Stafford Rangers 3 Weymouth 2
Dr Martens League Premier Division
At: Marston Road
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Programme: £1 (44 pages)
Attendance: 712
Weather: misty, cold
Stafford (in tenth position with 25 points from 18 games) went into their last game before Christmas on the back on victories in their last two league games – a home to Folkestone Invicta and last Saturday away at Dorchester Town.Visitors Weymouth, on a 400-mile round trip from the south coast, were also in midtable, 14th position to be precise, having gained two points less than Stafford from the same number of games.
Manager Ian Painter named an unchanged Stafford line-up with just one alteration on the bench as recent signing John Diskin replaced Darren Shaw.
The game, started with an orange ball, almost had a spectacular start. With barely 25 seconds on the clock, Darren Middleton hit a powerful 25-yard shot which was well held by Weymouth keeper Danny Potter. Tony Eccleston had the ball in the back of the visitors’ net after 4 minutes only for the gaol to be disallowed for a foul in the build-up.
Shortly after Chris Brindley had headed against the Weymouth bar, the visitors took the lead in the 32nd minute Matthew Hale’s shot took a deflection off Steve Jones and looped towards goal. Darren Rowbotham, on his own in front of goal and looking well offside, headed home from eight yards out.
Stafford equalised within a minute. Eccleston got to a bouncing ball on the edge of the Weymouth area just before Potter and headed into an unguarded net.
A swift break on the hour mark led to Weymouth regaining the lead. Interpassing between Rowbotham and substitute Lee Phillips created a chance for Mark Robinson who fired home from 12 yards out.
Robinson turned from hero to villain in the 76th minute by handling inside his own area. The referee awarded a penalty which Darren Simkin converted to level things up at 2-2.
Stafford had much the better of the last 15 minutes and, in an exciting finish, scored the winner in the 85th minute. A deep corner was headed into the goalmouth by Brindley for Man of the Match Craig Lovatt to head home at close range.
Stafford Rangers (black and white stripes / black / black): 1. Richard Williams, 2. Leigh Everritt, 3. Steve Jones, 4. Darren Boughey, 5. Chris Brindley, 6. Darren Simkin, 7. Darren Middleton, 8. Craig Lovatt, 9. Joe O’Connor, 10. Tony Eccleston, 11. Paul Kiely. Subs: 12. Scott Dundas (for Boughey, 23), 14. John Diskin, 15. Dean Craven (for Kiely, 67).
Weymouth (terra/terra/terra): 1. Danny Potter, 2. Mark Gammon, 3. Matthew Hale, 4. Simon Browne, 5. John Waldock, 6. Ryan Cross, 7. Mark Robinson, 8. Matthew Hare, 9. Darren Rowbotham, 10. David Laws, 11. Gary Funnell. Subs: 12. Ian Hutchinson (for Hale, 86), 14. Lee Phillips (for Gammon, 58), 15. Martin Underham (for Funnell, 86).
Referee: JR Hubbard (Leicester).
Goals:
0-1 Darren Rowbotham (32)
1-1 Tony Eccleston (33)
1-2 Mark Robinson (60)
2-2 Darren Simkin (75 pen)
3-2 Craig Lovatt (84)
