier 33m)
Unused Subs 12 Henry Brereton, 17 Max Barlow
Hednesford Town: 1 Tony Breeden, 2 Jamie Morgan, 3 Joel Taylor (15 Jack Bearne 69m), 4 Simeon Maye (12 Ahkeem Rose 64m), 5 Ollie Harrison, 6 Chris Hussey, 7 Niall Watson (14 Elliott Johnson 69m), 8 Joe Doyle-Charles, 9 Nathan Blissett (16 Dan Trickett-Smith 64m), 10 Dominic McHale, 11 Jake Jervis.
Unused Subs 17 Ryan Brown
Goals: Kaiman Anderson 1m (Stafford); Jake Jervis 84m (Hednesford)
Referee: Ben Stott
Cautions: Fallon, Cockerline, Brazier (Stafford) Blissett, Rose (Hednesford)
Att: 2,033
Report by Chris Elsley
Stafford Rangers v Congleton Town
It’s job done for Neil Kitching after his Stafford Rangers team secured their NPL Division One status following Saturday’s 2-0 win over Congleton Town.
After a goal-less first half that saw both teams go close, Rangers took the lead soon after the restart then added a crucial second just past the hour mark.
Play off hopefuls Congleton were a shadow of the side that thrashed Rangers 5-0 last August but Rangers are a much changed side themselves with Andy Burns and Jimmy O’Neill the only survivors from that match – Cam Belford also played but is still recovering from injury.
The visitors should have taken the lead as early as the third minute when Darren Chadwick had a free header at the back post but somehow he managed to put his effort wide.
Rangers – unchanged from the side that defeated City of Liverpool 8-0 – took time to settle but started to play some good football and Kaiman Anderson’s lay off set up James McQuilkin only for Chadwick to race across and concede a corner. From the flag kick, Scott Wara’s header struck the bar.
Congleton immediately broke away and a deep centre from Carl Dickinson was met on the volley by Daniel Needham but Leon Phillips enhanced his growing reputation with a superb point blank save.
Soon after, Dickinson had a half chance but got the ball stuck under his feet and the danger was cleared.
Stafford started to assert their authority in the latter stages of the half and some excellent play brought deserved applause from the spectators.
John Atherton stabbed a shot at Dave Parton and Wara headed wide from Ashley Fallon’s initial effort. Another Fallon effort was scuffed wide as the sides went in on level terms.
O’Neill’s long throws finally produced a positive outcome for Rangers on 49 minutes when the ball fell to Atherton via Dan Cockerline and Wara and the midfielder managed to force it past Parton at the second attempt.
The lead was doubled on 62 minutes when some poor defending saw Congleton fail to deal with McQuilkin’s corner and Wara was there to take advantage.
The hardworking Anderson could have added a third after forcing Marco Fregapane into an error but his shot came back off the post and into the arms of Parton.
Cockerline’s chest down enabled a spectacular volley from Wara which would have been a goal of the season contender had it been on target before the former went close with a volley of his own.
Cockerline set up another chance for Atherton but he was well covered by Shaun Brisley and Parton was able to save.
Congleton nearly spoiled Stafford’s clean sheet in added time as the home defence scrambled away Chadwick’s overhead kick but the final whistle came soon after and the joy and relief on the faces of Kitching and his management team was clear to see.
