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  5/1/08 Stafford Rangers 1 Stevenage Borough 2
Blue Square Premier at Marston Road
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 Stafford Rangers produced a second-half fightback, after Steve Morsion scored
twice for the visitors before the break, and went close to gaining a point. Defender
Jemiah Richards reduced the deficit early in the second half and Stevenage needed to keep
bodies behind the ball in the closing stages to stay in front.
New signings Matt Hazley and Ryan Lynch both started in place of suspended Richard Sutton
and Seb Arnolin who dropped to the bench. Utility defender Damion Jarrett came on as a
second-half substitute to make his debut.
Stevenage got proceeding underway, with Rangers choosing to attack the Astonfields end in
the first half, and 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. 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 firing 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.
(teamsheet)
Stafford Rangers: Alcock, Sangare (Street, 20), Daniel, Richards, Lynch, Ingram,
Draper, Mawene (Jarrett, 60), Hazley (Olaoye, 76), McNiven, Grayson. Unused subs: Arnolin,
Allen
Stevenage Borough: Julian, Fuller, Oliver, Arber, Laird, J. Lewis, Dobson, S. Lewis,
McMahon (Stokes, 81), Berry (Burke, 69), Morison. Unused subs: Westwood, Russell, Henry
Referee: Jock Waugh (Sheffield)
Attendance: 688 (inc 155 away fans)
Rangers Man of the Match: Ross Draper
Match Sponsor: Stafford Tyres
Ball Sponsor: Watson's Scrap Metals
Mascots: Toby Hough and Alex Hocking
Photos by Tracey Hampton of Hampton Productions |
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