Recap
Facing the same opposition as their final league opponents last season, Rangers arrived with a renewed confidence and a very different team. Manager Graham Deakin named an unchanged starting XI from last week’s FA Cup win over Tividale, with Kyle Sambor returning to the squad among the substitutes.
Both sides settled quickly in possession, with Stafford looking the more threatening in wide areas. Wealth Da Silva was inches away from meeting a Ty Webster cross, while Adam Rooney stood firm aerially for the hosts. Vauxhall’s first opening came on 16 minutes from a free kick on the edge of the box following a Harvey Washington foul, but the resulting strike was comfortably blocked by the Rangers wall.
Stafford continued to grow into the game. Webster and Jack Birch saw efforts charged down inside the area, before Scott Bakkor forced Jack Atkinson into action with a powerful right footed drive that the goalkeeper gathered at the second attempt.
The home side should have taken the lead on 35 minutes when Rob Hopley found space at the back post, but he could only steer his header wide of Leon Phillips’ goal. Dale Jennings then fired off target, before Washington’s back post header in the 43rd minute was saved by Atkinson, ensuring the sides went in level at the break.
Half Time: Vauxhall Motors 0 – 0 Stafford Rangers
Rangers needed just two minutes of the second half to make the breakthrough. A trademark long throw from Tom Tonks caused chaos in the Vauxhall box, and with the defence unable to clear, Joe Dunne reacted quickest to nod the ball home from a yard out, sparking celebrations among the travelling supporters.
Five minutes later it could have been two. Da Silva broke through on goal following more poor defending and attempted to lift the ball over the advancing Atkinson, but his effort dropped narrowly over the bar.
The second goal arrived on 61 minutes and owed much to Stafford’s pressing. Vauxhall surrendered possession on the edge of their own box, allowing substitute Kyle Sambor to tee up fellow sub Darrhyl Mason—fresh onto the pitch—to stride into space and thump a clinical finish past Atkinson with one of his first touches.
With half an hour remaining, the game opened up as Vauxhall chased a route back into the contest. Their best chance came on 66 minutes when Kevin Ellison beat Phillips in the air, nodding down for Stephen Milne, whose effort was cleared off the line by Birch. Milne went close again in the 81st minute but failed to hit the target.
In stoppage time, Ellison produced a superb free kick from the edge of the box, only for Phillips to match it with an outstanding save—springing to his right to tip the ball onto the bar and preserve both his clean sheet and Stafford’s winning start.
A strong, disciplined performance and a statement opening victory for Rangers, who begin their league campaign with momentum and confidence ahead of their next game on Wednesday night against Lichfield City.
Full Time: Vauxhall Motors 0 – 2 Stafford Rangers
Vauxhall: 1. Jack Atkinson 2. Harry Deakin 3. Adam Hughes (14. Jay Ireland 81) 4. Robert Hopley 5. Adam Rooney 6. Finlay Heath (15. Liam Anderson 84) 7. Dale Jennings 8. Dan Kennedy (16. Josh Oultram 81) 9. Stephen Milne 10. Jacson Coppack 11. Sam Turner (17. Kevin Ellison 61)
Subs not used: 12. Joe Akpan
Cautioned: Hughes 43
Stafford: 1. Leon Phillips 2. Beto Gomes (14. Joe Thompson 79) 3. Joe Dunne 4. Remi Efunnuga 5. Andy Burns 6. Harvey Washington 7. Ty Webster (15. Kyle Sambor 55) 8. Tom Tonks 9. Scott Bakkor (17. Anis Zaknoune 90) 10. Jack Birch (12. Todd Ferrier 73) 11. Wealth da Silva (16. Darrhyl Mason 56)
Goals: Dunne 47, Mason 61
Assists: Sambor
Cautioned: Washington
Referee: Jacob Widdowson
