FA Carlsberg Trophy First Round
At: Marston Road
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Attendance: 521 (inc 28 away fans)
Weather: cold, dry
Stafford Rangers had plenty of reasons to celebrate after recording a comfortable victory over Ossett Town to progress into the FA Carlsberg Trophy Second Round. Two first-half goals from David McNiven and a third after the break from Neil Grayson ensured Stafford won their first game anywhere since mid-September and earned their first victory at Marston Road for eight months. The £4,000 prize money will come in handy as well.
There was one change to the starting line-up with Kevin Street returning from injury for his first game in four weeks. Nathan Smith was missing with the hamstring injury he picked up at Aldershot. Fit-again Seb Hamilton came on as a substitute during the second half having not featured since the Tamworth Staffs Senior Cup tie.
Attacking the Town End, Rangers got straight on the attack against a side in 9th position in the Unibond League Premier Division. From 32 yards out, Samy Mawene sent a free-kick over the wall but straight into the arms of well-positioned Piotr Skiba.
Stafford took the lead in the 6th minute thanks to a great finish from McNiven. Richard Sutton played a lofted forward ball forward from the right and McNiven wrong footed Skiba with a first-time glancing header from just inside the area.
Ossett quickly responded. Djimi Sanagre brought down James Walshaw just outside the Stafford area and Robert O'Brien's free-kick hit the wall. O'Brien got down the right and crossed into the area where Aiden Savory headed wide.
In the 13th minute, Street set up Ross Draper who lifted his 25-yard shot over the bar. Luke Potter delivered a low cross from the left towards the far post which eluded McNiven and Skiba gathered up.
Stafford continued to create the better chances and Street cut in from the right before sending a right-foot shot just over the bar. Grayson picked up a pass from McNiven but his shot was cut out by Robert Tonks.
Just before the half-hour mark, O'Brien saw a shot blocked by Potter during a scramble inside the Stafford area.
Stafford appealed unsuccessfully for a penalty when Mawene's right-wing cross, aimed for McNiven, struck Ossett skipper David Briggs.
The visitors enjoyed a good spell of pressure as the interval approached without seriously troubling Danny Alcock. O'Brien crossed deep to the far left post where Marc Thompson ran in to fire wide from just a few yards out. Alcock safely gathered Carl Fothergill's looping header from Thompson's cross. Savory hammered a rising shot over the bar from 25 yards while Alcock did well to hold a serving long-range effort from Fothergill.
However, Stafford doubled their lead in first-half stoppage time. McNiven converted a low right-wing cross from Mawene to score his 6th goal of the season.
Rangers looked to put Ossett under pressure at the start of the second half and prevent the visitors getting forward. After David Briggs fouled Grayson, Mawene's free-kick took a deflection off a defender and flew over the bar. Wayne Daniel headed wide from the resulting corner.
Potter enjoyed a mazy run past several defenders before his progress was halted just outside the Ossett area. Having played advantage, the referee awarded a free-kick for an attempted trip which Chris Flynn drove against the wall. The rebound fell to Potter who dove over from well outside the area.
Just before the hour mark, Flynn sent a volley wide of the near left post and Street appealed for a penalty after he went down inside the area.
Ossett also appealed for a penalty when Walshaw picked up a pass from Fothergill and went down under Sutton's challenge.
Flynn was fouled by Lee Pugh and Street drove wide after his initial free-kick, delivered into the area, was cleared.
Fothergill fired wide from a narrow angle as the visitors tried to reduce the deficit.
A horrendous error by Briggs gifted Stafford a third goal in the 75th minute. With Skiba out of his goal, the defender cleared straight to McNiven who sent a free header against the post. Grayson kept his cool to hammer home the rebound and extinguish any doubt about the outcome. Like McNiven had earlier, Grayson took his tally for the season to six goals.
Alcock pulled off a fine save three minutes later to turn round Savory's right-foot free-kick hit past the wall from 20 yards out.
Ossett pulled a goal back in the 86th minute. O'Brien tapped in at close range after good work by Walshaw who took the ball into the area.
There was further danger. A quickly-taken free-kick allowed Ben Hardy to get into the area where Sangare produced a fine saving tackle to prevent the Ossett substitute from getting in a shot.
In injury time, there was one further Rangers chance. Street lofted the ball forward and Skiba held Grayson's looping header.
Stafford Rangers (black and white stripes/black/black): 1. Danny Alcock; 2. Richard Sutton, 5. Wayne Daniel (capt), 6. Djoumin Sangare, 32. Luke Potter; 8. Kevin Street, 22. Samy Mawene, 17. Ross Draper, 7. Chris Flynn; 10. David McNiven, 9. Neil Grayson. Subs: 30. Seb Hamilton (for Mawene, 64), 16. Tom Ingram (for Sutton, 76), 21. Jemiah Richards, 24. Steve Hopkinson, 33. Danny Allen (gk).
Ossett Town (red/red/red): 1. Piotr Skiba; 2. Robert Tonks, 6. David Meadowcroft, 5. David Briggs (capt), 3. Lee Stratford; 7. Robert O'Brien, 4. Lee Pugh, 8. Aiden Savory, 11. Marc Thompson; 9. Carl Fothergill, 10. James Walshaw. Subs: 12. Scott Jackson (for Thompson, 76), 14. Ben Hardy (for Fothergill, 76), 15. Jonathan Hedge, 16. Sam Jackson, 17. Gareth Stoke.
Referee: P. C. Wright (Southport).
This match report was originally written for and published on the now defunct www.staffordrangers.co.uk
