Saturday 6th May 2000
Stafford Rangers 2 Solihull Borough 1
Dr Martens League Western Division
At: Marston Road
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Admission: -; Programme:-
Attendance: 1893
Weather: -
So it took until the last game to secure the Championship but great to do it at Marston Road in front of another impressive crowd. Falling behind to an Andy Penny headed goal on 22 minutes, Paul Kiely then equalised on 40 minutes with an unstoppable first time 20-yard volley. Then, fittingly, Supporters Player of the Season Richard Mitchell netted the winner nine minutes from time, his 42nd goal of the season.
There was a real party atmosphere at Marston Road with promotion guaranteed and the Championship just one point away. Before the game, Nicky Law was named Managers Player of the Season and Richard Mitchell picked up the Supporters award ahead of Jason Smith and third-placed Ronnie Walker. Once the game kicked off, there was a quiet opening period until the visitors stunned all but a few of the 1,893 crowd. A free-kick on the right was headed in at the far post by former Rangers defender Andy Penny. Stafford drew level five minutes from the break. A cross from Jason Smith into the Solihull area was headed clear by Gary Knight straight to Paul Kiely stood unmarked on the edge of the area. He unleashed a powerful first time right foot first time volley which Richard Anstiss could only watch fly into the bottom right corner of the net. What a goal!
The second half was very much an end-to-end affair. A minute after the restart, Solihull's Robin Judd headed just wide of Richard Williams' right-hand post with the Rangers keeper desperately trying to get his fingertips to the ball. Chances were created at both end until Mitchell struck nine minutes from time. Tony Eccleston, on as substitute, got on the end of a Steve Jones cross. Anstiss could only block his short and Mitchell was there to fire home the loose ball from four yards out. This was his 35th goal in the League, equalling Len Anslow best post-war total way back in 1948/49. When the final whistle went, it didn't matter what Moor Green has done at Bedworth United (they won 4-1) as Rangers had more than the single point needed.
After the match, Leigh Everritt was presented with the Championship Shield and the players their winners medals but celebrations were cut short when a supporter collapsed on the pitch. Happily, he has recovered in hospital from a potentially life-threatening condition.
