Stafford Rangers slump to 2-0 defeat to Cumbrians

Stafford Rangers relegation worries continue to mount as they slumped to their sixth-successive league defeat with a 2-0 defeat to Workington, writes Matthew Appleby.

Two first-half goals from the visitors dampened the Stafford spirit at Marston Road as Gareth Arnison slotted away a 13th minute penalty and Anthony Wright fired the ball home from close range to seal a comfortable win for Workington.

Tim Flowers handed debuts to Burton Albion duo James Ellison and Garyn Preen, with Robert Ambrusics in goal, on loan from Leicester City and Sean Kinsella on loan from Plymouth Argyle.

Marston Road

Ellison was involved early-on, as the forward collided with Workington goalkeeper Aaran Taylor in the seventh minute, resulting in appeals for a penalty from the home fans which referee Mick Bell dismissed.

The Rotherham-based official was called into action six minutes later when Workington winger Phil McLuckie burst into the box and was brought down by Rangers defender and Northampton loanee Seb Harris to give Workington a clear penalty.

Arnison stepped up for the visitors and sent Ambrusics the wrong way, nestling his spot-kick into the bottom left-hand corner.

Tim Flowers’s men got their first chance in the 21st minute, when Kinsella found himself in space 30 yards out but the midfielder fired over.

Kinsella did test Taylor seven minutes later; the Plymouth loanee played a smart one-two with Ben Mills, before drilling a low effort straight at the Workington goalkeeper.

The away side punished Rangers for their slow start and made it 2-0 in the 30th minute.  Skipper David Hewson had his effort blocked, only for the ball to fall to Anthony Wright, who made no mistake from four yards.

Ambrusics was fortunate to avoid further embarrassment when he took too much time to clear the ball, allowing Arnison to charge him down but the forward’s block fell to safety.

Stafford’s best chance of the half came in the 36th minute. Craig McAughtrie headed Darren Wrack’s cross agonisingly over the bar after the centre-half towered above the Workington defence.

There was more controversy six minutes from the break as Ellison appeared to be hacked down in the box but the offside flag was raised against the Rangers front man.

The visitors continued from where they had left off in the second half, Arnison threatened to extend their lead after being played in by Shaun Vipond but the forward shot straight at Ambrusics.

 

Tim Flowers (left)

Rangers could have hit back in the 50th minute, as Ellison ran onto an Andre Francis through ball, only for Taylor to bravely deny the forward to prevent him from rounding the goalkeeper.

The away side twice went close to extending their lead within minutes. First, Hewson shot straight at Ambrusics and then Arnison forced a save from the Rangers keeper from Hewson’s knock down.

A short free-kick almost created a goal for Rangers in the 81st minute as Reid collected the ball from Wrack’s pass and then curled an effort just over the crossbar.

The defeat leaves Tim Flowers’s men floundering in 20^th place with a trip to second-place Guiseley next Saturday (December 18).

Did you go to the match? Can Flowers turn Stafford Rangers season around? Let North Staffs Football know your thoughts.

Stafford Rangers to face Cumbrian test

Stafford Rangers will be hoping the cold snap break turns their season around when they host Workington tomorrow (December 11) at Marston Road, writes Matthew Appleby

The original fixture, due to be played on December 3rd, was postponed due to a frozen pitch but the match looks set to go ahead this time this weekend.

Rangers are currently second from bottom in the table but manager Tim Flowers boasts three new signings in Sean Kinsella, who is on loan until January 10^th and Burton Albion duo Garyn Preen and James Ellison.

Marston Road

Burton manager Paul Peschisolido has allowed both players to join Rangers on a one-month loan deal, giving them an opportunity to gain some much needed experience at a lower level.

Striker Danny Campbell has also arrived from Tipton Town to add strength to Rangers’ attacking options, while Liam McDonald has left for Kettering Town and Rod McDonald has returned to Oldham after completing his loan spell.

Flowers will be without the suspended Martyn Naylor after the defender was sent off in their 1-0 defeat to Blyth Spartans in the FA Trophy.

Both sides have endured a disappointing run of results, with Rangers mustering just one point from their last seven league games, while Workington have lost their last five league matches.

Workington remain ninth in the league and sit thirteen points above Flowers’s men in the Blue Square North.

Rangers will be relying on top scorer Christopher Sterling to lead from the front if they are to end their winless run, whilst dangerman for the visitors will come in the form of joint top-strike partners Shaun Vipond and Jonny Wright.

Stafford Rangers boss up for FA Trophy clash

Stafford Rangers boss Tim Flowers is adamant that his side aren’t going to ‘roll over’ on Saturday (Nov 20), writes Lewis Davies.

Rangers face a long 220-mile trip to the Northumberland coast as they take on Blyth Spartans in the third-qualifying round of the FA Trophy.

But the former-England keeper said that his side need to be wary of their top players.

