Blue Square Premier
At: Marston Road
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Attendance: 688
Weather: Sunny
Duration:: first half: 46:47; second half: 48:13
It just doesn't get any easier for Stafford at the moment as all the games seem to be against sides chasing promotion. In fact this must be the fifth consecutive game against a top side following Aldershot Town, Burton Albion (twice) and Ebbsfleet United.
Having lost their opening league game of 2009, Stafford (10 points from 26 games with no home league win so far) remained second-from-bottom which just Droylsden below on the same number of points. Visitors Stevenage (52 points from 25 games) were third, nine points behind leaders Aldershot Town with a game in hand. They were unbeaten in their last five league games, of wich the most recent two were victories.
New signings Matt Hazley (back following a loan spell earlier in the season) and Ryan Lynch both started for Stafford in place of suspended Richie Sutton and Seb Arnolin who dropped to the bench. Untility defender Damion Jarrett was on the bench.
Stevenage got proceeding underway, with Rangers choosing to attack the Astonfields end in the first half, and the visitors quickly started to get forward. Morison crossed low from the right and Wayne Daniel was forced to concede an early corner. Morison sniffed another chance but Tom Ingram cleared the danger.
The visitors won their second corner and from it, delivered by Craig Dobson, Junior Lewis saw a header cleared off the line by Ross Draper. The ball ended up out on the left and Morison headed home a 9th-minute goal at close range.
On the quarter hour, Barry Fuller crossed from the right and Tyrone Berry got in a downward header which Danny Alcock pushed away.
Rangers suffered a blow in the 20th minute when Djimi Sangare limped off with a recurrence of his ankle injury and was replaced by joint caretaker manager Kevin Street.
Stafford started to probe forward and, midway through the half, Draper battled to create a shooting opportunity. He got past a couple of defender before unleashing a 15-yard shot which Alan Julian beat away. Draper volleyed wide a minute later from the edge of the area.
The diving Alcock was called into action at his near post to get down hold a low shot from Berry who had cut in from the left. After Daniel headed wide from Lynch's free-kick, Alcock held header from Junior Lewis on his line.
The visitors, managed by former England boss Peter Taylor, doubled their advantage in the 41st minute. Morison powered home a diving header from Dobson's corner.
Rangers appealed for a penalty when Mawene went down inside the area but the referee said "no".
Rangers were relieved as Morison wasted a chances to complete a hat-trick either side of the interval. Before the break, he got clear, went for goal and Alcock pushed away his shot. Barely 30 seconds after the restart, he got into the area down the left and steered an angled shot wide of the diving Alcock which missed the far post by a few inches.
With nothing to lose, Rangers pressed forward and produced a creditable second-half fightback which had Stevenage keeping bodies behind the ball in the closing stages to stay in front.
David McNiven chipped a pass forward into the area and Neil Grayson headed narrowly wide of the right-hand post. Rangers reduced the deficit in the 51st minute. Hazley's free-kick fell kindly for Richards to fire home his first Stafford goal into the bottom right corner from 8 yards out.
The goal certainly lifted the Rangers fans but the influential Samy Mawene limped off with Jarrett coming on for his debut. He slotted in a right back with Street moving into midfield.
Rangers, again, thought they should have had a penalty for handball and the referee waived play on.
In the 69th minute, Dobson hit an angled shot from the right towards the far post as Jarrett challenged and the ball was turned round for a corner by the diving Alcock. Stevenage replaced Berry with Zak Burke before the corner was taken which the giant Luke Oliver headed over.
Stafford, backed by good vocal support, forced Stevenage to work hard at the back to retain their lead. McNiven chased a ball down the middle and Julian needed to leave his line to claim just ahead of the striker.
Ingram delivered a good cross from the right but good defending prevented Grayson and McNiven from taking advantage.
Dolapo Olaoye came on as a third Rangers substitution in the 76th minute, replacing Hazley.
Good work by Draper allowed Ingram to set up Street, 20 yards out, who sent a rising shot wide. Dobson was allowed to go for goal after the visitors broke upfield and narrowly missed the top-right corner from 25 yards out.
Anthony Stokes replaced Daryl McMahon and Stevenage kept bodies behind the ball during stages to frustrate Rangers with Richards thrown forward as an extra striker.
Stafford Rangers (black and white stripes / black / black): 1. Danny Alcock, 6. Djoumin Sangare, 5. Wayne Daniel (capt), 21. Jemiah Richards, 36. Ryan Lynch, 16. Tom Ingram, 17. Ross Draper, 22. Sammy Mawene, 37. Matt Hazley, 10. David McNiven, 9. Neil Grayson. Subs: 8. Kevin Street (for Sangare, 20), 35. Damion Jarrett (for Mawene, 59), 11. Dolapo Olaoye (for Hazley, 76), 19. Seb Arnolin, 33. Danny Allen (gk).
Stevenage Borough (sky blue / blue / sky blue): 1. Alan Julian, 2. Barry Fuller, 4. Luke Oliver, 16. Mark Arber, 28. Scott Laird, 27. Junior Lewis, 22. Craig Dobson, 19. Stuart Lewis (capt), 14. Daryl McMahon, 10. Tyrone Berry, 20. Steve Morison. Subs: 32. Zak Burke (for Berry, 69), 30. Anthony Stokes (for McMahon, 81), 6. Ashley Westwood, 13. James Russell (gk), 25. Ronnie Henry.
Referee: Jock Waugh (Sheffield).
Assistants: R. J. Jones and C. Kavanagh.
Fourth Official: C. Rushton.
Attendance: 688 (inc 155 away fans).
The original match report was written for and published on the now defunct www.staffordrangers.co.uk
