Match Report | Stafford Rangers (A)
The Yeltz leave it very late to rescue an FA Cup Replay with last minute draw at Stafford Rangers
Brief Overview
The Yeltz went behind with less than 20 minutes remaining of normal time. The hosts took their chance at the right time, earning a dangerous free-kick after Mitch Clarke was fouled just outside the box. The delivery from ex Yeltz midfielder Jack Birch found the diving header of Clarke, who directed his header into the net from close range.
Time slipped away from our hands. The clock struck the minimum of six minutes additional time, but the factor of ‘minimum’ became key. The game ventured towards the best part of the seventh minute, but play resumed. A Rob Evans long throw dropped to Cowley, who dinked the ball to the back post. The ball came off Andrew Burns under pressure from Milan Butterfield to Vanylson Silva, who slammed the ball into the net.
Match Report
It was a special day in Staffordshire, as a record 3,130 attended the Stan Robinson Stadium for this huge FA Cup clash. For the Boro’, it’s been six years since they last made the Fourth Qualifying Round, but for us, 22 years. Both sides set their mission to get back there, but a tight and nervy game was always going to be on the cards considering what was on the line.
It was the Yeltz who crafted the first opportunity of the game, shooting towards the Shed End in the opening 45. A corner from Josh Bailey went towards Matt Preston in the box, whose header forward was blocked. Three minutes later came the hosts first attack forward of any purpose. They worked the ball nicely down the left so Scott Bakkor could slide Jack Birth through down the wing. The latter’s cross went into a dangerous area, but was cleared by Ryan Wynter, a former Stafford player.
The time which led up to half-time was very much dominated by the hosts, who fed off their hostile home atmosphere. Our captain was involved again to stop another cross from Bakkor, after centre half had delivered a ball forward to Joe Dunne. Confusion at the back very nearly cost us on 24 minutes, as Birch found himself 1v1 after Wynter’s mistake. The former had an opportunity to shoot, but inexplicably slid the ball across to Bakkor, whose shot sliced wide.
Just after the half hour mark, a rare Yeltz attack forward saw a Jim Kellermann shot flick wide off Jason Cowley’s heel, but the best chance for the remainder of the game fell to Boro. A Tom Tonks free-kick was whipped into the box from the right. The ball met the head of Dunne in the middle, who somehow failed to his the target from the centre of the six yard box. It was a testing half, but it wasn’t finished there, as a Bebeto Gomes effort flew over from 30 yards.
We may not have enjoyed much of the riches in the first period, but the second half was a bit more kind to us. A 52nd minute free-kick from Kellermann was flicked on by Lewis Ison and found the feet of Wynter in the six yard box. The latter has no space to shoot so instead passes to the arriving Preston, whose shot was blocked by Dunne.
The right hand side of the pitch was where Stafford found the majority of their joy throughout, and Bailey took the full front. The Yeltz defender failed to stop Bakkor, whose slid past him and towards the by-line. Stafford’s number 9 put a delicate ball across the goal line, which Clarke nearly stuck into the net. Throw-in’s and corner’s became prevalent for us, and one just after the hour mark was punched away by Leon Phillips after some superb hold up play from Vanylson Silva up against Gomes.
The deserving of the hosts goal is to be contested. Neither side really took the game by the scuff of the neck, and at the same time, both teams were profligate in front of goal. The match took a turn on 80 minutes, as substitute Kyle Sambor was sent off for a reckless tackle on Silva in the box.
The sending off saw the game twist heavily in our favour, and Russ proceeded to bring on Rob Evans on the 88th minute. A substitution that contained a big reward. It was another substitute, Ty Barnett, who forced a terrific point blank stop from Boro keeper Phillips, just before additional time. The six minutes added on, were largely ineffective, but it was from Evans throw-in, where the equaliser originated. Now, it’s time to welcome Stafford to our home on Tuesday night, and the fact of finding out the next round opponents for the winner beforehand, only adds to the anticipation.
Attendance: 3,130
Teams
Stafford Rangers: Leon Phillips (GK), Bebeto Gomes, Joe Dunne, Todd Ferrier, Andrew Burns, Tom Tonks, Scott Bakkor (Joe Thompson 83′), Jack Birch (Ty Webster 90′), Darrhyl Mason (Wealth Dasilva 66′), Mitch Clarke, Remi Efunnuga (Kyle Sambor 61′)
Unused Subs: Russell Saunders (GK), Anis Zaknoune, Lewis Dilks
Yeltz: Dan Platt (GK), Ben Cassidy (Samson Hewett 74′), Matt Preston, Ryan Wynter (C), Lewis Ison (Todd Parker 65′), Jason Cowley, Vanylson Silva, Milan Butterfield, Josh Bailey (Rob Evans 88′), Jim Kellermann (Ty Barnett 77′), Dan Meredith
Unused Subs: Gael Mfuamba (GK), Ryan Wollacott, Patrick Wood