retired_gabachitalinda

Liking the story so far, keep it up...nice title too

retired_arlene

Thanks for the feedback so far

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The Sentinel

Monday 17th July

Rangers avoid a turtle disaster

Rocester 0-0 Stafford Rangers XI

A late Paul Tortoiseshell header that shaved the woodwork was all that denied Midland Alliance outfit Rocester a notable scalp against a makeshift Rangers side comprising of many unknown faces.

A huge turnout for pre-season training has seen the Rangers squad culled to just six players not currently signed on forms invited back to see out the remainder of pre-season. Following the poor showing against the Romans, many faces were again shown the door, deemed not good enough to stand up to the test of Conference football.

Former Birmingham City midfielder Carl Motteram will stay on, alongside defender Chris Slater, star of the memorable FA Cup run enjoyed by Chasetown last season.

Wales under-21 cap Neil Gibson, Scott Rickards, Michael Standing and Danny Scheppel will also complete their pre-season campaigns in Staffordshire, hoping that their future lies with the Marston Road men.

Rocester also look set to endure an interesting season, with Paul Williams, who made his name with Coventry City and much travelled striker Tommy Johnson both registered for Damian Grocott’s outfit.

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Express and Star

Wednesday 19th July

Rangers to hit the road

Unibond Premier League side Witton Albion give Conference new boys Stafford Rangers their first big test of pre-season this evening. Midfielder Michael Standing has left the club to go on trial with Chesterfield but has been assured that Rangers will offer him a deal if things don’t work out with the League One club.

Nathan Smith is still to return to training following his motorcycle accident, with fears growing that he could be out until Christmas as preliminary tests have failed to fully diagnose the young prospect's condition. Other than that, Stafford travel north with a full squad to choose from.

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www.staffordrangers.co.uk

Thursday 20th July

Rangers are simply four-some


A terrific, competitive encounter did plenty to whet the appetite in anticipation for the new season as Rangers managed to come away from Cheshire with a fine victory.

“Who needs Mourinho, when we’ve got Jim Vince-ho” belted out the home faithful, but it was the tactical genius of Stafford’s stifling 3-5-2 system that prevented Witton from having the better of the exchanges.

Stafford took the lead at the midpoint of the first half when Kevin Street’s corner was met by the head of Levi Reid, with the ball creeping into the corner of the net. With Rangers in the ascendancy, the game opened up and a fine flowing move saw Guy Madjo tee up Nathan Talbott, as a rasping drive from the former Wolves wing-back doubled the advantage.

On the stroke of half time Talbott turned provider with a teasing cross converted by Iwan Roberts. There was still time for the hosts to fight their way back into the game, and deep into first half stoppage time Mark Peers had an effort chalked off as the diminutive winger was adjudged to have unfairly got the beating of Wayne Daniel following a neat cut-back from Stevie Connors.

By this time, Liam Murray had been forced out of the action with Richie Sutton coming on to deputise, and during the second half the game lost its ebb and flow with a further flurry of substitutions. However, Albion were gifted an avenue back into the game when a poor Neil Gibson clearance saw the lively Peers make a precision pass for Griff Jones to finish in style.

The partisan home crowd created a great atmosphere to spur their side on, but any hopes of a comeback were dashed when Danny Scheppel planted a firm header beyond Jon Kennedy for Rangers fourth.

Witton Albion 1 (Jones 58)
Stafford Rangers 4 (Reid 22, Talbott 39, Roberts 45, Scheppel 62)

Line up: Alcock; McAughtrie, Daniel, Murray; Gibson, Reid, Street, Murphy, Talbott; Roberts, Madjo. Subs used: Williams, Sutton, Gibson, Slater, Scheppel, Lovatt, Motteram, Dacres, Edwards, Grayson, Olaoye

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www.staffordrangers.co.uk

Friday 21st July

Managers comments after Witton game

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www.nonleaguedaily.com

Saturday 22nd July

The strife of Brian

Nuneaton Borough new boy Brian Quailey has gone back to his roots, to join the club where he began his career before sealing a move to West Bromwich Albion. However, the 28-year-old has hit back at what he called "scathing comments" in the press from Stafford Rangers new manager Jay Jenkins.

Quailey is insistent that he's done nothing wrong by shunning the Conference North play off winners, following his decision to abandon ship in favour of a move back to Nuneaton.
Of his pre-season to date he said, However, Rangers boss Jenkins slammed Quailey for turning his back on a club he had just agreed terms with.