He added: “Blyth are a good side and they have one of the league’s top goalscorers Paul Brayson in their team.

Tim Flowers (left)

“However, there is no chance that I’m making the four hour journey up north to see us roll over and get our tummies tickled.

“I thought we were the better team against Solihull a few weeks back, who are now flying high, and I expect us to make as many chances as we did against Hinckley where we created nine or ten clear cut opportunities and converted just one.

“I’m going there to win the game and we’ll give it everything.”

Defender Mark Dudley is expected to be fit having come back from a recent ankle injury but the occasion may have come too soon for forward Tyree Clarke.

Darren Wrack and Jermaine Johnson remain suspended and despite also missing out on Nantwich midfielder Michael Carr’s signature this week, Rangers boss Tim Flowers is adamant his team will perform nonetheless.

Kick-off is 3.00pm at Spartans Croft Park.

North Staffs Football predicts a 2-1 Blyth Spartans win.

Stafford Rangers drop to bottom two after Hinckley defeat

Stafford Rangers manager Tim Flowers bemoaned his side’s failure to finish as they lost 3-1 to Hinckley United at Marston Road, writes Lewis Davies

Jamie Reid fired Hinckley ahead, hitting a fine strike into the top-left corner before Ben Mills equalised with a soft penalty just before half-time.

An own-goal from Seb Harris put Hinckley ahead again after Reid’s dangerous free-kick caused mayhem in the box.

Substitute Danny Newton’s strike put the game to bed for the away side but Flowers rued many missed opportunities.

Stafford Rangers/ Hinckley United

He said: “I don’t know how many chances we’ve carved out this season but I think we had enough to win three games today.

“It’s easy to sit here and say we were the better side but I think we were. Their goalkeeper was their best player, which tells a story.”

American defender Harris suffered a nightmare game having scored the own goal and being at fault for Hinckley’s third but also wasted good efforts at the other end.

With a team consisting largely of youngsters, Flowers believes his side need to adapt and learn from their errors quickly.

He added: “Obviously it’s an own-goal which is just one of those things that happens but an under-hit back-pass was punished and you get punished brutally at any level. They (Hinckley) have rode their luck and that irritates me.

“There’s a reason why the likes of Oldham and Northampton use us as a vehicle to get these kids experience so they can make their mistakes here.

“I’m not going to beat people up too badly because you can’t fault effort but the second and the third goal just wasn’t good enough.”

Stafford’s second-highest scorer Tyree Clarke as well as regular centre-back Mark Dudley missed out on Saturday due to injuries and should be back for the next league game against Vauxhall Motors.

However, Flowers said he will continue bringing in players to add to Harris, Liam and Rod McDonald and decent debutant Martin Naylor before that game comes around.

He said: “Our scoring record tells a story. We can’t score a goal but I’ll be looking at all avenues.

“I’m not looking to make wholesale changes because I haven’t got the money. I’m no Paul Daniels, we’re not going to get anything better than what we have for £100.

“My job is to improve the quality of this football club and team and that’s what I’m going to do.”

Stafford Rangers desperate for goals

Tim Flowers will be looking for his first win as Stafford Rangers manager on Saturday (Nov 13) when they take on fellow strugglers Hinckley United, writes Lewis Davies

Rangers haven’t played a game for a fortnight when they drew 1-1 with Solihull Moors, and haven’t won a match under the former-England goalkeepers charge.

Their result to Solihull ended a streak of four consecutive defeats in all competitions as the side look to build.

The encounter will be only Flowers’ second home game since arriving at Marston Road last month and since his appointment he has made numerous changes.

Marston Road

Using the contacts gained during his spell as goalkeeping coach at Northampton Town he has signed American forward-come-defender Seb Harris on-loan to bolster a team which has scored just nine goals all season.

The versatile Harris should make his home debut and Flowers will be looking for more goals from several other positions as only three players in his squad have contributed to that nine-goal tally.

Top scorer Chris Sterling, with five goals to his name, will be seen as the home side’s key player and the same goes for ex-Norwich City midfielder Tyree Clarke who has netted three times.

Both will be pushing for starts against Hinckley and 18-year-old Clarke in particular will be vying for a regular first-team spot, having scored most of his goals as a substitute.

Rangers will be seeking revenge over their Leicestershire opponents after they suffered a 4-0 mauling in the side’s last encounter.

Despite inflicting Rangers’ biggest loss of the season in that game, Flowers’s men are now level on points with their opponents with two or even three games in hand over some of their fellow Blue Square North competitors.

It could be too early to call this a six-pointer but with Rangers hanging joint-second bottom and precariously over the relegation zone a win will certainly ease things for the manager.

North Staffs Football predicts a 2-1 Stafford Rangers win.

Let us know your thoughts on new boss Tim Flowers and your score predictions for the weekend.