Everall bags a brace as Rangers get back on track
STAFFORD RANGERS 2 ILKESTON FC 1
TWO-GOAL Simon Everall put Stafford Rangers back on track as the Boro posted a home victory over lowly Ilkeston FC on Tuesday night, writes Dave McLean.
Everall struck at the start of both halves to lead Rangers to their third Evo Stik premier win of the season and boss Greg Clowes said: “That was just the response we were looking for.” Having witnessed possibly the worst Rangers display under his 16-month reign at Frickley on Saturday, Clowes and a small 300 crowd saw a much improved performance.
Just three minutes had gone when Rangers grabbed the lead. Everall latched on to a fine through ball from Peter Heler and held off a defender to beat Ilkeston keeper Ashley Timms with a low drive.
Back in the ranks and making his first start was midfielder Levi Reid and his experience brought a more solid look to the Boro side. He saw his early longrange effort drift just wide.
However, Rangers did not have it all their own way in the opening stages and twice, home keeper Adam Alcock had to get down to block efforts from Daryll Thomas.
Rangers responded with a free-kick from Courtney Pitt that was fumbled by Timms, but Danny Quinn hooked wide from a tight angle.
On the stroke of half-time, Rangers went close again when Ryan Dicker, up for a Jimmy Turner free kick, headed inches wide.
Within two minutes of the restart, Rangers boosted their hopes of a second home league success when Everall pounced again. His first effort was blocked by Timms, before he netted from the rebound.
Ilkeston immediately sent on the experienced Gary Ricketts and he got on the end of a Matt Richards free kick, forcing Alcock into a far post save.
After Everall had drilled wide from long range, Ilkeston cut the deficit with 17 minutes to go.
Richards took a corner short to Jack Watts and he curled a delightful effort over Alcock into the far corner of the net, leading to a few nervy late moments for the home side and their fans.
On 81 minutes, Ilkeston’s Dominic Chambers slipped past a couple of Boro defenders and got in a low shot that Alcock held safely at the near post.
The match was well into stoppage time when a thrown in from substitute Fabrice Kasiama was controlled on the chest by Quinn and he turned quickly only to volley just wide.
Next up for Rangers is Saturday’s home league fixture against leaders North Ferriby United, followed by a trip to third place Marine on Tuesday night (7.45pm).
For the record Rangers: Adam Alcock, Jimmy Turner, Oliver Davies, Liam Walshe, Ryan Dicker, Peter Heler, Levi Reid (Fab Kasiama 86), Lee Downes, Simon Everall (Darren Alexander 90), Danny Quinn, Courtney Pitt. Subs not used, Luke George, Alex Curtis, Jordan Wood.
Ilkeston: Ashley Timms, Joe Wilcoxs (Greg Pearson 70), Ryan Wilson, Dion Chambers, Dan Partridge, Joe Maguire, Jack Watts, Matt Richards, Aaron Hooton (Dereece Gardner 52), Daryll Thomas, James Reid (Gary Ricketts 52); Subs not used, Russell Peel, Chris Martin.
Bookings: Liam Walshe (Rangers); Ashley Timms, Dan Partridge (Ilkeston).
Referee: Paul Hobday (Tipton); Att: 312.
Other Boro forthcoming fixtures: Oct 27 v Ramsbottom United (FA Trophy 2nd qualifying).
Oct 30 v Chorley (home) or FA Trophy replay; Nov 3 v Blyth Spartans (away); Nov 6 v Wolves Casuals (away), Walsall Senior Cup round one.
Shock as Boro take the lead, then slump to defeat at lowly Frickley
FRICKLEY ATHLETIC 2 STAFFORD RANGERS 1
STAFFORD Rangers took an early lead at basement side Frickley Athletic on Saturday, but in the end slumped to defeat.
Rangers showed one change from the side that drew at Rushall Olympic, with Simon Everall replacing Peter Heler.
Frickley, looking for only their second league win of the season, created an opening on five minutes but Gavin Allott’s shot was comfortably dealt with by Adam Alcock.
Rangers responded with Everall firing over the angle of post and crossbar following a flick-on from Danny Quinn. Luke Hinsley headed over for the home side before a storming run from Jason Yates teed up leading scorer Allott, but Rangers’ young defender Oliver Davies did enough to thwart the effort.
The visitors should have opened the scoring on 18 minutes when a poor back pass by Jake Picton was intercepted by Everall but he failed to get round keeper Tom Woodhead. Good work by Quinn picked out Everall but he was again thwarted by Woodhead diving low to his left.
Rangers broke the deadlock midway through the first half when Courtney Pitt clipped the ball into the six-yard box for the unmarked Quinn to head home.
Frickley began to come more into the game and Yates headed over a cross from Jimmy Ghaichem. Frickley almost equalised when Allott forced a fine save from Alcock after a measured pass from Yates.
Rangers had the ball in the net for a second time when Quinn again despatched a cross from Pitt but the linesman flagged for offside.
An incisive break from Frickley almost produced an equaliser when Woodhead found Yates who in turn fed Hinsley. The striker’s shot beat the advancing Alcock but hit the side-netting.
The equaliser eventually came three minutes before the interval. A free-kick from Tom Johnston was headed back across goal by Picton and Hinsley did the rest, volleying past Alcock.
The second half was a dire affair. The home side took the lead on 54 minutes when Allott picked the ball up in midfield, ran at the Rangers defence, and with the Boro rearguard standing off the big forward, crashed home a right foot shot from 18 yards.
Rangers could have grabbed an equaliser in the 82nd minute when Quinn’s knock back picked out Everall but his weak effort was comfortably blocked by Terry Barwick.
Allott had two late chances for Frickley, as Rangers ran out of steam, ideas and time as they suffered their second league defeat of the season.
For the record Frickley: Woodhead, Barwick, Stratford, Aujia, Picton, Johnston, Yates (Buck 80), Bloor, Allott, Hinsley (Quickenden 77), Ghaichem. Subs not used: Wood, Sibenge, Levers.
Rangers: Alcock, Espley (Forde 36), Davies, Walshe, Dicker, Carr (Sheldon 66), Turner (Heler 63), Downes, Everall, Quinn, Pitt. Subs not used: Reid, Wood Booked: Aujia, Bloor (Frickley).
Referee: Ken Haycock. Attendance: 244.
