Saturday 15th January 2005
Harrogate Town 0 Stafford Rangers 1
Nationwide North
At: Wetherby Road
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Programme:
Attendance: 1246
Weather: drizzle, mild
Duration: first-half: 46:10; second-half: 48:17
This was the second trip to Harrogate this season and unlike the first trip back in October there were no problems with the electricity supply that caused the original game to be postponed. NEDL agreed to sponsor today’s game at let in spectators free of charge and a bumper attendance of 1246 was the result.
On the field, Stafford Rangers continued their push towards a place in the Nationwide Conference North playoff with a fine victory at Harrogate Town. Veteran striker Neil Grayson headed home the vital winner midway through the first half to earn his side a fifth win from their last six games.
With midfielder Craig Lovatt unable to return from suspension due to a toe injury, player-manager Phil Robinson named the same starting line-up and substitutes that won at Alfreton Town last Tuesday.
Defences were on top during the opening exchanges and, by the time Richard Beale replaced the unwell Dennis Pearce in the 19th minute, neither side had an attempt on goal.
Eventually, Harrogate midfielder James Turley volleyed towards goal but his effort was defelected wide for the first of ten corners won by the home side during the game.
Rangers, however, took advantage of a mistake to score what proved to be the winner in the 24th minute. Harrogate lost possession just inside their own half and the ball was quickly given to Robin Gibson. The winger beat the full-back and delivered an accurate cross that Grayson headed home at the far post.
Harrogate, defending the last unbeaten home record in the league, continued to push forward and Dominic Krief headed over a corner from in front of goal.
During the last 15 minutes of the first half, Stafford had no fewer than three opportunities to extend their lead. Grayson narrowly missed with a header across goal from Craig McAughtrie long throw. Jamie Phoenix got behind the home defence after latching onto a pass from Robinson but could only fire into the side netting. And in first-half injury time, Grayson saw a shot blocked by Town defender Simon Sturdy.
And five minutes after the restart, Rangers had another great chance to score. Put clear by Nathan Talbott, Grayson had a low shot blocked by the legs of home ’keeper Paul Pettinger who had come off his line to narrow the angle.
Harrogate piled on the pressure for long periods during the second half in a bid to salvage a point. Staurt Tomlinson made a fine save to keep out a shot from Turley and the home side almost scored on 64 minutes when Marc Smith headed against the Rangers bar.
And in the closing stages, Tomlinson was well positioned to hold a drive from Richard Dunning fired through a crowded area.
It wasn’t all one-way traffic as Stafford defender Chris Smith volleyed over the bar and Gibson also fired straight at Pettinger.
Harrogate Town (yellow and black stripes / black / black): 1. Paul Pettinger (capt), 2. Richard Dunning, 3. Mark Barnard, 4. Simon Sturdy, 5. Paul Shepherd, 6. Lee Philpott, 7. James Turley, 8. Dominic Krief, 9. Mark Smith, 10. Danny Holland, 11. Lee Featherstone. Subs: 12. Ian Blackstone (not used), 14. Grant Black (for Turley, 67), 15. Lee Wood (for Philpott, 78), 16. Lee Morris (for Featherstone, 82), 17gk. Nick Buxton (not used).
Stafford Rangers (red/red/red): 1. Stuart Tomlinson, 2. Craig McAughtrie, 3. Dennis Pearce, 4. Chris Smith, 5. Wayne Daniel (capt), 6. Nathan Talbott, 7. Phil Robinson, 8. Robert Heath, 9. Neil Grayson, 10. Jamie Phoenix, 11. Robin Gibson. Subs: 12. Craig Wilding (for Phoenix, 63), 14. Lee Downes (not used), 15. Alan Dodd (not used), 16. Danny Edwards (not used), 17. Richard Beale (for Pearce, 19).
Referee: S. Duncan (Newcastle-upon-Tyne).
Goals:
0-1 Neil Grayson (24)
Cards:
Harrogate: Simon Sturdy (YC, 87)
Stafford: Craig McAughtrie (YC, 64)
Phil Robinson:
“You can see why they were unbeaten at home in the league until today. They have a good squad of players and are a decent team.
“I thought, today, our players worked tremendously hard for 90 minutes and had to defend for long periods of the game, which they did resolutely.
“For the possession Harrogate had, and they had the ball for quite a while, they only had one real effort on target that Stuart Tomlinson had to deal with. Harrogate only had one effort on target compared to our four.
“Neil has been harping on lately about the need to get more balls into the box. If we did, he said he would deal with them and today he scored a great goal.”
