Stafford Rangers ‘leggy’ as they go out of cup
Boss Neil Kitching admits his Stafford Rangers players were ‘blowing’ as they gave up a two-goal lead to exit the Integro League Cup.
Rangers went 2-0 up against Coalville Town on Tuesday night thanks to goals from Rob Thompson-Brown and Kyle Perry, but ended up losing the third-round clash 3-2.
It was Boro’s first game since beating Stalybridge Celtic 2-0 in the Evo-Stik Premier on February 24 due to bad weather.
They had not trained in the meantime either, and Kitching said: “We looked leggy. On the hour mark, we had players blowing.
“We hadn’t done anything for 10 days before the game – not played or trained due to the snow – and it showed.
“If anything the game would have done us good, to get minutes into the lads.
“It’s a little shot in the arm for us, a reminder for the lads to look after themselves as much away from the club as they do when they’re here.”
Thompson-Brown’s free-kick came just 11 minutes in, with Perry doubling the advantage from 25 yards out just after the half-hour mark.
Coalville replied through Tom McGlinchey before the break and Dan Creaney made it 2-2, with Jake Woolley getting the winner in the 89th minute.
“We played well in the first half, scored a couple of goals and played really well,” added Kitching.
“I was pleased with how we were passing the ball around, although we went and conceded a goal just before half-time to let them back into the game.
“We never really came out the dressing room for the second half, though.
“We were really poor and Coalville deserved the win.”
Rangers will hope to bounce back as they host Lancaster City in the league on Saturday.
