Tuesday 2nd May 2006
Stafford Rangers 1 Harrogate Town 0
Nationwide North Play-offs Semi Final
At: Marston Road
Kick-off 7-45 pm
Attendance: 1665
A single goal from Robin Gibson scored on 63 minutes took Stafford Rangers one step closer to regaining their Nationwide Conference status lost back in 1995.
Kevin Street’s left-wing corner was punched out to the winger lurking on the edge of the area. Gibson headed the ball past his marker and buried a shot into the bottom-right corner of Martyn Wood’s net from 18 yards out.
Rangers manager Phil Robinson was delighted with his side’s victory. He said: “I’m really pleased and pleased for the players as well.
“It is only half the job done and we know we’ve got a massive task ahead of us against Droylsden on Saturday.
“I thought the players worked really hard together as a team and we have asked them for one last effort like that on Saturday. I feel that if we work like that as a team again we will put ourselves in with a good chance of getting a victory.
Both sides looked to get forward in the first half with Harrogate, attacking with a strong breeze, creating the better chances.
Lee Philpott fired narrowly wide and Marc Smith saw a header held by Stafford goalkeeper Dean Williams. Just before the interval Craig McAughtrie cut out a 25-yard shot from Philpott at the expense of a corner.
Disaster almost struck for the visitors within a minute of the restart. Richard Dunning’s headed backpass wrongfooted his keeper Martyn Wood who recovered to prevent the ball crossing the line.
Stafford built up the pressure on the Harrogate defence and Wood blocked a close-range shot from Neil Grayson. And from the resulting corner, Gibson’s moment of brilliance put Stafford into the play-off final.
Harrogate made a bold bid for an equaliser and on 87 minutes furiously appealed for a penalty after a shot struck a defender. The referee waived play on and Stafford held on for a memorable victory.
Stafford Rangers: Williams, Sutton, Talbott, McAughtrie, Daniel, Lovatt, Downes, Street, Grayson, Edwards, R. Gibson. Subs: Reid, N. Smith, Thomson (for Edwards, 56), Groves, McMahon.
Harrogate Town: M. Wood, Dunning, Ryan, L. Wood, Timons, Ellerker, Grant, Hunter, M. Smith, Holland, Philpott. Subs: Jones (for Dunning, 74), Stoneman, Heard, Lally, Mason.
Referee: G. M. Brittain (Doncaster).
Non-League Paper Star Man: Craig Lovatt (Stafford).
Entertainment: 3 out of 5.
