Stafford Rangers 3
Nantwich Town 1
League (NPL Division 1 West)

Match Report

After Rangers had held a half time lead, the visitors responded with a second half equaliser and threatened more until Mitch Clarke restored the Boro’s lead with just four minutes left on the clock. Still the outcome was in doubt until substitute Anis Zaknoune volleyed in a spectacular third.

The game got off to a rapid start with both sides asking questions. Rangers just about shaded it but neither side was able to pose a serious threat on goal.

The breakthrough finally came on 34 minutes when Darryhl Mason got a vital touch to a low free kick driven in from the right by Tom Tonks.

A couple of minutes later, Mason excelled on the Rangers’ left to find Kyle Sambor but Dabbers’ keeper Liam Hall saved.

Half Time: Stafford Rangers 1 Nantwich Town 0

The first sign of a more adventurous Nantwich came shortly after the resumption when Adrian Kandeke sent a long ball for Luke Enright to chase. Stafford keeper Russ Saunders raced out of his area to get his head to the ball a fraction of a second before the two players collided.

Play immediately switched to the opposite end of the field where Hall kept out a header from Sambor at the back post.

Rangers went close again but Jack Birch failed to get any power in his shot, giving Hall an easy task.

But, as Rangers were looking to extend their lead, they found themselves back on level terms when Callum Saunders fired in a 54th minute free kick from just outside the area after Oliver Pope had been fouled.

Joe Dunne looked to restore the lead when he advanced deep into the Nantwich half before sending in a shot which Hall spilled before landing on the loose ball as Scott Bakkor moved in.

But Nantwich had been lifted by their goal and Saunders missed a good chance to put them ahead when he fired wide after a throw from Kandeke had caused problems in the Stafford defence.

Josh Hancock also missed the target – although his effort from 25 yards was a little more speculative – before Joe Piggott fired straight at Saunders following Hancock’s header into his path.

Rangers responded to the threat. Mason missed a couple of chances that fell his way while Mitch Clarke headed wide when well placed.

Again Nantwich came at Stafford but it was the home side who struck the crucial blow on 86 minutes. Hall failed to hold Birch’s corner and Clarke fired home the loose ball.

Mitch Clarke’s volley somehow found its way in despite the crowded goalmouth
Rangers immediately tried to bring on Zaknoune for Mason but took too long over the change and, under new regulations, were forced to play for a minute with a numerical disadvantage. When the Frenchman finally got into the action, he marked it with a spectacular stoppage time volley that Hall couldn’t keep out.

Stafford: 13 Russell Saunders, 2 Beto Gomes, 3 Joe Dunne, 4 Todd Ferrier, 5 Andy Burns, 7 Kyle Sambor (14 Wealth Da Silva 67m), 8 Tom Tonks, 9 Scott Bakkor, 10 Jack Birch, 11 Darrhyl Mason (6 Anis Zaknoune 88m), 15 Mitch Clarke. Unused Subs: 12 Ty Webster, 16 Joe Thompson, 18 Max Chimenes

Nantwich: 1 Liam Hall, 2 Adrian Kandeke, 3 Thomas Graves, 4 Joe Piggott, 5 Harry Davis, 6 Patrick Kennedy, 7 Callum Saunders (16 Will Smith 79m), 8 Ethan Hartshorn, 9 Luke Enright, 10 Joshua Hancock (15 Joseph Collins 84m), 11 Oliver Pope (12 Collins Kagame 68m). Unused Subs:13 Zac Prior, 14 Fenton Green

Referee: David Hinton

Cautions: Bakkor 75m (Stafford); Davis 26m, Enright 73m (Nantwich)

Goals: Stafford: Mason 34m, Clarke 86m, Zaknoune 90+1m Nantwich: Saunders 54m

Att: 783

Match report written by Chris Elsley (www.staffordrangers.co.uk)