Staffordshire Senior Cup final: Stafford 3 Hednesford 2 - Report and pictures

A wholehearted El Staffico at Stoke's Bet365 Stadium saw Boro keep their nerve amid a late Pitmen onslaught.

Jack Sherratt's stunner put Kitching's men in front, but Anthony Dwyer equalised in an even more impressive manner.

A Kyle Perry header and a Rob Thompson-Brown free-kick got Rangers back on track to victory, with Ben Bailey's last-gasp goal - in the end - proving to be a mere consolation.

This being a clash of fierce rivals, a few feisty challenges were to be expected. The first booking came just six minutes in, Rangers' set-piece specialist Thompson-Brown going into the book after a late lunge on Darren Campion.

Hednesford had the lion's share of possession early on, but Boro's first effort on goal put them in front. Sherratt was allowed enough time to have a crack from 25 yards out and made no mistake, superbly guiding the ball home - Pitmen keeper James Wren rooted to the spot. Very composed.

Another sweet left-footed strike almost levelled the scores. Hednesford's James Lawrie saw his attempt tipped wide by the fingertips of Adam Whitehouse, who was making his 200th Rangers appearance. Whitehouse was then sharp to deny Danny Glover from close range.

Rob Smith's side were knocking on the door, and they levelled in stunning fashion. Dwyer hit the ball on the half-volley, with the outside of his right foot, and it flew into the top corner. The winger, who had a brief spell with Boro last campaign, looked pretty proud of himself - and rightly so.

Neither team made any changes for the start of the second period. The Pitmen should have had a second shortly after resumption. Levi Reid's under-hit back-pass fell straight to Dwyer but his low drive was turned just over the crossbar by the feet of Whitehouse.

Rangers were giving the ball away far too easily, and far too frequently. Calm play between Joe Fitzpatrick and Reece King meant Hednesford were winning the midfield battle.

Boro were frustrated and Massiah McDonald was soon cautioned, for tripping up Callum Mendez-Jones.

Some suspect goalkeeping from Wren was punished upon as Rangers regained the lead. He was caught in no man's land following Sherratt's corner, allowing Perry to head in from a few yards out. The burly striker - booked a few minutes after for shoving over Pitmen captain Ben Bailey - was never going to miss from there.

Then it all became rather frantic. It was end-to-end stuff, both teams utilising the big Potters pitch. Kitching had Whitehouse to thank, once again, for some fine reflexes - getting across quickly to claw away James Fitzgibbon's curler.

Thompson-Brown thought he had made sure of the trophy just prior to added-on time as his free-kick, with the help of Bailey's head, found its way past Wren.

Glover was lucky to escape with just a yellow for kicking Whitehouse before Bailey replied, for an anxious ending.

Hednesford threw everything but the kitchen sink to try take it to extra time but, thankfully for Kitching, who is stepping down after their last league game this weekend, Rangers held on.

Teams

Stafford (4-3-3): Whitehouse; Reid (Davis, 65), Griffiths, Brown, Westwood; Craddock (c), Sherratt, Thompson-Brown, Waite (Thomas, 90), Perry, McDonald (Abadaki, 80)

Subs not used: Burnett, Stephenson (gk)

Hednesford (4-4-2): Wren; Curley, Bailey (c), Mendez-Jones, Campion; Dwyer, Fitzpatrick (Thorley, 65), King (Butlin, 85), Fitzgibbon; Lawrie, Glover

Subs not used: Rea, Gatter, Veiga (gk)

Attendance: 847