Blue Square Premier
At: Marston Road
Kick-off: 3-00pm
Attendance: 886
Weather: Weather: overcast, rain at kick-off
Following the shock of long-serving Phil Robinson's departure as manager, Stafford Rangers began a new era under joint caretakers, Neil Grayson and Kevin Street, with a goalless draw. Goalkeeper Scott Loach starred for Stafford with a series of fine saves to earn a first clean sheet of the season. Grayson was unlucky to be on the receiving end of three fine saves from Vics' Scott Tynan while David McNiven hit the woodwork in the second half.
There were three changes to the Stafford starting line-up. Fred Murray and Kevin Street were both missing through injury so Ross Draper and Samy Mawene were recalled. Neil Grayson. a substitute at Ebbsfleet last Saturday, started alongside David McNiven.
Visitors Northwich, who won their first game last Saturday, created a few early chances. Luke Horrocks found Lucas Akins on the edge of the area who fired an angled shot across the face of goal and wide of the far left-hand post. Chris Flynn fouled Williams 30 yards out and Michael Welch send a deflected drive wide from the free-kick.
Scott Loach, playing his last game on loan from Watford, was called into action in the 8th minute to gather up a low shot from Williams hit from just outside the area. Akins nipped in at the near post to fire wide from Williams' pass as the visitors again went close.
With Kevin Street running the team from the technical area, Chris Humphrey won the game's first corner for Stafford but it unfortunately came to nothing.
The crowd, which had been subdued during the opening 24 minutes, came to life. The referee decided not to award a free-kick for a challenge on Humphrey in front of the nose of assistant and fans were upset.
Moments later, Flynn's shot was blocked inside the area and the loose ball fell to Grayson lurking around the penalty spot. The veteran went for goal and Tynan turned over a rising well struck drive. Djimi Sangare was booked in the 31st minute for a foul on Lee Steele. After Horrocks fired across the face of the Boro goal, Rangers went close again in the 35th minute. Grayson was picked out by David McNiven but the low shot was pushed clear by the diving Tynan.
Northwich were forced to make a change in the 40th minute when Adam Morning replaced Horrocks who suffered a knee injury a few minutes before going for a 50-50 ball with Ross Draper.
Just before the interval, Loach pulled off a fantastic save to prevent the visitors going ahead. From a long throw on the right by Simon Rusk, the ball was cleared to Natt Kerr on the edge of the area. Kerr hit a sweet volley which Loach kept out and Grayson hurridly cleared the loose ball for a corner.
Sangare, who required treatment towards the end of the first half, didn’t emerge after the interval and was replaced by Jemiah Richards.
Northwich had Josh Wilson booked in the 53rd minute for a foul on Luke Potter.
The visitors won another corner and, from it, central defender Welch rose at the far post to head wide of the target.
Loach excelled again in the 58th minute to turn round a close-range shot from Steele with a marvellous reaction save.
From the resulting corner, Stafford broke upfield. McNiven played a diagonal ball forward from the left into the area where Tynan dived bravely at the feet of Ross Draper who had raced forward.
Stafford continued to pose a threat and almost scored in the 63rd minute. Humphrey got down the right and crossed low into the area. McNiven got in a shot which hit the inside of the left-hand post only for the ball to roll agonisingly along the line and into the arms of Tynan. Credit to the assistant running the line on the Lotus side who got into a perfect position so he could judge any disputes on whether the ball crossed the line which could have arising.
Both sides made a second change a minute later with Nathan Smith coming on for Rangers in place of Samy Mawene.
Northwich skipper Michael Carr worked his way into a good position on the edge of the Stafford area but, fortunately, lifted his shot over the bar.
Smith set up a 70th-minute chance for his new caretaker manager. Grayson hit a swerving shot from 25 yards out which Tynan did well to turn round for a corner.
Chances continued and Loach made a brave save at the feet of Morning while Nick Farquharson sent a rising shot into the right sidenetting.
During the last ten minutes, scoring opportunities became scare. McNiven fed Humphrey who took the ball forward from the right and sent his shot over the bar.
Both Draper, for a foul, and Akins to preventing Stafford from taking a free-kick took the tally of bookings to two for each side.
Rangers had one last chance to snatch the win in injury time. McNiven was fouled by Wilson 35 yards out but Grayson hit the wall from the resulting free-kick.
Stafford, who leapfrogged Droylsden into 22nd position with this point, are next in action on Saturday 8th December when they visit current leaders Aldershot Town. They return to Marston Road a week later when Unibond League side Ossett Town are the opposition in an FA Trophy First Round tie.
Teams
Stafford Rangers (black and white stripes/black/black): 12. Scott Loach; 2. Richard Sutton, 5. Wayne Daniel (capt), 6. Djimi Sangare, 32. Luke Potter; 34. Chris Humphrey, 22. Samy Mawene, 17. Ross Draper, 7. Chris Flynn; 10. David McNiven, 9. Neil Grayson. Subs: 21. Jemiah Richards (for Sangare, ht), 15. Nathan Smith (for Mawene, 64), 1. Danny Alcock (gk), 16. Tom Ingram, 24. Steve Hopkinson
Northwich Victoria (green/white/green) 13. Scott Tynan; 2. Simon Rusk, 3. Natt Kerr, 4. Michael Welch, 15. Richard Battersby; 29. Danny Williams, 22. Josh Wilson, 8. Michael Carr (capt), 27. Luke Horrocks; 23. Lee Steele, 24. Lucas Akins. Subs: 28. Adam Morning (for Horrocks, 40), 26. Nick Farquharson (for Williams, 64), 1. Ben Connett (gk), 17. Brad Maylett, 5. Greg Strong
Referee: M. Brown (Hull)
Attendance: 886 (inc 233 away fans)
This match report was originally written for and published on the now defunct www.staffordrangers.co.uk
