Stafford Rangers 1 Stevenage Borough 3
Nationwide Conference
At: Marston Road
Kick-off: 7-45 pm
Attendance: 653
Stafford Rangers put in an encouraging performance against in-form Stevenage but couldn’t prevent the visitors from recording a ‘double’ like Halifax.
Just like the previous Saturday, David McNiven put Rangers ahead with a well-taken goal. In the 15th minute, he received a pass from Richie Sutton and sent a low shot under the body of the diving Alan Julian to score the fourth goal of his spell on loan from Morecambe.
However, Stevenage got back on level terms three minutes later. Steve Morison, on the edge of the area, lifted the ball up with his boot and sent a dipping volley over Danny Alcock and in via the underside of the bar.
The visitors took the lead with a spectacular goal in the 41st minute from a free kick awarded just outside the Stafford area. Mark Hughes accurately curled the ball over the wall and straight into the top right-hand corner of the net.
Rangers certainly didn’t deserve to go in trailing at half-time and were forced to replace injured Lovatt with Ged Murphy before the second half got underway.
Stafford kept trying. McNiven and Grayson exchanged a one-two, which came to nothing. McAughtrie also headed over from Levi Reid’s corner.
However, Stevenage responded with a vital third goal in the 66th minute. Much-travelled former England winger Steve Guppy crossed deep from the left and Morison forced home his second goal of the game.
Sutton was sent off injury time after receiving the second of two bookings.
“We got off to a good start and I thought overall in the first half we played with some commitment,” commented Phil Robinson in his post-match Press Conference.
“We stopped them playing and at times we played some good stuff. We scored a goal and had other opportunities with David McNiven looking like he might score another.
“We got in good areas but it was one of those nights where they hit two wonder strikes in the first half that have gone in.”
Stafford Rangers (black and white stripes/black/black): Danny Alcock, Richie Sutton, Wayne Daniel (capt), Craig McAughtrie, Nathan Talbott, Robin Gibson, Craig Lovatt, Griffith, Reid, Grayson, McNiven. Subs: Ged Murphy (for Lovatt, ht), Danny Edwards (for R. Gibson, 82), Sean Ridgway (for Reid, 82), Dean Williams, Liam Murray.
Stevenage Borough (blue/blue/blue): Alan Julian, Barry Fuller, Ronnie Henry (capt), Santos Gaia, John Nutter, Jon Nurse, Mark Beard, Mark Hughes, Daryl McMahon, Steve Guppy, Steve Morison. Subs: Craig Dobson (for Nurse, 74), Mitchell Cole (for Guppy, 74), Danny Potter, Luke Oliver, Paul Hakim.
Sponsors Man of the Match: Anthony Griffith.
Referee: R. Wigglesworth (South Yorkshire).
Attendance: 653 (inc 99 away fans).
