Match Report | Stafford Rangers (H)
The Yeltz fall to disappointing home defeat to Stafford Rangers as the visitors advance to the final round of qualifying
Brief Overview
Just like the weekend, Stafford took the lead, but this time much earlier. A corner was won after a long throw from ex Yeltz midfielder Tom Tonks flicked off a head in royal blue. The delivery from the left found the head of defender Joe Dunne in the middle of the box.
We turned up the level in the second 45, which was much needed, and it warranted an equaliser with 25 still to play. A corner from Jim Kellermann was met by Jason Cowley in the box, who stuck the ball into the bottom right. The sucker punch was delivered eight minutes from time, as Remi Efunnuga tapped into the net at the back post, from yes, another Tonks long throw.
Match Report
The atmosphere was electric, and fair play to our visitors who packed out the away end pretty much 30 minutes before kick-off. The highly anticipated cup tie was put on hold just after the players walked out, so Dan Platt could have a photo with the XI to celebrate 400 games for the club, which he achieved at the weekend. This was a proper non-league advertisement, cheap tickets, two well supported clubs, and one big prize many sides are this level dream of – a shot at making it one step closer to the illustrious First Round Proper.
The visitors made the last round of qualifying just six years ago, but for us, it was 22 long years. So long ago that the person whose match report your reading was just four months old. While Yeltz gaffer Russ Penn was an 18 year old starting his player career. A long time. Early on in this contest, it was the away side who let the first opportunity slip, literally. Fullback Joe Dunne lost his footing and allowed Dan Meredith to sprint down the right. He crossed for Vanylson Silva, but instead the ball went over the wingers head, and into the Boro’s possession.
The opening 15 was far from pretty, and very physical. We were once again in attack, and some brilliant pressure from Jason Cowley on keeper Leon Phillips gave us a corner. The delivery from loanee Samson Hewett found Cowley, whose header flicked off the post, before spinning in the air across the goal line, and into Phillips’ gloves. The visitors took a while to get going up front, but Todd Ferrier managed to switch play on 21 minutes to Bebeto Gomes running down the right to win a free-kick on the edge of the area. The delivery from Birch was scrambled away.
The visitors opener was the highlight of a poor first half of football from both. Neither really had much going for them, especially us. We did manage one last chance to end the half, and again it was cleared off the line. A free-kick just outside the box was awarded after Silva was brought down. It was Cowley who took on the long range strike over the wall, which was superbly tipped over the bar from Phillips to deny the ball from floating into the top right. The delivery from the corner which followed, from Hewett, found Cowley, whose header was desperately kept out. Two big chances in the first half, but not much else.
The second 45 was much better, and it only took four minutes for us to force Phillips into another outstanding stop. Having come on at the end of the first half for the injured Lewis Ison, Jim Kellermann found Josh Bailey in the box. The latter’s curling effort was tipped away with brilliant reflexes, before Meredith fired a shot onto the Shed sign above the goal. The game took a slight near 15 minute slump, but after the hour mark, we really stepped up the tempo leading to the equaliser.
Two minutes before Cowley found the net, a free-kick after the September Player of the Month was brought down to ground, was put over the bar by Kellermann. The leveller felt oh so good, and very much deserved after having three efforts off the line prior, but it could have got so much better. Four minutes following the goal, the ball was slipped through to Hewett from Meredith, whose shot inside the area went past Phillips, but lacked pace and was easily cleared by Gomes, another off the line.
A Kellermann free-kick was whipped just wide of the right corner, as the game entered into the last 20 minutes where the Boro really stepped up. The huge save from Platt, after a cross down the right of the box found Birch in the centre was a wake up call for what was to come seven minutes later. It was Tonks’ night, both goals coming from his long throw. We pushed in the latter stages, bringing on Rob Evans & Ty Barnett in the hope of one final big chance from a set piece, like on Saturday. This time it wasn’t to be, and the only real chance in the remaining near 15 minutes plus stoppage time was a last minute corner which Platt nearly got his head to.
The full-time whistle sparked jubilant scenes for the away side, who back up their giant killing against Hereford and set up their tie against Gateshead. We would like to congratulate Graham Deakin’s side, and wish them all the best for the remainder of the competition and season. For us, the league takes precedence with six games, plus an FA Trophy game until the end the month. 18 points are up for grabs before November strikes, and plenty of opportunities to put tonight’s disappointment behind us, and go again.
Attendance: 2,078
Teams
Yeltz: Dan Platt (GK), Ryan Wynter (C), Ryan Wollacott, Todd Parker, Lewis Ison (Jim Kellermann 42’), Jason Cowley, Vanyslon Silva (Ty Barnett 85’), Milan Butterfield, Josh Bailey (Rob Evans 85’), Samson Hewett (Ben Cassidy 73’), Dan Meredith
Unused Subs: Gael Mfuamba (GK), Matt Preston & Patrick Wood
Stafford Rangers: Leon Phillips (GK), Bebeto Gomes, Joe Dunne, Todd Ferrier, Andrew Burns (C), Tom Tonks (Harvey Washington 85’), Kyle Sambor (Darrhyl Mason 71’), Scott Bakkor, Jack Birch, Ty Webster (Remi Efunnuga 65’), Mitch Clarke
Unused Subs: Russell Saunders (GK), Wealth Da Silva, Joe Thompson & Lewis Dilks