Blue Square Premier
At: Pirelli Stadium
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Attendance: 2465
Weather: dry, mild
Duration: first half: 47:31; second half: 49:22
New Year's Day and, just like 12 months ago, it was a trip to the Pirelli Stadium, a ground that had provided happy memories for Stafford fans in the past (2006 play-off final). Would it do so again today? It was going to be a tough ask for Neil and Kevin's men. With Burton winning 3-0 at Marston Road on Boxing Day, admittedly against ten men for much of the game, they were odds on to complete a double.
The Pirelli Stadium is an impressive venue, across the road from the old Eton Park ground which is now covered by houses. The Brewers moved to their new home in 2005. It was covered on all four sides with covered seating in the Main Stand all down one touchline. The changing rooms were beneath the stand and behind were the plush hospitality facilities, etc. Looking out from the main stand towards the pitch, there were large covered terraces on each of the three other sides with away fans housed behind the right-hand goal.
The teams went into the game at opposite ends of the table. Fifth-placed Burton (42 points from 23 games) harboured hopes of an end-of-season play-off place. For second-from-bottom Stafford (10 points from 24 games), it was a case of trying to earn a draw to inch every so slightly towards that important fifth-from-bottom spot (currently occuplied by Halifax on 16 points) and safety.
For Stafford, Djoumin Sangare returned from his three-match injury layoff and slotted in at left full back in place of Kevin Street. Nathan Smith hadn't recovered from the injury picked up against Ebbsfleet so Tom Ingram came in for his first league start. Chris Flynn, sent off against Burton on Boxing Day, served the second game of his suspension.
Burton got the game underway attacking the away end at the Pirelli Stadium. They quickly went on the attack and Wayne Daniel cleared as Daryl Clare looked to make use of Dave Farrell's throughball. The Stafford skipper also cut out a low cross from John Brayford at the expense of a corner.
Stafford were awarded a free-kick 25 yards out in the 13th minute. Samy Mawene's initial shot hit the wall and he fired the rebound over the bar.
The home side quickly got forward. Marc Goodfellow played a diagonal ball into the area from the right to Jake Edwards who fed Daryl Clare. The latter got in a shot which Daniel blocked for another corner. In fact it was the first of four successive corners that Rangers survived.
In the 27th minute, Richard Sutton crossed from the right and found Neil Grayson who headed over.
Burton unsuccessfully appealed for a penalty when Goodfellow latched onto John McGrath's throughball and went down under Danny Alcock's challenge.
Seb Arnolin curled a right foot shot from 25 yards into the arms of keeper Saul Deeney, in for the injured Kevin Poole.
The home side took the lead in the 33rd minute with a well-worked move. Keith Gilroy played a diagonal ball from the middle of the Stafford half out to the right. The pass found Clare who cut infield and set up Goodfellow who fired into the bottom right corner from 10 yards out.
Grayson was fouled 30 yards out and Mawene hammered the free-kick inches wide of the left-hand post.
Burton looked for a second goal and had another penalty appeal turned down when Sutton challenged Edwards. Clare got in a close-range shot which Daniel blocked in front of goal.
Rangers got back on level terms with a bit slice of good fortune. Tom Ingram played the ball forward to the edge of the area and Burton skipper Darren Stride decided to head a backpass to Deeney. Fortunately for Rangers, the keeper left his line and McNiven took full advantage to slot home the equaliser.
Alcock pulled off two fantastic saves in the space of a few seconds to deny Clare a goal and Edwards shot the loose ball wide.
Burton, who made a change at the interval with Aaron Webster replacing Dave Farrell, got forward at the start of the second half. Brayford crossed low from the right across the face of goal but no one got on the end.
In the 50th minute, Edwards's low 25-yard drive took a deflection of Jemiah Richards and hit the left-hand post. The rebound kindly ended up in the arms of the wrong-footed Alcock.
Sangare suffered an ankle injury and sadly limped away from the action. Dolapo Olaoye came on and Grayson switched to the left side of the defence.
There was danger in the Rangers area and both Alcock and Grayson needed to be brave to thwart Clare. Gilroy mis-hit wasted a great chance for Burton from Brayford's pass.
Burton scored what turned out to be the winner in the 66th minute. Gilroy headed back a deep right-wing cross into the six-yard box. Edwards turned and fired past Alcock from a few yards out.
Both Daniel and Alcock excelled again to prevent Burton scoring again. The skipper cut out Michael Simpson's near-post cross and, from the corner, Alcock turned round a goalbound shot from Clare.
The home side made a second change with Andy Corbett replacing McGrath.
In the 75th minute, Mawene's free-kick was cleared to Ingram on the edge of the area and he volleyed over. The midfielder, who had certainly impressed, was forced off with cramp and replaced by Steve Hopkinson. Burton's third change saw Shaun Harrad come on for Clare.
Harrad has an immediate impact. He forced another good save out of Alcock and also curled a shot against the right-hand post.
Rangers put Burton under pressure during the final 10 minutes. In the 86th minute, Mawene forced a near-post save out of Deeney who put out a hand to turn round a close-range shot.
The fourth official indicated three additional minutes and Brayford twice went close. He fired wide from 30 yards as Mawene challenged and almost deceived Alcock with a header that looped wide of the right-hand post. Alcock pulled off yet another creditable save, this time to keep out Gilroy's shot with his legs.
Deep into stoppage time, Rangers won a corner and everyone including Alcock went forward. Delivered from the left by Mawene into a packed area, the ball appeared to strike the arm of a defender. The referee waived away the appeals and McNiven fired into the side netting via a deflection.
There was no disputing that Stafford opened 2008 with another battling performance but couldn't prevent promotion-chasing Burton recording a holiday double. However, they could have earned a draw had the referee decided to award that last-gasp penalty.
Burton Albion (yellow/black/black): 30. Saul Deeney, 17. John Brayford, 7. Darren Stride, 5. Tony James, 18. Dave Farrell, 8. Marc Goodfellow, 24. Michael Simpson, 6. John McGrath, 11. Keith Gilroy, 10. Daryl Clare, 9. Jake Edwards. Subs: 3. Aaron Webster (for Farrell, ht), 2. Andy Corbett (for McGrath, 71), Shaun Harrad (for Clare, 79), 12. Danny Holmes, 15. Ryan Austin.
Stafford Rangers (red/red/red): 1. Danny Alcock, 2. Richie Sutton, 5. Wayne Daniel (capt), 21. Jemiah Richards, 6. Djoumin Sangare, 16. Tom Ingram, 17. Ross Draper, 22. Sammy Mawene, 19. Seb Arnolin, 10. David McNiven, 9. Neil Grayson. Subs: 11. Dolapo Olaoye (for Sangare, 58), 24. Steve Hopkinson (for Ingram, 76), 8. Kevin Street, 2. Marco Adaggio, 33. Danny Allen (gk).
Referee: Jake Collin (Merseyside).
Assistants: D. Gratton and M. S. Perry.
Fourth Official: J. W. Thornhill.
Attendance: 2,465.
The original match report was written for and published on the now defunct www.staffordrangers.co.uk
