Nationwide Conference
Attendance: 1081
Stafford Rangers maintained their unbeaten start to the 2006/07 season with a narrow but none-the-less deserved victory over Southport. Neil Grayson rose in the 81st minute to head home the winner from a corner delivered by Kevin Street.
Phil Robinson named an unchanged side for the third game in a row with Craig McAughtrie and Nathan Smith both still out through injury.
On a greasy surface, Stafford were the first side to go close. Robin Gibson and Street combined on the right. The latter found Guy Madjo in the area who turned and saw a near post shot saved by Paul Harrison.
Boro continued their bright start, winning four early corners. Street threaded a pass into the area which Harrison gathered as Madjo looked to get on the end. After combining with Madjo, Grayson fired wide from 25 yards out.
Southport, with Mark Jackson playing as a lone striker, found it difficult to penetrate the well-organised home defence and Stafford, in fact, looked the more likely to open the scoring. Madjo saw another attempt on goal blocked by Michael Powell at the expense of yet another corner.
Stafford, however, survived a scare of their own making on the half hour when Dean Williams was put under pressure by Nathan Talbott’s backpass. The goalkeeper’s clearance was intercepted by Carl Baker but the resulting shot failed to find the unguarded net, admittedly from a narrow angle.
The visitors tried to raise their game and Williams comfortably gathered up a long-range shot from skipper Mark Boyd.
However, another good Rangers move led to a further attempt on goal. Street took the ball into the Southport area and laid it to Grayson. The striker aimed for the opposite top corner but narrowly missed. A well-struck shot from Gibson also flashed wide of the Southport goal.
In injury time, Baker crossed deep and Michael Clancy for forward into a good position at the far post, only to head wide.
Southport looked to press forward at the start of the second half. Boyd had a long-range effort blocked by Wayne Daniel. With the visitors getting more into the game, a dangerous free-kick from Lee Hoolickin was punched out for a corner by under pressure Williams. Stuart Barlow, the former Everton striker, replaced Jackson just after the hour mark in a second change for Southport and first-change player Robert Booth fired over the Stafford bar.
Stafford started to find it harder to get forward but won a corner in the 65th minute. Winning the ball in the air, Daniel has a shot blocked as did Liam Murray in the scramble that ensued inside the Southport area.
Both managers clearly wanted to more than a point out of the game with Robinson giving a debut to substitute Brian Quailey in place of Gibson. Opposite number Paul Cook made his third positive substitution with Joe Fowler replacing Powell.
With the game more open, Williams did well to keep out Baker’s header from another dangerous free-kick delivered by Hoolickin.
Harrison held a shot from Street before Stafford scored what proved to be the winner nine minutes from time. From the second of successive corners, Grayson rose at the near post to head home.
Southport quickly got forward and Williams held a header from Liam Blakeman.
But the visitors’ task of salvaging a point became tougher when Paul Martin was sent off for a professional foul on Guy Madjo in 85th minute.
Stafford Rangers (Black and white stripes/black/black): Dean Williams; Richie Sutton, Wayne Daniel, Liam Murray, Nathan Talbott; Robin Gibson, Ged Murphy, Kevin Street, Lee Downes; Neil Grayson, Guy Madjo. Subs: Brian Quailey (for Gibson, 72), Craig Lovatt, Danny Edwards, David Oldfield, Danny Alcock.
Southport (White/white/white): Paul Harrison; Chris Lane, Paul Martin, Kevin Lee, Lee Hoolickin; Carl Baker, Mark Boyd (capt), Liam Blakeman, Michael Powell, Sean Clancy; Mark Jackson. Subs: Robbie Booth (for Clancy, 53), Start Barlow (for Jackson, 62), Joe Fowler (for Powell, 67), Francis Barry, James Olsen.
Referee: D. H. Coote (Newark).
Sponsors’ Man of the Match: Kevin Street.
Goal:
1-0 Grayson (81)
