Saturday 21st September 2002

AFC Shelfield Sports 0 Bilston Town 1
Express & Star League Division 1 North
At: Parkstone Close
Kick-off: 2-45 pm
Admission: none; Programme: none
Attendance: 55 (headcount)
Weather: sunny
Duration: first half: 46:16; second half: 47:59


With Stafford playing at Worcester City yesterday evening, I had the bonus of a Saturday game on a new ground and took the opportunity of meeting up with 'Walsall Neil' and 'Boro Mike'. Junior 'iwf' was with me as well.

Both sides were playing their first season in the division. AFC Shelfield had moved up while visitors Bilston were playing in the Dr Martens League Midland Division last season before taking a drop of three divisions.

AFC Shefield’s ground was located off the A461 Walsall to Lichfield road on Parkstone Close. The pitch (orientated north-east–south-west) was on the far side off a larger recreation ground and fully railed off with dugouts on the near touchline. Changing rooms were located next to Parkstone Close and players walked around 60 yards to the pitch itself.

Bilston, attacking the Lichfield Road (south-west) end in the first half, scored the only goal in the 15th minute. Nicky Pugh slotted home from eight yards out.

Two played picked up bookings both from Bilston. Romildo Consiglio received one in the 32nd minute for a foul on Shaun Green, and a foul on Duane Donnovan in the 74th minute earned one for Jason Cook.

AFC Shelfield Sports (orange/blue/blue): 1. Roger Morley, 2. Andrew Donnellan, 3. Neil Coles (capt), 4. Brendan Hateley, 5. Daniel Bathson, 6. Shaun Green, 7. Sean Pye, 8. Nick Lovett, 9. Duane Donnovan, 10. Mark Lodge, 11. Kevin Humpage. Subs: 12. Scott Smith (not used), 14. Craig Squires (not used), 15. Paul Perkins (not used), 16. Peter Wakeman (not used), 17. Steve Bird (not used).

Bilston Town (white with orange hoop / white / white): 1. Scott Turbutt, 2. Andy Turner, 3. Jason Cook, 4. Ian Guise (capt), 5. Neil Walters, 6. Lee Payne, 7. Lee Onions, 8. Craig Phillips, 9. Nicky Pugh, 10. Conrad Warren, 11. Romildo Consiglio. Subs: 12. Adam Pritchard (for Consiglio, 84), 14. Lee Allen (not used), 15. Lee Jones (not used).

Referee: W Whitehouse (West Bromwich).

Goals:
0-1 Nicky Pugh (15)

Monday 4th March 2002

Hednesford Town 3 Stafford Rangers 3
Dr Martens League Premier Division
At: Keys Park
Kick-off: 7-45 pm
Attendance: 1319
Duration: first half: 47:22; second half: 50:26

Two late goals, including an injury time equaliser from Darren Simkin, earned Rangers a point from a thrilling local derby. Hednesford held a two goal lead at the break but Tony Eccleston got Rangers back into the with a goal against his former club. However, the home side soon restored their two goal advantage. Paul Kiely narrowed the gap on 88 minutes then deep into injury time Darren Simkin fired a free-kick from 25-yards straight into the back of the net.

The first half was fiercely competitive and littered with fouls. On 3 minutes Davis tried to latch onto a throughball but Price got their just in time and dived bravely at the feet of the Hednesford forward. Davis then crossed deep from the left for the giant Francis to head back across goal and wide. Rangers had their own decent chance of the half on 25 minutes when Kiely fed Lovatt who fired wide from the edge of the area.

Three minutes later the Pitmen opened the scoring. Rae fed Lucas who raced down the left and crossed low into the Rangers six-yard box. Simkin and Price went for the ball with Francis and it ran free for Stewart Airdrie to fire home from a narrow angle. The lead was doubled two minutes later when a free-kick by Price deep into the Hednesford half was clear and the home side broke upfield down the right. Airdrie got in a deep cross to the far post where Neil Davis beat Brindley to the ball and headed home across the face of goal into the opposite side of the net. Moments before the break Hednesford should have made it three. Again on the break Davis and Rae combined as the ball went from left to right and Airdrie got in a deep cross to the far post but Francis completely missed the ball two yards out with only Price to beat.

After the break it was Stafford quickly got control of the game and started to give the home side plenty to think about. Wray crossed deep and Brindley at the far post but he couldn't get in a clear shot. Most of the chances came Rangers way and Brindley outjumped Lake to get in a header at the far post. Heath then had a shot blocked and Simkin fired the rebound over the bar. Lovatt shot wide from 20 yards then on 69 minutes Rangers had the ball in the back of the net but the effort was ruled out for a foul on the keeper. A couple of minutes later, Price made a brillient save to keep out a close range header from Francis. On 73 minutes Boughey crossed from the right and Tony Eccleston headed home against his former club from six yards out. However, Hednesford restored their two goal lead on 77 minutes through Airdrie who got on the end of a defence splitting pass and beat Price from close range.