Stafford Rangers: 1 Leon Phillips, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Ben O’Hanlon, 4 Mason Rees (12 Joe Thomas 55m), 5 Scott Wara, 6 Jimmy O’Neill, 7 John Atherton (16 Liam Brazier 84m), 8 Ashley Fallon (15 Max Barlow 85m), 9 Dan Cockerline, 10 James McQuilkin, 11 Kaiman Anderson. Unused Subs 14 Joe Morley, 17 Henry Brereton
Congleton Town: 1 Dave Parton, 2 Marco Fregapane, 3 Carl Dickinson (15 William Arnold 84m), 4 Peter Williams, 5 Shaun Brisley, 6 Darren Chadwick, 7 George Sankey (17 Thomas Hampton 64m), 8 Ethan Hartshorn, 9 Max McCarthy (14 Lewis Porter 82m), 10 Kieran Garner-Knapper (16 Matthew Gilliam 64m), 11 Daniel Needham. Unused Subs 12 Brian Barton
Referee: Chris Hodson
Cautions: Rees, Brazier (Stafford); Hartshorn (Congleton)
Attendance: 882
Report by Chris Elsley
Stafford Rangers v Runcorn Linnets
Kaiman Anderson salvaged a point for Stafford Rangers with a last minute equaliser as the Boro inched closer to securing their NPL status.
Runcorn Linnets came to Stafford on a good run of form and still harbouring hopes of making a late claim for a play off spot. The Merseysiders’ last defeat was against Rangers at the end of January since when they were unbeaten in 8 games prior to kick off.
Rangers made one change to the side that defeated Trafford a week earlier with Scott Wara, having returned from international duty with Fiji, replacing Michael McGrath who was unavailable.
Despite the best efforts from both sides, a dry and dusty pitch with the added ingredient of a strong breeze didn’t make for a great spectacle for the fans.
Rangers had a good opportunity inside the first couple of minutes after Ashley Fallon won a free kick a few yards outside the Runcorn area. James McQuilkin took the free kick but couldn’t keep his effort down.
After Kaiman Anderson had had two shots blocked, Runcorn launched a counter attack through Luke Wall but his attempt to put Reece Daly in failed when Leon Phillips slid out to claim.
Runcorn keeper Bayleigh Passant did well to block another shot from Anderson after Wara ran across his line of vision.
Passant was involved in the key talking point of the first half when he raced out of his area following a clever ball from Liam Brazier to Dan Cockerline. The two players reached the ball at the same time but Passant’s foot caught the Stafford forward on the shin. The Runcorn keeper was shown a yellow card with the majority of Stafford fans calling for red.
After a fairly nondescript opening, the visitors finished the stronger of the two sides. Naim Arsan and Luke Wall but saw shots deflect off Andy Burns and into the arms of Leon Phillips. Sandwiched in between, the Stafford keeper made a top class save to keep out Ryan Brooke’s header at the back post.
Half time words from Neil Kitching produced an immediate response when Wara heard in James McQuilkin’s corner to put Stafford ahead on 49 minutes.
At this stage, Stafford were putting some decent play together but it was too bitty and lacking quality on the final ball.
Runcorn began to come more into it and shortly after Peter Wylie had had a shot blocked, Runcorn grabbed a 68th minute equaliser when Lewis Doyle found the bottom corner from around 20 yards following a lay off from sub Adam Moseley.
Encouraged, Runcorn started to dictate affairs. A poor defensive header from Phillips almost gifted Doyle with a second goal then, a minute later, the Stafford keeper made another good save as he held on to a close range shot from Brooke after Arsad’s initial shot had bounced up off Wara who was lying injured in the goal mouth.
The pressure eventually told on 78 minutes and it was a particularly disappointing goal for Stafford to concede. Passant nearly messed things up midway inside the Runcorn half but he managed to get the ball to Eden Gumbs. Clever footwork from Gumbs released Doyle and though Phillips saved well from Brooke, Gumbs had continued his run to hammer home the loose ball.
Runcorn appeared be seeing the game out but, in the 6th minute of added time, Joe Morley’s deep cross from the left was played back across by John Atherton and Anderson turned the ball home.
