Saturday 5th February 2005
Stafford Rangers 1 Hinckley United 1
Nationwide North
At: Marston Road
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Programme: ???
Attendance: 678
Weather: Drizzle
Duration: first-half: 47:54; second-half: 47:00
Games between Stafford and Hinckley are traditionally close and this one was no exception. The visitors took the lead in the 36th minute after Craig McAughtrie had to head behind a dangerous Paul Barnes cross. From the corner, the ball came out to the edge of the area where Piercewright struck a rising shot through a crowd of players into the top corner of the net past Stafford’s new ’keeper Glyn Thompson. Rangers levelled in the 66th minute when a corner came out to Lovatt on the edge of the area. He jinked past one challenge before firing low into the opposite bottom corner of the Hinckley net.
Hinckley got the game underway attacking the social club end in the first half – right to left in relation to my seat in the stand.
An early free-kick from Hinckley’s Paul Barnes failed to trouble Stafford’s debutant goalkeeper Glyn Thompson while Wayne Daniel’s header at the other end lacked direction.
There was little goalmouth action during the opening half hour, then Craig Lovatt fed Lee Downes who fired wide.
A couple of substitutions didn’t help Stafford’s cause and Hinckley took a 35th minute lead. A left-wing corner delivered by John Burns wasn’t cleared and Brad Piercewright fired home a rising shot from just inside the area into the top-left corner.
Hinckley nearly scored a second goal three minutes later. Burns crossed from the right to the near post where Colin Marrison shot wide.
Stafford got back on level terms in the 66th minute. Substitute Danny Edwards delivered a left-wing corner into the area where Stafford appealed for handball. Play continued and Craig Lovatt sent a low shot across the face of goal into the far bottom-left corner of the net.
Dennis Pearce was named Man of the Match.
Stafford Rangers (black and white stripes / Black / black): 1. Glyn Thompson, 2. Craig McAughtrie, 3. Dennis Pearce, 4. Chris Smith, 5. Wayne Daniel (capt), 6. Nathan Talbott, 7. Phil Robinson, 8. Rob Heath, 9. Neil Grayson, 10. Lee Downes, 11. Robin Gibson. Subs: 12. Craig Wilding (not used), 14. Craig Lovatt (for Robinson, 17), 15. Alan Dodd (not used), 16. Danny Edwards (for Gibson, 34), 17. Richard Beale (not used).
Hinckley United (blue and red stripes / blue / red): 1. Tommy Whittle, 2. Neil Cartwright, 3. Brad Piercewright, 4. Richard Lavery, 5. Adam Willis, 6. Andy Penny, 7. Stuart Storer (capt), 8. Leon Jackson, 9. Paul Barnes, 10. Colin Marrison, 11. John Burns. Subs: 12. Chris Smith (for Barnes, 80), 14. Wayne Dyer (for Penny, ht), 15. Craig Woodley (for Burns, 79) [only three subs named].
Referee: P I Thompson (Chesterfield).
Assistants: S. Spering (Ripley) and A. G. Storer (Ripley).
Goals:
0-1 Brad Piercewright (35)
1-1 Craig Lovatt (66)
Cards: none
