Padiham vs Stafford Rangers

Recap

Rangers dominated throughout but left Graham Deakin a frustrated man at half time as the two sides went into the break on level terms.

But once Birch had broken the deadlock, there was no stopping the men in black and white.

Although Rangers had controlled from the off, it wasn’t until the 24th minute that they produced a serious shot on goal, Tom Tonks going inches wide at the end of Stafford’s best move of the game.

Five minutes later, Padiham keeper Harry Grimshaw was tested for the only time in the opening 45 minutes when he dived to his left to push away another shot from Tonks.

Ty Webster fired over before Kyle Sambor headed wide as he ran on to a centre from Beto Gomes.

Birch also missed the target when he tried to redirect another Tonks effort while Remi Efunnuga was well wide with his shot from some way out.

Failure to take chances have proved costly in the past and Rangers had a lucky escape in stoppage time when Oumar Camara powered home a header from Jack Price’s free kick but referee Joseph Hind ruled it out for reasons best known to himself.

Alex Meechan wondering when and if we’re going to score

Half Time: Padiham 0 Stafford Rangers 0

Rangers remained the dominant side after the turn around but continued to struggle with the final ball until the 61st minute when Darrhyl Mason – on for Kyle Sambor – picked out Birch with his cross from the right and last season’s leading scorer headed in despite the efforts of Brad Knox.

Birch hits the deck as his header hits the back of the net for 1-0

A minute later, it was 2-0 as Birch headed in Rangers’ second, this time from Ty Webster’s cross.

Birch celebrates after a second almost carbon copy back post header

Birch was denied a third when Grimshaw saved after an initial poor clearance had gifted the chance but the Stafford forward made sure of his hat trick on 79 minutes.

Scott Bakkor picked him out with an excellent diagonal ball from the left and Birch, with just one touch to control, fired past Grimshaw.

Birch slots home for his hat trick after Bakkor’s ball found him in space

A rush of blood and wild kick out from Jack Gooden saw Padiham reduced to 10 men on 88 minutes. The home left back didn’t fancy trying to match the pacey Mason, instead choosing to deliberately take out the Stafford man.

Jack Gooden inexplicably scythes down Mason

Off you go son. Hinds shows red to Gooden as Mason still can’t believe how rash the challenge was

Four minutes into added time, Rangers added to Padiham’s misery – they were beaten 7-0 at home by Pontefract in the FA Trophy 48 hours earlier – when Kieran Sherlock failed to deal with Todd Ferrier’s pass and Mason pounced to make it 4-0.

Mason beats the keeper for 4-0 in added on time

The home side could have no complaints at the margin of Rangers’ victory.

Full Time: Padiham 0 Stafford Rangers 4

Padiham: 1 Harry Grimshaw, 2 Kieran Sherlock, 3 Jack Gooden, 4 Brad Knox (14 Alfie Belcher 81m), 5 Matty Makinson (16 Theo Woerner-Peacock 15m), 6 Lee Pugh, 7 Jack Doherty (15 Jeanny Akpo 69m), 8 Sekouba Camara (12 Jack Price 45+3m), 9 Oumar Camara, 10 George Chmiel (17 Nick Hepple 69m), 11 Fenton Davies.

Stafford: 13 Russell Saunders, 2 Beto Gomes, 4 Remi Efunnuga (14 Todd Ferrier 80m), 5 Andy Burns (3 Anis Zaknoune 82m), 6 Harvey Washington, 7 Kyle Sambor (11 Darrhyl Mason 56m), 8 Tom Tonks, 9 Scott Bakkor, 10 Jack Birch (17 Ashley Fallon 88m), 12 Ty Webster (16 Joe Thompson 70m), 15 Mitch Clarke.

Referee: Joseph Hind

Cautions: Chmiel 36m, Hepple 90+5m (Padiham) Webster 65m, Thompson 87m (Stafford)

Sent Off: Gooden 88m (Padiham)

Goals: Birch (3) 61m, 62m, 79m, Mason 90+4m (Stafford)

Att: 393

Report by Chris Elsley