Recap
After last year’s early exit to Lutterworth Town — the club’s earliest FA Cup departure in ninety years — there was a clear determination to set the record straight. With a refreshed squad built by manager Graham Deakin, alongside the scouting work of Alfie Marsden and George Stephens, this felt like a very different Stafford Rangers.
Rangers were on the front foot immediately. Within two minutes, Tom Tonks launched two trademark long throws into the box, with Harvey Washington heading over the first real chance of the afternoon. Moments later, a clever short corner routine between Jack Birch and Ty Webster saw a superb cross whipped in that Scott Bakkor nodded just wide.
Wealth Da Silva then tried his luck from distance after Remi Efunugga showed great strength to retain possession, but the breakthrough arrived on 14 minutes. Webster, lively throughout, delivered another inviting ball from the left, and Bakkor made no mistake, nodding in from close range to mark his debut with a goal.
Rangers continued to press. Birch looked certain to double the lead when Dunne and Webster combined to create space, but his powerful effort was somehow blocked inside the six yard box. The second goal arrived on 31 minutes though when Webster and Bakkor linked up again, the former slipping in Da Silva, who rolled off his defender and finished confidently at the near post for his debut goal.
Three minutes later, it was 3–0. Webster completed a hat trick of assists, finding Tom Tonks, who turned neatly inside the box to score on his return to the club. The fourth came just before half time when Da Silva powered down the right and delivered a perfect cross for Bakkor to head home his second of the afternoon.
Half time: Stafford Rangers 4 – 0 Tividale
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Rangers controlling possession and creating chances. Da Silva fired over after being teed up by Beto Gomes, Tonks forced a save low to Hammond’s right, and Da Silva again showed superb ball carrying ability before seeing another effort stopped by the visiting keeper.
Gomes went close, and Bakkor struck the crossbar in search of his hat trick, with Birch unable to convert the rebound. Hammond continued to frustrate Rangers with a series of saves, but the fifth goal finally arrived with three minutes remaining. Da Silva, tireless all afternoon, received the ball from Birch, shifted onto his right foot and drilled home to complete the scoring.
A dominant performance, a clean sheet, and five goals to kick off the campaign — Stafford Rangers advance to face Matlock Town in the Preliminary Round.
Full time: Stafford Rangers 5 – 0 Tividale
Stafford: Leon Phillips, Beto Gomes, Joe Dunne, Remi Effunnuga, Andy Burns, Harvey Washington, Ty Webster, Tom Tonks, Scott Bakkor, Jack Birch, Wealth Da Silva. Subs: Joe Thompson, Russell Saunders, Todd Ferrier, Darrhyl Mason, Anis Zaknoune, Lewis Dilks
Goals: Bakkor 14,44 Da Silva 31,87 Tonks 35
Assists: Webster 3, Da Silva, Birch
Bookings: Tonks
Tividale: Declan Hammond, Ben Givargidze, Nuno Neves, Sahil Sajad, Harry Smart, Jude Thomas, Ethan Davis, Ben Corfield, William Uchenna, Aon Abbas, Enoch Popola. Subs: Taylor Jones, Jack Smart, Harrison Bruce, Harry Durn, Claudio Shimmer, Jayden Martin, Ben Wallis
