Stafford Rangers 3 Gainsborough Trinity 0
Nationwide North
At: Marston Road
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Programme: £2 (48 pages)
Attendance: 704
Weather: dull, overcast, showers
Duration: first-half: 45:53; second-half: 48:37
Stafford Rangers returned to the top of the Conference North table with a deserved victory. Leading scorer Nathan Smith gave Rangers an early lead with Kevin Street and Neil Grayson finding the net in the second half to break the stubborn resistance of midtable Gainsborough.Gainsborough (in all yellow) got the game underway attacking the Social Club End. They enjoyed plenty of possession during a lively start and Jamie Sherlock drove over the bar.
Nathan Smith sent a right-foot drive inches wide, as Stafford got going, before opening the scoring in the 13th minute. After combining with Neil Grayson, Smith hit a rising shot which slipped through the hands of visiting goalkeeper Jamie Holmshaw. Despite attempts to clear on the line, a raised assistant’s flag signalled a goal for Smith before Paul Groves, following-up, forced the ball into the net to make sure.
Stafford kept going forward and, four minutes later, Robin Gibson found Smith who pulled the ball back from the right bye-line. Kevin Street fired low from 30 yards out but a deflection of Trinity’s Danny Wood took the pace off the ball and Holmshaw gathered up.Stafford continued to threaten. Smith again went close with a low drive and Craig McAughtrie curled a long-range free-kick inches wide. Street dribbled into the Gainsborough area only to be thwarted by a brave tackle from Richard Pell. The ball ran free and Grayson blasted a first-time shot over the bar.
Just before the break, Adam Burley volleyed a rare Trinity chance straight at Rangers goalkeeper Dean Williams.
There was a ten-minute delay to the second half while a replacement match official was found after the referee was unable to resume after the interval. Dr Michael Lee answered an appeal and he ran the line with Mr Stanier taking over from Mr Heywood in the middle.When play resumed, both Alex Higgins and Tom Baker fired at Williams as the visitors tried to get back on level terms.
Grayson wasted a great chance by shooting weakly at Holmshaw before creating Stafford’s second goal in the 64th minute. He ran towards goal only to be thwarted and Street bundled the ball home.
The lead would have been further extended had Holmshaw not kept out a low Smith shot with his boot. Skipper Wayne Daniel had a header cleared off the line before Ranges added their third goal in the closing stages. Substitute Dave Walker crossed low from the right and Grayson slotted the ball past Holmshaw at close range.Walker went agonisingly close to adding a fourth in injury time. Latching on to a long clearance by Williams, he slipped the ball past Holmshaw but also narrowly wide of the far post.
Stafford Rangers (black and white stripes / black / black): 1. Dean Williams, 2. Paul Groves, 3. Nathan Talbott, 4. Craig McAughtrie, 5. Wayne Daniel (capt), 6. Liam Murray, 7. Craig Lovatt, 8. Kevin Street, 9. Neil Grayson, 10. Nathan Smith, 11. Robin Gibson. Subs: 12. Danny Edwards (for Gibson, 74), 14. Dave Walker (for Smith, 84), 15. Levi Reid (for Murray, 63), 16. Phil Robinson (not used), 17. Alex Gibson (not used).
Gainsborough Trinity (yellow/yellow/yellow): 1. Jamie Holmshaw, 2. Danny Wood, 3, Adam Burley (capt), 4. Nick Ellis, 5. Richard Pell, 6. Alex Higgins, 7. Charlie Trout, 8. Jamie Sherlock, 9. David Reeves, 10. Tom Baker, 11. Ryan Mallon. Subs: 12. Jamie Smith, 14. Wes Parker, 15. John Rowan, 16. Liam Parker, 17. Menga Lheureux (all not used).
Referee: M. Heywood (Northwich) replaced at half-time by B. Stainer (Warrington).
Assistants: B. Stainer (Warrington; replaced by M. Lee) and I. Hurdle (Holmes Chapel).
Goals:
1-0 Nathan Smith (13)
2-0 Kevin Street (64)
3-0 Neil Grayson (86)
Cards:
Stafford: none
Gainsborough: none
Non-League Paper Star Man: Kevin Street.
