Stafford Rangers 6 Bilston Town 3
Dr Martens League Midland Division
At: Marston Road
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Programme: £1
Attendance: 640
Weather: cold, strong wind
Visitors Bilston got off to a perfect start with an opening goal in the 3rd minute. Former Stafford winger Danny Williams crossed from the right to the far post where unchallenged Scott Voice headed home.
Attacking the Social Club end and playing with the advantage of a strong wind, Bilston doubled their lead in the 14th minute. Brett Barlow handled a shot from Stuart Jones in a goalmouth scramble ensuing from Mark Clifton’s long throw. Voice despatched the resulting penalty past Paul Hayward.
On the half-hour Craig Love was inches away from reducing the deficit with a curling free-kick before Bilston made it 3-0 courtesy of a bizarre own goal. Stuart Leeding headed a backpass towards goalkeeper Hayward who slipped in the mud to allow the ball to roll quietly into an empty net. Marston Road was stunned.
Stafford were awarded a penalty just before the break from handball by but Bilston goalkeeper Richard Williams produced a great save to keep out Emerson’s spot kick.
Bilston must have thought ‘job done’ at half-time before an amazing turnaround.
Rangers pulled a goal back five minutes after the restart when Dean Emerson’s corner fell for Richard Mitchell to blast home.
Love’s 25-yard shot in the 75th minute gave Stafford more hope and they drew level eight minutes later when Barlow forced an Emerson corner over the line.
Stafford then took the lead a minute after the equaliser to send Marston Road hysterical. Tony Eccleston chested down a flick on by Emerson and shot past Bilston goalkeeper Richard Williams.
If 4-3 wasn’t enough for the Boxing Day crowd, Stafford finished things off in style with a fifth goal from Mitchell and a sixth from Eccleston’s header.
Stafford Rangers (black and white stripes / black / black): 1. Paul Hayward, 2. Darren Boughey, 3. Stuart Leeding, 4. Dean Emerson, 5. Brett Barlow, 6. Nicky Law, 7. Jason Smith, 8. Craig Love, 9. Tony Eccleston, 10. Richard Mitchell, 11. Steve Jones. Subs: 12. Ian Perry (for Boughey, 81), 14. Jon Williams Not used), 15. Philip Tongue (for Mitchell, 90+2).
Bilston Town (orange/white/white): 1. Richard Williams, 2. Danny Williams, 3. Gary Osbourne, 4. Lee Rollason, 5. Eric Smith, 6. Mark Clifton, 7. Ian Brown, 8. Darren Evans, 9. Scott Voice, 10. Roy Taylor, 11. Stuart Jones. Subs: 12. Chris Sault, 14. Willie Tranter, 15. Stuart Birt.
Referee: H. Singh (Kidderminster).
Assistants: M. S. Hayward and P. M. Tilsley.
Goals:
0-1 Scott Voice (3)
0-2 Scott Voice (14 pen)
0-3 Stuart Leeding (32 og)
1-3 Richard Mitchell (50)
2-3 Craig Love (75)
3-3 Brett Barlow (83)
4-3 Tony Eccleston (84)
5-3 Richard Mitchell (87)
6-3 Tony Eccleston (88)
Cards:
Stafford: Richard Mitchell (YC, 37), Tony Eccleston (YC, 56)
Bilston: Lee Rollason (YC, 37), Darren Evands (YC, 45), Gary Osbourne (YC, 69), Ian Brown (YC, 77)
