Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Saturday 14 April 2018
Stafford Rangers survived a late Witton penalty and the sending off of keeper Adam Whitehouse to more or less end Witton’s play off hopes.
Rangers will be pleased with the win which takes them up to 12th in the table but they came back from Cheshire a frustrated party after referee Matt Corlett brandished seven yellow cards to Stafford players.
Stafford made the ideal start, taking the lead in the 2nd minute through Robert Thompson-Brown’s free kick, awarded following a foul by James Foley on Tyrell Waite.
It could have been two or even three inside 15 mins but two key decisions went against Rangers as Kyle Perry was flagged offside as he stabbed in a Kieren Westwood cross then, seconds after Calvin Hare had denied Jack Sherratt, strong penalty appeals were turned down after Massiah McDonald went to ground. Rangers continued to ask most of the questions and Hare denied Sherratt once more before acrobatically turning away a good drive from McDonald.
Witton always looked a threat going forward but didn’t create too much until the half hour when Steve Tames beat he offside trap on the right and squared for Will Jones but somehow the Witton forward put the ball over from a couple of yards out.
Tom Owens and Rob Hopley both missed out with half chances that came the way of the home side before Sherratt doubled the Boro’s lead on 40 mins. The midfielder picked up a loose ball midway inside the Witton half and, with few options available, he fired in a 25 yarder past Hare.
The second half saw Witton apply more pressure. Hopley planted a free header at Whitehouse from Tames’ cross, sub Prince Haywood went close with a free kick and Tames struck another shot straight at Whitehouse.
At the other end, Tyrell Waite missed the best chance to extend Stafford’s lead when he fired over following a quick free kick from Thompson-Brown.
But the Witton pressure finally produced some reward, and a nervy finish, four minutes from time when Sam Griffiths felled Matty Devine and Tames netted from the spot. In the aftermath, Whitehouse, already booked for time wasting, was shown a second yellow for kicking the ball away.
Tames got the ball in the Stafford net again in added time but was flagged offside and Stafford held on for the points.
Witton: 1 Calvin Hare, 2 Danny McKenna (16 Anthony Gardner 59m), 3 Matty Devine, 4 Nick Ryan, 5 Michael Wilson, 6 James Foley, 7 Owen Dale (12 Prince Haywood 46m), 8 Tom Owens, 9 Rob Hopley, 10 Will Jones (15 Paul Williams 66m), 11 Steve Tames. 12 Unused subs 14 Micah Evans, 17 Ryan Neild
Rangers: 1 Adam Whitehouse, 2 Sam Griffiths, 3 Kieren Westwood, 4 Kieran Morris, 5 Dan Vann, 6 Josh Craddock, 7 Tyrell Waite, 8 Jack Sherratt, 9 Kyle Perry (17 Riley Stephenson 89m), 10 Robert Thompson-Brown (12 Jordaan Brown 90+4m), 11 Massiah McDonald (14 Levi Reid 77m). Unused subs 15 Kai Davis, 16 Ben Chilcott
Cautions: Devine, Tames (Witton), Griffiths, Craddock, Waite, Perry, McDonald (Rangers)
Sent Off: Whitehouse – 2 cautions (Rangers)
Referee: Matt Corlett
Att: 316
Report: Chris Elsley