Stafford Rangers: 1 Leon Phillips, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Ben O’Hanlon, 4 James McQuilkin, 5 Scott Wara, 6 Jimmy O’Neill, 7 Liam Brazier (16 John Atherton 76m), 8 Ashley Fallon (15 Joe Morley 84m), 9 Dan Cockerline, 10 Joe Thomas (12 Mason Rees 76m), 11 Kaiman Anderson. Unused Subs 14 Max Barlow, 17 Zac Scutt
Runcorn Linnets: 1 Bayleigh Passant, 2 Peter Wylie, 3 Eden Gumbs, 4 Lewis Doyle, 5 Joe Ferguson, 6 Callum Grogan, 7 Luke Wall (14 Harvey Washington 88m), 8 Jacques Welsh, 9 Ryan Brooke (16 Lewis Crane 90+4m), 10 Reece Daly (12 Adam Moseley 64m), 11 Naim Arsan (15 Jorge Dwyer 81m). Unused Subs 17 Jay Lee
Referee: Mark Reilly
Cautions: Thomas, Burns (Stafford), Passant (Runcorn), Cooke (Runcorn Manager)
Attendance: 836
Report by Chris Elsley
Stafford Rangers v Chasetown
A tough week for Neil Kitching ended with his depleted Stafford Rangers side losing 2-0 at home to play off hopefuls Chasetown.
The Rangers’ boss saw two of his players leave the club this week while both Jimmy O’Neill and Joe Thomas were also unavailable.
The departure of Jack Burgess and Callum King-Harmes to Stratford Town and Rushall Olympic respectively took away form players from two key midfield positions. In their places came Joe Morley and Ashley Fallon.
A good crowd (1,003) was in attendance for this Staffordshire derby but the game did not deliver the entertainment that they craved for.
Both sides mustered a couple of half chances but there was little to shout about for the first half hour. The best opportunity in that time fell to the visitors but George Cater sent his free kick over the Stafford cross bar.
A brief spell saw Stafford show a little more intent and Morley benefitted from some good play by Kaiman Anderson but his shot was deflected wide by Oliver Hayward.
James McQuilkin’s corner almost found its way into the net and Ackeme Francis-Burrell failed to shoot when well placed before Michael McGrath fired over. Another opportunity came for Fallon following a sliced clearance from Curtis Pond but the midfielder lacked composure.
Chasetown enjoyed some prolonged possession at the start of the second half but the game changing moment came on 58 minutes when Francis-Burrell led with his elbow in a challenge on Luke Yates and was sent off by referee Ryan Price.
With their numerical advantage, Chasetown started to open the game up and took the lead ten minutes later when Cater got behind Liam Brazier and crossed for Yates to head past Leon Phillips.
Joseph Thompson volleyed over before Chasetown doubled their lead on 84 minutes when Cater’s corner was headed home at the back post by Dan O’Callaghan.
A last ditch tackle from Andy Burns prevented Yates from adding a third, as did a goal line clearance from Fallon to deny O’Callaghan.
One positive for Stafford was the return of striker Dan Cockerline following his hamstring injury.
Stafford Rangers: 1 Leon Phillips, 2 Andy Burns, 3 Ben O’Hanlon, 4 James McQuilkin, 5 Michael McGrath, 6 Liam Brazier, 7 Joe Morley (12 Dan Cockerline 57m), 8 Ackeme Francis-Burrell, 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 Ashley Fallon, 11 John Atherton (14 Max Barlow 87m). Unused Subs 15 Henry Brereton, 16 Jack Schollar, 17 Jude Hill
Chasetown: 1 Curtis Pond, 2 Oliver Hayward (15 Joseph Thompson 36m), 3 Joe Dunne, 4 Kieran Fenton, 5 Dan O’Callaghan, 6 Sam Wilding, 7 Tom Thorley, 8 Sam Unitt, 9 Ben Lund (17 Max Chimines 66m), 10 Luke Yates (12 Jordan Evans 86m), 11 George Cater (16 Alfie Taylor 89m). Unused Subs 14 Kris Taylor
Referee: Ryan Price
Cautions: McGrath (Stafford); Wilding (Chasetown)
Sent Off: Francis-Burrell (Stafford)
Attendance: 1,003
Report by Chris Elsley
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