Pitching In Northern Premier League
Saturday 09 April 2022

Stafford Rangers picked up a deserved point from their trip to play off hopefuls Warrington Town but it could easily have been all three.

Rangers played into a strong breeze in the first half but had the better of the first 20 minutes without really creating a clear opening. The best chance came on 5 minutes with an Ethan Stewart header following Alex Fletcher’s corner.

Warrington came more into it and Matty Regan’s flick put Isaac Buckley-Ricketts in but Stewart made an excellent tackle to end the danger.

Warrington’s Bohan Dixon became more influential and showed good skills to set up Josh Amis who was flagged offside.

The home side took the lead on 27 minutes but it was a poor goal to concede from Rangers’ point of view.

The back line and keeper Matty Hewelt both hesitated in dealing with Mitch Duggan’s wind assisted header. Buckley-Ricketts nipped in and fired Warrington in front.

Warrington took control of matters with Jay Harris firing over and Hewelt saving at the back post from Stefan Mols.

Regan fired wide before Evan Gumbs headed over with the final action of the half.

Rangers were very much still in the contest and drew level on 49 minutes following a Tom Tonks throw.

The ball was half cleared but Alex-Ray Harvey saw his chance and rifled home the equaliser from around 30 yards out.

Tre Pemberton hit the side netting as Rangers looked for a second but, at the other end, Warrington still posed a threat and Hewelt had to clear from Amis.

Pemberton sent another effort high and very wide following another Tonks throw before Alex Fletcher fired wide after advancing from midfield to the edge of the area.

Hewelt tipped over from Harris after a scramble in the Stafford area but it was Rangers who finished the stronger of the two sides.

Theo Bailey-Jones somehow failed to convert at the back post from Fletcher’s corner while Kaiman Anderson and Pemberton were both denied in the final minute.

Rangers’ lingering play off hopes are all but over but a top ten finish will be a significant improvement on recent seasons.

Warrington Town: 1 Daniel Atherton, 2 Mitch Duggan, 3 Matty Regan (12 Eddie Clarke 73m), 4 Jay Harris, 5 Mark Roberts, 6 Evan Gumbs, 7 Isaac Buckley-Ricketts, 8 Stefan Mols (14 Sean Williams 73m), 9 Josh Amis, 10 Bohan Dixon, 11 Ben Hough (17 Luke Duffy 63m). Unused Subs 15 Matthew Grivosti, 16 Jack Mackreth.

Stafford Rangers: 1 Mateusz Hewelt, 2 Andrew Burns, 3 Joe Dunne, 4 Alex-Ray Harvey, 5 Ethan Stewart, 6 James O’Neill, 7 Joe Kenton (12 Theo Bailey-Jones 71m), 8 Tom Tonks, 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 Alex Fletcher, 11 Tre Pemberton. Unused Subs: 14 Jediael Abbey, 15 Josh Endall, 16 Ben Woods,17 Jake Charles

Cautions: Regan (Warrington) Hewelt (Rangers)

Referee: Declan Brown

Att: 612

Report: Chris Elsley