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 Exeter City 4 Stafford Rangers 1
Blue Square Premier at St James Park
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Stafford Rangers have everything to play for on Saturday despite losing their last away game at Exeter City.
Dean Moxey netted a hat-trick and Ben Watson scored the fourth for the play-off bound Devon side with Ishmale Reid scoring a speclacular injury-time goal.
With Droylsden drawing their penultimate game, 1-1 at home to Woking, Rangers can avoid finishing bottom by defeating Droyslden at Marston Road on Saturday.
Injuries and suspensions provided manager Steve Bull MBE with a selection conundrum and he was forced to make four changes to the side that started against Crawley.
Exeter took the lead with just 23 seconds on the clock. Moxey, on the left wide of the area, fired a low shot which Danny Alcock couldn't prevent crossing the line. But Rangers quickly got forward and Kevin Street fired against the home bar from 25 yards out. Nick Wellecomme also headed straight at Paul Jones but, in any case, was flagged offside.
The Grecians doubled their advantage in the 34th minute. Matt Gill and Adam Stansfield combined down the right with the latter crossing low into the area for Moxey to fire home from six yards out.
Just before the interval, Alan Dodd was forced to the sidelines with what looked like a facial injury and was replaced in the second half by Tom Ingram.
Just 134 seconds of the second half had elapsed when Moxey struck again. The midfielder fired an unstoppable volley across the face of goal into the bottom-right corner. Moments later, Alcock produced a remarkable flying save to keep out Matt Taylor's goalbound header.
Substitute Ben Watson scored his side's fourth goal barely a couple of minutes after replacing Stansfield. He latched onto a throughball and slotted past Alcock.
Rangers netted a consolation in the first minute of stoppage time. Reid picked up Street’s throw and sent an unstoppable 35-yard left-foot drive screaming into the top-left corner, giving Paul Jones no chance at all.
Exeter City (red and white stripes / black / black): 27. Paul Jones, 2. Steve Tully, 16. Matthew Taylor, 5. Daniel Seabourne, 3. George Friend, 28. Ryan Harley, 4. Matt Gill, 15. Rob Edwards, 21. Dean Moxey, 9. Adam Stansfield, 20. Richard Logan. Subs: 32. Ben Watson (for Stansfield, 53), 10. Wayne Carlisle (for Seabourne, 61), 22. Liam Sercombe (for Gill, 74), 14. Bertrand Cozic, 1. Andy Marriott (gk)
Stafford Rangers (blue / white / blue): 1. Danny Alcock, 24. Steve Hopkinson, 5. Wayne Daniel (capt), 18. Alan Dodd, 44. Jon Loukes, 38. Alex Gibson, 8. Kevin Street, 7. Chris Flynn, 30. Ishmale Reid, 9. Neil Grayson, 42. Nick Wellecomme. Subs: 16. Tom Ingram (for Dodd, ht), 6. Djoumin Sangare, 20. Marco Adaggio, 33. Danny Allen (gk), 35. Damion Jarrett.
Referee: A. Sainsbury (Wiltshire).
Attendance: 4079 (away fans n/k).
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