Express & Star

Wolverhampton Casuals fired up for Stafford Rangers test

Wolverhampton Casuals boss Dean Gill insists his players will not freeze at three-tiers-above Stafford Rangers tonight, although beating them is a massive ask.

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West Midlands Premier outfit Casuals are heading to Marston Road to take on the Northern Premier side in the quarter-finals of the Staffordshire Senior Cup (7.45pm), writes Joe Edwards.

And if the odds did not already seem stacked against Gill’s team, Rangers are the side who won the competition last season, beating Hednesford Town in the final at Stoke’s Bet365 Stadium.

“It’s three leagues, and that’s probably too much,” said Gill.

“If we get beaten really well... they’re a step three team, so they should beat us well.

“Don’t get me wrong, we’re going to go there and give it all we can, and look to win the game.

“We won’t freeze because of them being a bigger team, at a good ground.

“But Matt Hill captains them and he played for Wolves not long back, while our lads are looking to work their way from the ground up.

“At the end of the day, we might play absolutely fantastic – but lose 7-0.

“It’s hard to know what to expect, even if we play at our best.”

There is hope, though, for Casuals as, after all, anything can happen in the cup.

Casuals are doing very well in the West Midlands Premier too, sitting third having lost just four games.

Rangers, meanwhile, are at the wrong end of the Northern Premier table – 19th out of the division’s 22 teams.

“Over the time we’ve been together at Casuals, and the players I had at Wednesfield who I have here now, we haven’t frozen,” said Gill.

“I’m not expecting us to do that this time around either.

“I’m expecting us to go out and play like we always do, and show no fear.

“We should have everybody available too.”

Gill’s old club Wednesfield managed to get their game on at the weekend, while the vast majority of games in the West Midlands Premier were called off due to frozen pitches.

And they managed to come out on top, beating bottom-of-the-pile Pegasus Juniors 2-1 at the Cottage Ground.

Bewdley Town played too, winning 2-1 against Hereford Lads Club.

Bewdley are back in league action tonight as well, hosting Smethwick Rangers.

Black Country Rangers are also playing and they are aiming to reclaim fifth spot – after being leapfrogged by Wednesfield – as they make the short trip to Cradley Town.