Town Edged Out By Rangers in Staffordshire - Match Report: Stafford Rangers 1 NTFC 0
Match report by Matt Jones
Stafford Rangers 1-0 Nuneaton Town
(McQuilkin 33)
Attendance: 345
Nuneaton Town had their final Saturday (and away) friendly before the new season as they made the short journey up to Staffordshire to face Stafford Rangers. It was the first time in 14 years that a Nuneaton team had visited Marston Road.
Ben Whitehead replaced Domonic Perkins in defence in one change from Tuesday's huge win against the Griff, while Jayden Martin made the transition from trialist to named substitute. 2 further trialists made the bench.
Stafford started the strongest, early chances were dangerous but the Town defence held firm. Declan Somel had the first Town effort, volleying wide after 5 minutes. Three minutes later James Harrison picked up a good through ball, but his pass across the box was cleared for a corner, Loyiso Recci headed it wide.
Nuneaton had the best of the possession in the following minutes, and Stafford were reduced to an effort from distance on 19 minutes that Brandon Bache in goal did well not to be caught out by. A couple of free kicks were headed over by Recci and directly over the bar from Kyle Jardine's foot, before Harrison sliced a volley wide on 32 minutes.
From the goal kick Nuneaton pressed high as Stafford played out from the back, but a great first time long ball from the left back found McQuilkin in acres of space, who, with Bache off his line, lobbed the ball over him into the net to give Rangers the lead (0-1).
Stafford evened up the possession and the chances for the remainder of the half but it was the last chance of note before the half time whistle blew.
Half time: Stafford Rangers 1-0 Nuneaton Town
3 subs were made for Nuneaton at half time, as Dante Hesson, Aaron Williams and a trialist left back replaced James Spruce, Declan Somel and Callum Carsley.
Despite Stafford flashing a shot wide in the opening couple of minutes, Nuneaton had the most of the ball again, but were coming up against a defence that headed everything away. Jardine had a tame free kick held on 65 minutes, whilst at the other end a Stafford cross just failed to find his man at the back post.
Hesson had a half volley directed straight at the keeper on 74 minutes, before two final subs were made, Jayden Martin and a trialist on for James Harrison and Ben Whitehead. A frustrated Jardine had a final chance on 86 minutes as he headed wide from a Williams free kick into the box, whilst Bache was handed the only card of the game for handling outside his box, despite consistent fouling from Stafford all game. However it did its job, and the full time whistle blew with Stafford still in the lead.
A good account against Step 4 opposition, and useful practice as Nuneaton face Step 4 opposition again in 2 weeks time in the FA Cup against Coleshill Town. One final friendly on Tuesday at home to Leamington and then the league all starts again.
Full time: Stafford Rangers 1-0 Nuneaton Town
Team: Bache, Thomas, Recci, Whitehead-Thompson (trialist 75), Carsley (trialist 45), Currithers, Somel (Williams 45), Jones, Spruce (Hesson 45), Harrison (Martin 75), Jardine
Subs: Williams, trialist, trialist, Hesson, Martin
