Express & Star

Stalybridge Celtic 2 Stafford Rangers 0 - Report

A quickfire double from Stalybridge midfielder Connor Hughes ensured Stafford left a freezing Bower Fold empty-handed.

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And with just one win in seven league game, the Boro faithful will be anxiously looking over their shoulders as their side slips closer to the relegation places.

The first half saw chances created at both ends with Jack Sherratt forcing the home keeper into action before Adam Whitehouse did well to keep out an effort from Stalybridge striker Liam Dickinson – all within a frenetic opening eight minutes.

Osebi Abadaki then found himself one-on-one with Celtic keeper Walton but was unable to steer the ball past him.

Boro had powerful frontman Kyle Perry in the starting line-up following his return to Marston Road but it was Dan Westwood who almost broke the deadlock only for Walton to deny him.

As the interval approached it was the home side, themselves struggling near the foot of the Evo Stik Premier Division, who craved out the best chance of the half. Alex Honeyball jinked his way past a number of Stafford defenders and was only denied a fine solo goal by Whitehouse’s excellent save.

The home side continued to have the better of things going into the second half and their pressure paid off when they struck twice in five minutes.

Hughes bagged them both, cutting in off the left flank for his 57th minute opener and then calmly tucking the ball beyond Whitehouse from close range.

Boro tried to find a way back into the game as the half went on but Steve Burr’s Celtic kept them at bay with some excellent defending and almost snatched a third at the death when a break upfield saw Dickinson square to Chris Gallagher but the on loan Shrewsbury Town midfielder missed the target.

Stafford: Whitehouse, Griffiths, K Westwood, Morris, Brown, Craddock (L Reid 66), Abadaki (Thomas 58), Sherratt, Perry, D Westwood (I Reid 58), Thompson-Brown. Subs (not used): Burnett, Allen.