Saturday 17th March 2007
Woking 1 Stafford Rangers 1
Nationwide Conference
At: Kingfield
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Attendance: 1,294
Weather: -
Stafford Rangers moved up, temporarily to 16th position in the Nationwide Conference table following a 1-1 draw at Woking. After a goalless first half, Robin Gibson put Rangers ahead six minutes after the restart but Craig McAllister headed a 79th minute equaliser to give the Cards a share of the spoils.
In difficult windy conditions, Woking created a couple of decent chances inside the opening seven minutes. Defender Tom Hutchinson headed over from a free kick and McAllister drilled an angled shot inches wide.
Rangers’ first chance stemmed from a mistake from home keeper James Bittner. He sent a clearance straight to Neil Grayson but recovered to save the recalled striker’s resulting shot.
However, there was further danger for Stafford when Robert Duggan had to lead his line to bravely block at the feet of Daniel Webb.
A clash of heads between two Woking defenders resulted in James Pearce leaving the field for almost ten minutes of treatment on a facial cut but Rangers couldn’t take advantage of a man advantage. Anthony Griffith fired over from a good position just outside the area.
McAllister should have done better just before the hour mark with an excellent chance. He picked up a poor clearance from Wayne Daniel and volleyed wide.
After Guy Madjo and Pearce had followed Craig McAughtrie into the referee’s notebook, Gibson crossed deep from the right but Levi Reid couldn’t quite apply the finishing touch at the far post.
Following Woking’s double change at the interval substitute Goma Lambu got on the end of Adam Green’s cross and headed straight at Duggan.
Bittner saved from Griffith before Stafford took the lead in the 51st minute. Madjo fed Gibson on the right who coolly home slotted his third goal of the season.
Webb volleyed across the face of the Stafford goal and McAllister fired over as Woking looked to quickly get back on level terms.
Reid tested Bittner from fully 30 yards out but Woking also went close McAllister again fired wide while Neil Smith drove over.
Woking equalised in the 79th minute. Lambu sent a cross from the right into the area where McAllister rose above his marker to head home.
Rangers had to survive a couple of scares in injury time. Woking unsuccessfully appealed for a penalty when Webb went down inside the area and Duggan turned over a header from Smith.
Woking (red/white halves/black/black): James Bittner, Curtis Osano, Karl Murray, Tom Hutchinson, Jason Pearce, Giuseppe Sole, Ian Selley, Neil Smith (capt), Adam Green, Daniel Webb, Craig McAllister. Subs: Goma Lambu (for Sole, ht), Danny Bunce (for Pearce, ht), Nick Gindre, Liam Marum, Ollie Berquez.
Stafford Rangers (blue/red/red): Robert Duggan, Richie Sutton, Wayne Daniel (capt), Craig McAughtrie, Nathan Talbott, Robin Gibson, Craig Lovatt, Anthony Griffith, Levi Reid, Guy Madjo, Neil Grayson. Subs: Dean Williams, Danny Edwards, Alex Gibson, Ged Murphy, Liam Murray (all not used).
Referee: M. Bull (Essex)
Attendance: 1,294 (inc 72 away fans).