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Sunday Mercury

Sunday 23rd July

Magical Motteram gives Rangers victory

Stafford gave their fringe players another run out at the Stan Brown stadium and just about scraped past their hard-working opponents from the First Division of the Unibond league.

Rangers made all the early pressing and Scott Rickards twice went close. Ten minutes before the interval, a hopeful long throw from Alex Gibson bobbled around the box before finding its way to Rickards who arrowed an effort in to the top corner beyond the outstretched arm of Matt Conkie in the Grove goal.

The inevitable shuffling of the packs after the break managed to prevent any rhythm to either side’s play so a stunning virtuoso effort from Carl Motteram looked as out of place as a bacon butty at a Bar Mitzvah when he weaved his way past three challenges before calmly slotting under a disparaging Conkie.

However, an error from keeper Matty Harris gave the hosts hope when a weak clearance saw strike partners Michael Rhead and Mickey Lennon tee up full back Alex Morris, and the summer signing from Crewe Alexandra steered his effort into the bottom corner. Further endeavour from Kidsgrove failed to yield any sustained pressure with a weak John Eyre effort all the reward they had to show for dominating the closing stages.

Kidsgrove Athletic 1 (Morris 78)
Stafford Rangers 2 (Rickards 35, Motteram 52)

Line up: Harris; N.Gibson, Slater, Richards; A.Gibson, Ridgway, Motteram, Dacres, Edwards; Miller, Rickards. Subs used: Francis, Shaw, Scheppel, Haynes, Milliard, Whatmough

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www.staffordrangers.co.uk

Monday 24th July

Rangers set for Rovers visit

League Two outfit Bristol Rovers come to Marston Road this evening with Pirates boss Paul Trollope bringing a full strength outfit for the clash.

Liam Murray joins long term injury victim Nathan Smith on the sidelines and Chris Slater also misses out due to a family engagement. Slater has done enough in pre-season to be offered a deal by new manager Jay Jenkins with negotiations ongoing. Slater is available for transfer without recompense following Chasetown’s manager Charlie Blakemore accepting Slater’s desire to move to a higher level following the expiration of his contract with the Scholars.

Weekend goalscorers Scott Rickards and Carl Motteram are in contention for a place on the bench as they too have been offered terms to turn their temporary stay with the club into a more permanent arrangement.

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The Sentinel

Tuesday 25th July

Rangers fail to let Pirates off the hook

Stafford’s woes began early when the talented Rickie Lambert curled a fourth minute free kick around the wall and into the far corner. The home side began to gain territorial superiority but often lacked the cutting edge or final ball to trouble the visitors. Despite being penned back, Rovers looked dangerous on the break and Richard Walker, Sammy Igoe and Byron Anthony all squandered opportunities before Lambert, at the hub of all the Pirates’ attacking threat, fed Igpe to lash the ball home from the edge of the box.

The misery continued after the interval as Walker crashed home a third but Stafford refused to lie down and were soon back in it when Nathan Talbott’s centre was met by half time substitute Dolapo Olaoye whose instinctive effort squirmed under the body of custodian Steve Phillips. A thunderous opportunist strike from Craig Lovatt had the visitors on the ropes, but his long range piledriver whistled just past the angle of post and bar.

Olaoye and Danny Edwards wasted further chances late on as Phillips’ goal led a charmed life, but the miss of the match went to visiting sub Lewis Haldane when in injury time he blew a gilt edged chance, scooping over from eight yards in front of an unguarded net.

Stafford’s manager Jay Jenkins was philosophical in defeat, Stafford Rangers 1 (Olaoye 63)
Bristol Rovers 3 (Lambert 4, Igoe 44, Walker 58)

Line up: Williams, Gibson, Talbott, McAughtrie, Sutton, Daniel, Reid, Street, Roberts, Madjo, Murphy.
Subs used: Grayson, Rickards, Motteram, Olaoye, Edwards, Lovatt, Dacres, Richards

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Express and Star

Friday 28th July

Staffs add three more to their regiment

Conference new boys Stafford Rangers have completed three more signings ahead of the new season, bolstering the squad in defence, midfield and attack.

Chris Slater who made a name for himself at Chasetown last season after being released by Wolves has made the step up, along with former Birmingham City protégé Carl Motteram. The 21-year-old never quite made the grade at St Andrews and was released in the summer, but a successful trial at Stafford has seen him back involved in the game.

Also signing on is Scott Rickards, with the former Kidderminster Harriers and Tamworth man looking to give his new club a pacy option in attack. Striker Nathan Smith, who was involved in a road traffic accident recently has been told that he is unlikely to play this season given the injuries he sustained, and so Rickards arrival is a timely boost.