Exeter City 1 Stafford Rangers 2
Nationwide Conference
At: St James Park
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Attendance: 3977
Weather: -
Neil Grayson scored twice including an injury-time winner as Stafford came from behind to end Exeter’s unbeaten home record.
Rangers could have twice taken the lead inside the opening seven minutes. Street forced a good diving save out of Exeter keeper Rice who also got a hand to Murphy’s close-range shot and turned the ball onto the bar.
Alcock pulled off three good saves as Exeter pressed during the first half. He held shots from Stansfield and Mackie as well as turning round Challinor’s low drive at the expense of a corner. Gibson deflected a long-range effort from Buckle away from goal while Challinor also fired across the face of goal and Mackie missed with an acrobatic near-post scissor kick. Just before the break, Daniel got in the way of Challinor’s shot.
Exeter stayed on the attack at the start of the second half and took the lead in the 55th minute. Taylor’s deep left wing corner hit defender Sutton at the far post and Stansfield forced the ball home at close range.
Madjo almost scored on 64 minutes which a fiercely struck volley that rebounded off the bar with Rice beaten. Rice who pulled of a fine save to hold a swerving long-range drive from Murphy
Stafford deservedly got back on level terms in the 71st minute. Substitute Danny Edwards, on for Gibson, crossed from the left and Grayson powered a header past Rice to score his 50th Rangers goal.
Phil Robinson was ‘sent off’ for timewasting moments before Grayson hit the winner in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Madjo fed Street who crossed into the area for Grayson to volley home with his right foot.
Exeter City (red and white stripes/black/black): Martin Rice; Danny Woodards, Rob Edwards, Jon Richardson, Billy Jones; Andy Taylor, Matthew Gill, Paul Buckle, Jon Challinor; Adam Stansfield, Jamie Mackie. Subs: Danny Clay (for Buckle, 70), Lee Philips (for Stansfield, 75), Dean Moxey (for Taylor, 83), Paul Jones, Patrick Ada.
Stafford Rangers (blue/red/red): Alcock; Sutton, Daniel (capt), McAughtrie, Talbott; Street, Murphy, Lovatt, Gibson; Grayson, Madjo. Subs: Edwards (for Gibson, 62), Oldfield (for Murphy, 90), Quailey, Olaoye, Murray.
Referee: S. Hooper (Swindon).
Attendance: 3,977.
