Recap
Like Rangers, the Shropshire side came into the game with a 100% league record, having won their 3 games to date, but they did suffer a surprise defeat to Sporting Khalsa in the FA Cup at the weekend.
There were changes to the Boro starting line up from the side that saw off Matlock Town with Harvey Washington not available while Ty Webster and Darryhl Mason replaced Kyle Sambor and Wealth Da Silva.
It looked like it might be business as usual as the home side created a great chance inside the opening three minutes but the unmarked Scott Bakkor headed over from Joe Dunne’s corner.
Had that chance been taken, it might have been a different story but from then on, Shifnal controlled affairs.
It was with their first real opportunity, on 20 minutes, that the visitors went ahead. The impressive Lewis Jarman began the move with a ball to Chay Tilt on the right. He skipped past Joe Dunne to pick out Andre Landell and though Andy Burns managed to block the shot, Zeli Ismail was on hand to score.
Dunne tried his luck with a shot from distance after cutting inside Jarman but found Andy Wycherley equal to it.
Referee Ryan Price was frustrating Rangers with some of his decision making and the award of one such free kick led to Shifnal doubling their lead on 33 minutes.
A deep free kick from Kyle Bennett found Sam Whittall and though Leon Phillips was able to block the header, he couldn’t hold on to the ball and, eventually, Landell fired in from a yard out.
The night then went from bad to worse as the visitors made it 3-0 on 41 minutes. A long ball from Ismail gave space on the left for Luke Edwards to run into. Phillips raced out to the edge of the area then stopped and the Shifnal man lifted the ball over the stranded keeper and into the unguarded net.
Rangers did create a couple of late chances to reduce the arrears before the teams went in for half time but Jack Birch fired over from close range then Wycherley had to claw away a throw from Tom Tonks.
Half Time: Stafford Rangers 0 Shifnal Town 3
Deakin made no immediate changes and Rangers began the second half on the front foot and showed early signs that they may make a fight of it but, with Shifnal getting men behind the ball, chances were limited.
Webster managed to get a shot in despite losing his footing but Whycherley saved, Clarke powerfully headed over while Mason’s header was straight at the visiting keeper.
Time was already against Rangers when they found themselves down to 10 men for the final 15 minutes. Landell fouled Remi Efunnuga but the Stafford midfielder appeared to kick out at Landell in the aftermath.
Six minutes later, Shifnal inflicted yet more misery on the home side. Bennett launched a counter attack before laying off to Jack Hodnett. Burns made a superb block to deny the Shifnal sub but Bennett set up Landell to score.
It could have been even worse as Hodnett hit the post and Abdul Alamu Tajudeer forced a couple of late saves from Phillips.
A rude awakening for Rangers who can have no complaints at the outcome – they were truly outplayed in all departments.
Full Time: Stafford Rangers 0 Shifnal Town 4
Stafford: 1 Leon Phillips, 2 Beto Gomes (14 Todd Ferrier 83m), 3 Joe Dunne, 4 Remi Efunnuga, 5 Andy Burns, 6 Mitch Clarke, 7 Ty Webster (12 Kyle Sambor 56m), 8 Tom Tonks (17 Ashley Fallon 89m), 9 Scott Bakkor (16 Joe Thompson 85m), 10 Jack Birch (15 Wealth Da Silva 60m), 11 Darrhyl Mason.
Shifnal: 1 Andy Wycherley, 2 Ryan Price (17 Jack Hodnett 72m), 3 Luke Edwards, 4 Jack Rowley, 5 Sam Whittall, 6 Kyle Bennett, 7 Chay Tilt (12 Shaquille Whittingham 70m), 8 Oliver Shaw, 9 Andre Landell (16 Abdul Rassaq Tajudeen 83m), 10 Zeli Ismail (15 Craig Pritchard 59m), 11 Lewis Jarman. Unused Sub 14 Louis Bradford
Referee: Ryan Price
Cautions: Webster 37m, Alex Meechan 63m (Stafford) Bennett 37m, Tilt 69m, Price 70m, Landell 75m (Shifnal)
Sent Off: Efunnuga 75m (Stafford)
Goals: Stafford: None, Shifnal: Ismail 20m , Landell (2) 33m, 81m, Edwards 41m
Att: 932
Report by Chris Elsley
