Kinsella will start for Rangers in FA Trophy

Stafford Rangers midfielder Sean Kinsella will start his first major game of the season on Saturday after coming through a Walsall Senior Cup tie unscathed.

Kinsella had to play from the off and get through an hour of Tuesday night's 3-1 win at Wolverhampton Casuals and managed 66 minutes before being substituted.

That has cleared the Stone-based playmaker to be named in the team for Saturday's tough FA Trophy third qualifying round tie at home to Bradford Park Avenue.

The 21-year-old missed the start of the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League season with a broken ankle, suffered in a kick about with friends before the campaign began.

The former Plymouth Argyle trainee got his first game time of the season as a 68th minute substitute in the 1-0 league defeat at Blyth Spartans last weekend.

And Rangers boss Greg Closes admitted it's a "massive boost" to have Kinsella ready to start games again for his side.

He said: "If you have got a contracted player, you want them to be involved as much as possible and Sean can change a game.

"He's a match-winner and you need those in your team. It's not just that, his creativity skills are good as well.

"Initially, he probably won't make a big difference but he needs these minutes, he's gradually got to come back.

"He needs games but it's a massive boost for the squad to see him in a Rangers shirt again."

Closes made Mickleover Sports striker Karl Ashton one of only two contracted players at the club this week, after signing him on a deal until the end of the season.

Ashton is cup-tied for Saturday's FA Trophy game and will first be available for the Staffordshire Senior Cup first round clash at home to Leek on Tuesday night.

The 23-year-old has been tied down but Kinsella's injury proved how problematic contracts can be for the cash-strapped Marston Road outfit.

He said: "In non-league football, you can fall into this trap very quickly. When someone does well, everybody wants them on contract.

"That's sensible, I agree, but we only had one player on contract and we haven't had him all season, imagine if there were four or five?

"If that, happens you are in trouble. I can't afford to risk it."