Stafford Rangers 0 Walsall 0
Pre-Season Friendly
At: Marston Road
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Attendance: 782
Weather: cloudy, dry, windy
Duration: first half: 47:06; second half: 48:13
Stafford Rangers can take plenty of encouragement from this pre-season game as they held a full-strength Walsall side to a goalless draw.
The match was watched by former Arsenal and Stoke star Lee Chapman, his wife Leslie Ash and mother Gill who officially switched on Stafford’s new floodlights during an evening reception after the game at Marston Road. Along with a host of former players from the 1970s, all will have enjoyed the action with the only thing lacking being a goal.
Walsall took the game to Rangers early on and Hector Sam was denied a clear shot on goal by a brave saving tackle from Craig McAughtrie.
The visitors also won three corners during the opening five minutes and Sam also had the ball in the back of the net. However, the effort from the Trinidad and Tobago International striker was ruled out for offside.
Stafford took a while to settle and Lee Downes saw a curling shit drift wide of the right-hand post.
With Walsall enjoying more possession than Rangers, they should have taken the lead in the 22nd minute. Martin Butler did well to set up a chance for Sam who miskicked in front of goal.
Mark Wright sent a rising 25-yard drive flashing past the goal and he also had a header cleared off the line by McAughtrie.
Stafford weathered the pressure and certainly posed more of the threat during the closing 15 minutes of the first half.
Quickly winning two corners in quick succession, Stafford kept up the pressure on the Walsall defence and skipper Wayne Daniel headed straight at Ince.
Kevin Street, who put in an impressive performance, combined with Neil Grayson inside the visitors area. The ball fell to Robin Gibson who saw a lob beat Saddlers’ goalkeeper Clayton Ince and shave the top of the bar.
But just before the break Anthony Gerrard fired inches over the Stafford bar from well outside the area.
In the second half, Stafford continued to pose problems for the League Two visitors and the impressive Kevin Street saw a shot deflected wide.
Butler had a couple of efforts on goal either side of the hour mark but Walsall found it hard to penetrate the determined Stafford defence.
Rangers survived a scare on 67 minutes, however. A slip by Daniel allowed Sam to break forward and square the ball to Butler who saw a shot blocked by McAughtrie.
With substitutions made a regular intervals, chances became scare though Stafford goalkeeper Dean Williams did well to claim a loping shot from Butler from underneath his bar.
As full time approached, Street fired straight at Ince from 20 yards out.
Stafford Rangers (black and white stripes / black / black): 1. Dean Williams, 2. Richie Sutton, 5. Wayne Daniel (capt), 4. Craig McAughtrie, 3. Nathan Talbott; 11. Robin Gibson, 7. Lee Downes, 6. Simon Osborn, 8. Kevin Street; 10. Guy Madjo, 9. Neil Grayson. Subs: 12. Brian Quailey (for Madjo, 65), 14. Danny Edwards (for Gibson, 77), 15. Dave Walker (not used), 16. Dolapo Olaoye (for Grayson, 84), 17. Ged Murphy (for Osborn, ht), 17gk. Danny Alcock (not used), 2. Alex Gibson (not used), 3. Pat Bannister (not used), 4. David Oldfield (not used), 5. Liam Murray (for Talbott, 65).
Walsall (red/white/white: 1. Clayton Ince, 2. Craig Pead, 4. Anthony Gerrard, 6. Ian Roper, 15. Kris Taylor; 14. Mark Wright, 16. Mark Kinsella, 12. Dean Keates (capt), 3. Daniel Fox; 9. Martin Butler, 10. Hector Sam. Subs: 17gk.James McKewan (not used), 19. James Constable (for Sam, 80), 20. Ishmal Demontagwal (for Taylor, 67), 5. Chris Westwood (for Keates, 77), 24. Scott Dann (not used), 25. David McDermott (for Wright, 89).
Referee: Ian Scarr.
Assistants: Nigel Day and Lance Blackwood.
Fourth Official: Phil Reade.
