Stafford Rangers 2 AFC Telford United 0
Pre-season Friendly
At: Marston Road
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Programme: 20p (4 pages)
Attendance: 517
Weather: sunny spells
Duration: first-half: 47:16; second-half: 46:08
Stafford Rangers rounded off their pre-season friendly programme with a comfortable two-goal victory. New signing Vill Powell put them ahead on 28 minutes and Robin Gibson put the outcome beyond doubt with a second goal just past the hour mark.In a lively start to what was an entertaining friendly, Lee Downes lifted an early shot over visitors’ bar. Stafford continued to press and Neil Grayson deep left-wing cross was headed down to Peter Thomson who saw a goalbound shot blocked by a defender. Levi Reid also got in a looping header that United goalkeeper Steve Taylor comfortably held.
United took a while to settle but when they did Roy Jordan sent a couple of shots over the bar and Stafford goalkeeper Lewis Solly bravely gathered Glenn Tolley’s free-kick at the feet of Duane Courtney.
Powell was unlucky not to find the target with a shot across the face of the United goal in the 28th minute but the former Grays Athletic striker made no mistake a minute later. Latching onto a throughball down the left, he got past Gary Price and drilled a low shot into the opposite bottom right corner of the net.
Rangers quickly got on the attack at the start of the second half. Substitute Alex Gibson found Powell who hit a speculative rising shot that Taylor comfortable held.
However, Telford who included our ex-Boro Tom Griffin, started to cause a few problems. On 49 minutes, a quickly-taken free-kick released Darren Alexander and the former Rocester centre-forward hit a low shot which Solly did well to keep out at the near post. Damien Charie headed over and Tolley fired wide as United continued to try and get back on level terms. Substitute Alfie Carter, caused problems for his former club, and he delivered a dangerous low cross that Alex Gibson cleared at the expense of a corner.
However, Stafford survived and scored a second goal in the 62nd minute. Powell fed Robin Gibson and the resulting shot may have lacked power but deceived Taylor on its way into the net with the aid of a deflection off Tom Barnett.
Stafford though they had added a third three minutes later. Thomson put the ball into the bet only to be denied by a raised assistant referee’s flag for offside.
Despite substitutions at regular intervals, the game remained non-the-less entertaining. Dave Walker sent a low ball across the face of the United goal which Leon Drysdale cleared as unmarked Danny Edwards ran in at the far post. From the resulting corner, Liam Murray turned and fired inches over.
Near the end, Stafford could have added a third goal. Found by Walker, Edwards crossed low towards unmarked Nathan Talbott in front of goal who was denied a clear shot by Damian Charie’s tackle.
Stafford Rangers (black and white strips / black / blakc): 1. Lewis Solly, 2. Paul Groves, 3. Nathan Talbott, 4. Liam Murray, 5. Wayne Daniel (capt), 6. Levi Reid, 7. Lee Downes, 8. Neil Grayson, 9. Vill Powell, 10. Peter Thomson, 11. Robin Gibson. Subs: 12. Danny Edwards (for Thomson, 71), 14. Dave Walker (for Grayson, 77), 15. Alex Gibson (for Daniel, 43), 16. Alex Gibbons (for Reid, 62), 16. Gary Fife (for R. Gibson, 77), 17. Nathan Smith (for Powell, 77), 17. Chris Milliard (not used), 18. Dave Woodvine (not used), 19gk. Will Smith(not used).
AFC Telford United (sky blue / navy blue / navy blue): 1. Steve Taylor, 2. Leon Drysdale, 3. Tom Griffin, 4. Duane Courtney (capt), 5. Gary Price, 6. Tom Barnett, 7. Roy Jordan, 8. Damien Charie, 9. Kyle Perry, 10. Darren Alexander, 11. Glenn Tolley. Subs: 12. Bruce Wheeler (for Tolley, 68), 14. Craig Ryan (for Jordan, 68), 15. Liam Turner (for Perry, 73), 16. Dale Williams (for Griffin, 68), X. Alfie Carter (for Alexander, 59), X. Neil Howarth (for Price, ht).
Referee: Terry Holbrook (Wolverhampton).
Goals:
1-0 Vill Powell (29)
2-0 Robin Gibson (62)
Cards:
Stafford: none
AFC Telford: none
