Both managers quit their jobs as Dabbers hand out 6-1 thrashing to Rangers

A REMARKABLE game in the West Division of the Northern Premier League saw the managers of BOTH teams step away from their jobs.

- Phil Sherwin

NANTWICH TOWN began the New Year with an excellent 6-1 home victory over Stafford Rangers - but hours afterwards it was announced that manager Jon Moran had resigned from his role.

He had served the club for 12 years as a player, coach and manager, and informed the club of his decision before the game.

And yesterday, Stafford announced that their manager Neil Kitching had left his role at the club by mutual consent.

As for the game itself, the Dabbers had the first shot when Byron Moore had a shot saved by debutant goalkeeper Shaun Rowley.

It was the Boro who took the lead in the tenth minute though when Jack Birch laid the ball off to John Atherton on the edge of the box and he struck a low drive past Ben Garratt.

Nantwich toiled away and levelled six minutes before halftime. Joe Robbins sent over a cross from the left and when Rowley made a good save from a Byron Harrison header, Moore was on hand to poke it home from close range.

The second half was a totally different story as Nantwich rattled in five goals to run away with it.

Two minutes after the break they went in front for the first time when a Moore cross from the left produced a diving header by Josh Langley that was pushed out by Rowley, only for Harrison to knock the rebound home.

Only a further two minutes later it was 3-1 when a Joe Collins cross was headed home by Alex Panter, despite Rowley getting a hand to it.

Birch shot over for Rangers, but Nantwich scored again in the 53rd minute.

Another Collins cross from the right was headed goalwards by Paddy Jarrett and knocked away for Moore to stroke home his second of the game.