St Albans City 0 Stafford Rangers 3
Nationwide Conference
At: -
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Attendance: 883
Stafford Rangers moved up to 16th position with a fine victory from a game important to both sides.
Robert Duggan made his debut on an initial seven-day emergency loan from Stoke City with both Danny Alcock and Dean Williams not fully fit.
Rangers forced their second corner in the 15th minute and this led to the opening goal. The ball eventually ended up at the feet of David McNiven out on the left who crossed to the far post. Grayson and defender Gary Elphick failed to make contact with the ball which dropped at the far post for McAughtrie to force home.
Stafford extended their advantage five minute later, again with the help of poor defending. This time it was Nathan Talbott who crossed from the left into the area where the veteran Grayson netted his first goal for over three months.
St Albans midfielder Malik Buari was guilty of missing three good chances to get his side back into contention before the interval.
At the start of the second half, Grayson had a header cleared off the line and at the other end Duggan pulled off a fine save to deny Ram Marwa.
Rangers continued to work hard and kept things tight at the back and Grayson rounded of Stafford’s 6th away league win of the season in injury time. Bastock got a hand to Robin Gibson’s initial shot and the veteran followed up to head home his 11th league goal of the season.
“It was a good victory from an important game for both teams,” said Phil Robinson. “We certainly did it with a solid performance and we defended well. At times we played some good football and created some good chances.”
St Albans City (yellow/yellow/yellow): Paul Bastock, Patrick Ada, Gary Elphick, Djoumin Sangare, Ahmed Deen, Malik Buari, Ram Marwa, Tom Davis, Chris Watters, Lee Clarke (capt), Leon Archer. Subs: Dean Cracknell (for Marwa, 61), Matt Hann (for Watters, 61), Chris Seeby, Ricky Perks, Faly Basse.
Stafford Rangers (black and white stripes/black/black): Robert Duggan, Alex Gibson, Wayne Daniel (capt), Craig McAughtrie, Nathan Talbott, Robin Gibson, Ged Murphy, Anthony Griffith, Levi Reid, David McNiven, Neil Grayson. Subs: Craig Lovatt (for Reid, 66), Guy Madjo (for McNiven, 74), Danny Edwards, David Oldfield, Liam Murray.
Referee: Keith Yeo (Essex).
Attendance: 883 (inc 113 away fans).
