Droylsden 4 Stafford Rangers 0
Nationwide North
At: Butcher's Arms Ground
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Programme: ???
Attendance: 642
Weather: cold, cloudy, dry
Duration: first-half: 47:13; second-half: 48:11
Looking at the pre-match league table, Stafford (with 33 points from 38 games) stood in 10th position in the table, while second-placed Droylsden (73 points from 38 games) trailed leaders Southport by just two points with a game in hand.
After more than matching the in-form home side, Stafford Rangers were hit three times in the space of 15 minutes towards the end of the first half. Droylsden quickly added a fourth goal after the restart before easing off.
Droylsden signalled their intensions after 11 seconds when Jodie Banim saw a shot from the edge of the area well saved by the diving Joe Anyon.
After surviving that early scare, Stafford started to cause problems for the nervous home side and, with a bit of luck, could have taken the lead. Craig Wilding sent a free header straight at Bloods’ goalkeeper Paul Phillips from an accurate Danny Edwards cross.
Edwards sent a low shot inches wide before Jamie Phoenix, in for the suspended Robin Gibson, tried his luck from fully 30 yards out. His lob beat Phillips but agonisingly rebounded off the bar.
However, an uncharacteristic slip from the reliable Chris Smith turned the game in favour of Droylsden. He allowed former Shrewsbury striker Jodie Banim to drill a low shot across the face of goal and into the opposite bottom left corner for his 24th goal of the season.
Craig McAughtrie cleared off the line from Robbie Talbot before it got worse for Stafford in the 35th minute. Craig Lovatt fouled Talbot on the edge of the area and Gareth Morris curled the resulting free-kick home via the underside of the bar.
Droylsden before totally dominant and it was no surprise when they added a third goal before the interval – again from a free-kick. Danny Warner sent the ball high into the Rangers area from half-way where it skimmed the top of Wayne Daniel’s head before entering the net for an own goal.
In first-half injury time, Dave Cameron saw a shot kept out by Anyon and, from the rebound, Banim was denied another goal by a magnificent block by Daniel.
The dangerous Banim sent a 45-yard lob inches over before Rangers were undone again in the 53rd minute from yet another set piece. Morris’ free-kick from wide on the right was headed home at the far post by defender Steve Halford.
With the game won, Droylsden replaced Banim, Talbot and Cameron, and became content to keep possession.
The Rangers attack, lacking the injured Neil Grayson, made little progress against the Bloods’ well-organised defence. However, just after the hour mark Lovatt saw a good effort kept out by a one-handed save from Phillips.
Late in the game, Rangers, who gave a debut to substitute Alex Gibbons, had the ball in the back of the Droylsden net. But, the own goal ‘scored’ by Warner was disallowed for a foul by Daniel on Phillips.
Droylsden (red/black/black): 1. Paul Phillips, 2. Neil Hall, 3. Danny Warner, 4. Steve Halford, 5. Craig Robinson, 6. Gareth Morris, 7. Ged Murphy, 8. Steve Brodie, 9. David Cameron, 10. Jodie Banim, 11. Robbie Talbot. Subs: 12. Ian Fitzpatrick (for Banim, 58), 14. Andy Lee (for Talbot, 58), 15. Peter Dogun (not used), 16. Kevin Rapley (for Cameron, 65), 17. Stuart Howson (not used).
Stafford Rangers (black and white stripes / silver / red): 1. Joe Anyon, 2. Craig McAughtrie, 3. Robert Heath, 4. Chris Smith, 5. Wayne Daniel (capt), 6. Craig Lovatt, 7. Nathan Talbott, 8. Lee Downes, 9. Craig Wilding, 10. Danny Edwards, 11. Jamie Phoenix. Subs: 12. Richard Beale (not used), 14. Alan Dodd (not used), 15. Dennis Pearce (for Phoenix, 67), 16. Gary Fife (not used), 17. Alex Gibbons (for Heath, 76).
Referee: T. Conway (Preston).
Assistants: ???
Goals:
1-0 Jody Banim (29)
2-0 Gareth Morris (35)
3-0 Wayne Daniel (44 og)
4-0 Gareth Morris (53)
Cards:
Droylsden: none
Stafford: Lee Downes (YC, 35), Craig McAughtrie (73)
