Stafford Rangers 3 Scarborough 0
FA Cup sponsored by E.ON fourth qualifying round
At: Marston Road
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Attendance: 1043
Weather: -
Stafford Rangers can look forward to a favourable home first round tie with Maidenhead United following a comfortable victory over hardworking Scarborough.
Guy Madjo scored a goal in each half and defender Craig McAughtrie found the net in a performance that pleased manager Phil Robinson.
He said: “It was fairly comfortable. Games like this are difficult for the favourites like today. We had Danny Alcock to thank for an early save and it certainly job done. We needed to get through what ever way we could and was nice to have the victory sown up so early.”
Alcock certainly came to his side’s rescue in the 11th minute. Scarborough broke upfield following a Stafford corner and slips by both covering defenders let in Lee Whittington. However, Whittington, who received a pass from Chris Thomspon, was denied by a superb block in a one-on-one inside the area.
Stafford survived that scare and took the lead four minutes later. Madjo stayed onside to latched onto a pass down the left from Nathan Talbott and cut into the area. With Neil Grayson acting as a decoy, Madjo was able to fire low into the opposite corner of the net with visiting goalkeeper Mark Wilberforce getting a hand to the ball.
Wilberforce dropped a hanging ball from Ged Murphy but the visitors scrambled it clear as both Madjo and Grayson looked to take advantage
Alcock pulled off another fine save on the half hour when he leapt to his left to keep out a rising 20-yard drive from Sean Davies that was heading for the top corner.
Stafford, always in control, doubled their lead in the 35th minute. Kevin Street picked up the ball on the left, after his corner was cleared, and sent a low diagonal pass into the 6-yard box. McAughtrie, who stayed up, slotted the ball home at close range for his first goal of the season.
Just before the break, Madjo fired over and Wilberforce collected a deflected shot from Grayson as Stafford looked to further increase their lead.
Scarborough creditably came out on the attack at the start of the second half with nothing to lose. McAughtrie blocked a goalbound shot from Chris Thompson soon after the restart.
Madjo put the result beyond doubt in the 58th minute, heading home Robin Gibson’s left wing cross at the near post.
Scarborough’s task was made harder foul minutes later when midfielder Darren Thornton received a straight red card for a horrendous challenge on Street. The Scarborough midfielder can have no complains about the decision.
Rangers had chances to score again before full time. Gibson volleyed over and Street missed the easiest chance of all. He somehow drove over an open goal from no more than eight yards out.
Despite the defeat, Mark Patterson complemented his side for effort. “I thought the lads were spot on from the first minute to the ninetieth. The difference between the sides was a bit of quality in the final third,” said the Scarborough Head Coach.
After the win, the Stafford squad gathered round a TV and saw the reward – a home first round tie with Maidenhead United. “They are a team below us which is going to be tricky but it gives us a chance of progressing if we do it right,” was Phil Robinson’s initial reaction. “You always want somebody you can go through against and we have avoided other Conference teams. Maidenhead will be wound up for it and that makes it difficult for us as we will be the favourites.”
Stafford Rangers (black and white stripes with black sleeves / black / black): Danny Alcock, Richard Sutton, Wayne Daniel (capt), Craig McAughtrie, Nathan Talbott, Kevin Street, Craig Lovatt (Christian Dacres, 89), Ged Murphy (Danny Edwards, 71), Robin Gibson, Neil Grayson (Dolapo Olaoye, 81), Guy Madjo. Subs not used: Brain Quailey, David Oldfield.
Scarborough (blue/blue/blue; 4-4-2): Mark Wilberforce, Jimmy Beadle, Denny Ingram (capt), Mark Hotte, Sean Davies (Ashley Lyth, 60), Lee Whittington (Ryan Blott, 71), Lee Cartwright, Jamie Vermiglio, Darren Thornton, Tony Hackworth, Chris Thompson. Sub not used: Ged Dalton.
Goals: Madjo (16, 58), McAughtrie (35).
Sponsors Man of the Match: Guy Madjo.
Referee: S Cummings (Cheshire).
Attendance: 1,043.
