Shoot-out win brings dramatic end to Stafford Rangers losing streak
Stafford Rangers ended their eight-match losing streak with a penalty shoot-out win over Lichfield City in the Staffs Senior Cup.
Debutant goalkeeper Scott Moloney saved Josh Mansell’s spot-kick before Charlie Footes sent his wide of the post as the Boro claimed a morale-boosting 3-1 win on penalties.
The shoot-out followed a dramatic finish to the match, which saw Jack Birch put Stafford 2-1 up in the 91st minute, only for John Mills to level things up from the spot after Hisham Chiha was pulled back in the box.
Boro boss Graham Deakin joked: “If I actually had any hair, then I certainly wouldn’t have any left after tonight!
“To go ahead in the 91st minute and for them to go up the other end and score.
“You feel like everything is going against you so to end up getting the win and stopping the rot, we are buzzing.
“I thought the character we showed after going a goal behind was encouraging and to win it the way we did.
“We are a group that is low in confidence, so it took us a bit of time to get going.”
On the performance of new signing Moloney, the boss said: “I feel this club needs a No.1 that I can trust. He has played at the level and we have all seen tonight how good he was.
“Hopefully he can produce those kind of performances for the rest of the season.”
Goalkeeper Xander Parke was Hednesford’s hero as his spot-kick save saw them through to the Cup quarter-finals.
Parkes denied Nathan Stewart to earn the Pitmen a 5-4 shoot-out win at Kidsgrove Athletic. The tie had finished 2-2 after Josh Thorpe scrambled a late leveller for the hosts.
There was also joy for Rushall Olympic, who beat a youthful Walsall XI 3-0 to reach the semi-finals of the Walsall Senior Cup.
Luke Enright, Carter Lycett and Jakub Kruszynski were on the mark for the Pics.
