Stafford Rangers 1 Hyde United 0
Nationwide North
At: Marston Road
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Attendance: 935
Weather: -
Stafford Rangers extended their advantage at the top to six points with a hard-fought victory over in-form Hyde United. Striker Nathan Smith produced a moment of brilliance and a great finish to score what proved to be the winner just before the half hour mark. But Rangers had goalkeeper Dean Williams to thank for a string of second-half saves. The winner came on 27 minutes. Smith picked up the ball on the edge of the area and flicked it past Mike Flynn before firing low into the bottom-right corner. In injury time, Stafford’s Craig McAughtrie and Hyde’s Nathan Wharton were both dismissed for their part in a melee that flared up following the sending off of visiting defender Lincoln Adams. The incident started when Adams kicked the spare match ball being held by Rangers kit man Simon Davies.Stafford Rangers: Dean Williams, Paul Groves, Nathan Talbott, Craig McAughtrie, Liam Murray, Craig Lovatt, Levi Reid, Kevin Street (capt), Neil Grayson, Nathan Smith, Robin Gibson. Subs: Lee Downes, Dave Walker (for Smith, 83), Peter Thomson (for Gibson, 67), Matt Clarke (for Grayson, 79), Phil Robinson.
Hyde United: Jean Paul Ndjebayi, Lincoln Adams, Chris Lynch, Paul Jones, Mike Flynn (capt), Nathan Wharton, Wayne Dean, Gerry Harrison, Nicky Clee, Dale Johnson, Matty McNeil. Subs: Nicky Hill, Paul Armstrong, Neil Tolson (for Dean, 87), Steve Brackenridge, Mark Westhead.
Goal: Smith (27).
Sent Off: McAughtrie, Wharton, Adams (all 90)
Sponsors’ Man of the Match: Dean Williams.
Non-League Paper Star Man: Dean Williams.
Referee: Glyn Mellor (Derby).
Attendance: 935.
