Saturday 1st January 2005
Altrincham 0 Stafford Rangers 0
(abandoned after 27 minutes due to a waterlogged pitch)
Nationwide North
At: Moss Lane
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Programme:-
Attendance: 870
Weather: Rain
Duration: first-half: 27:46
Stafford Rangers suffered their second wasted away journey in just over two months as this game at Altrincham was abandoned after 27 minutes.
Starting before kick-off, an hour of rain, often torrential, left the pitch waterlogged and Preston-based referee R. L. Metcalfe had no choice but to call a halt.
There was no warning of what was to come on the journey up the M6 to Cheshire. But the heavens opened around half of an hour before kick-off and the referee carried out an unscheduled pitch inspection before giving the go-ahead.
Stafford player-manager Phil Robinson was forced to make three changes to the side that narrowly lost at home to Altrincham on Boxing Day. Illness kept out Craig McAughtrie and Robert Heath while Craig Lovatt missed the trip through suspension. Alan Dodd and Craig Wilding returned to the side and Jamie Phoenix came in for his full debut.
Early play was littered with free-kicks as players from both side struggled on the increasingly wet pitch. Altrincham created the first serious chance on 15 minutes. Rod Thornley got into the Stafford area on the right and fired into the side netting. Thornley was also involved in Altrincham’s other chance. He sent a diving header wide from Colin Potts’ free-kick delivered into the area.
As the rain continued, Neil Grayson sent a low 25-yard drive inches wide of the home net. But a sudden heavy downpour forced the referee to take players off, initially for five minutes. However, it was no surprise that the match was abandoned following a brief inspection even though the rain had eased.
Altrincham (red and white stripes / black / red): 1. Stuart Coburn, 2. Stephen Aspinall, 3. Chris Adams, 4. Mark Maddox, 5. Gary Talbot, 6. Eddie Hussin (capt), 7. Colin Potts, 8. Gary Scott, 9. Marcus Hallows, 10. Rod Thornley, 11. Colin Little. Subs: 12. Paul Tilley, 14. Keiran Lugsden, 15. Peter Wright, 16. Sean Smith, 17. George Melling (all not used).
Stafford Rangers (black and white stripes / white / black): 1. Stuart Tomlinson, 2. Alan Dodd, 3. Dennis Pearce, 4. Chris Smith, 5. Wayne Daniel (capt), 6. Nathan Talbott, 7. Lee Downes, 8. Jamie Phoenix, 9. Neil Grayson, 10. Craig Wilding, 11. Robin Gibson. Subs: 12. Danny Edwards, 14. Richard Beale, 15. Gary Fife, 16. Phil Robinson, 17. Dave Norton (all not used).
Referee: R. L. Metcalfe (Preston).
Assistants: A. Moore and S. Parker.
Goals:
None
Cards:
Altrincham: none
Stafford: none