Rangers quickly responded and Darren Shaw forced Jenkins to make an outstanding save to keep out a fierce shot from the left corner of the area destined for the far side of the net. Five minutes from time Brindley was pushed up front as Ian Painter replaced Eccleston with Howard. The came the dramatic finish. On 88 minutes a cross by Wray from the right was headed down by Brindley for Paul Kiely to stroke the ball past Jenkins from 8 yards. Into injury time there was further action inside the Hednesford area as Kiely and O'Connor were involved in a scramble and Shaw shot into the side netting from a very narrow angle. O'Connor suffered a suspected broken collor bone or dislocation and took no further part in the game. Then in fourth minute of injury time Lake fouled Lovatt 25 yards out and Darren Simkin struck the ball past the wall and straight into the net.

Hednesford Town: Adam Jenkins, Stuart Lake, Richard Lucas (capt), Adam Shakespeare, Ashley Williams, Lee Barrow, Wayne Simpson, Derek Rae, Neil Davis, Kevin Francis, Stewart Airdrie. Subs: Kwik Wale Ajetunnobi (83 mins for Francis), Andrew Brownrigg, Wayne Thomas

Stafford Rangers: Ryan Price, Darren Boughey, Darren Shaw, Stuart Ryder, Chris Brindley, Darren Simkin (capt), shaun Wray, Robert Heath, Tony Eccleston, Paul Kiely, Craig Lovatt. Subs: Joe O’Connor (52 mins for Ryder), Jon Howard (85 mins for Eccleston), Scott Dundas (79 mins for Heath)

Referee: Mr I.K. Scarr
Assistants: Mr J.A. Hughes & Mr A.E. Gopsill

Tuesday 15th January 2002

Stafford Rangers 4 Rocester 1
Staffordshire Senior Cup Third Round
At: Marston Road
Kick-off: 7-45 pm
Programme: 20p (4 pages)
Attendance: 326
Weather: -
Duration: first half: 47:28; second half: 46:55


After all the rain and snow which had caused the postponement of several recent games, it was good to see some football for the first time in 2002. Saturday’s originally scheduled fixture at Tamworth didn’t take place they were still involved in the FA Trophy

Robert Heath made his debut and Stafford got the game underway attacking the Social Club end in the first half.

The visitors took a shock lead in the 6th minute when Richard Batho crossed from the left and Craig Walklet beat Ward with a glancing header. Rangers soon got going but found it difficult again a side defending in numbers content to hold their lead. Tony Eccleston saw a header headed off the line and soon after the hardworking Daryl Wilkes fired straight at visiting keeper Jon Edensor from outside the area. The equaliser came just past the half hour mark when Heaney handled on the edge of the area and Darren Simkin drove the resulting free-kick through the wall into the bottom right corner of the net. Chris Brindley had a header well held by Edensor then in the 35th minute Paul Kiely latched onto a forward pass by Eccleston and flicked the ball past the keeper.

Stafford’s lead was further extended in the 41st minute. Paul Kiely was on target again firing home with his right foot from the edge of the area. Three minutes later Robert Heath should have marked his debut with a goal but his close range shot hit Edensor and went over the bar for a corner.

Andy Bostock picked up a booking in the 46th minute for a foul.

Stafford’s fourth goal came in the 59th minute when the ball was threaded through a crowded area and Paul Kiely stabbed the ball home at close range to complete a hat-trick. Rocester thought he was offside but the flag stayed down.

The ball ended up in the back of the Rocester net again in stoppage time at the end. Wilkes put Kiely clear who decided to pass to O’Connor who slotted home only to be flagged offside.

Stafford’s Daryl Wilkes was named Man of the Match and Rangers now face a semi final tie against either Pelsall Villa, Tamworth, Stafford Town, Newcastle Town, Hednesford Town and Rushall Olympic.

Stafford Rangers (black and white stripes / black / black): 1. Karl Ward, 2. Leigh Everritt, 3. Ian Reed, 4. Paul Harris, 5. Chris Brindley, 6. Darren Simkin (capt), 7. Robert Heath, 8. Craig Lovatt, 9. Tony Eccleston, 10. Paul Kiely, 11. Daryl WIlkes. Subs: 12. Joe O'Connor (for Eccleston, 74), 14. Darren Boughey (for Lovatt, 79), 15. Andrew Brookes (for Everritt, 74), 16. Stuart Ryder (not used).

Rocester (blue/blue/blue): 1. Jon Edensor, 2. Paul Ede, 3. Andy Bostock, 4. Mick Ede, 5. Craig Heaney, 6. Nick Anthony, 7. Harvey Bussell, 8. Rob Myatt, 9. Craig Walklet, 10. Richard Batho, 11. Richard Owen. Subs: 12. Ben Skelton (for Heaney, 68), 14. William Brant (for Bussell, 59), 15. Alex Hook (not sued), 16. Richard Swain (for Batho, 65)

Referee: Mr CD Sarginson (Rugeley).
Assistants: L Jordan and R West.

Goals:
0-1 Craig Walklet (6)
1-1 Darren Simkin (32)
2-1 Paul Kiely (36)
3-1 Paul Kiely (41)
4-1 Paul Kiely (59)