Oxford United 2 Stafford Rangers 0
Nationwide Conference
At: Kassam Stadium
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Attendance: 7007
Weather: -
It was always going to be a difficult task to take points off second-placed Oxford United and so it proved.
Rangers were undone by Chris Zebroski’s opener scored just before the interval and an unfortunate own goal from skipper Wayne Daniel on the hour.
Neil Grayson finished the game in goal after Robbie Duggan was forced off midway through injury in the second half.
With an unchanged starting line-up for the third straight game, Rangers had the first attempt on goal. From a short tapped free kick, Craig McAughtrie forced a straight-forward save out of Oxford ’keeper Billy Turley, once on the books of Stafford during the early 1990s.
Once they got in gear, Oxford played some delightful passing football with Rangers impressing as well. Carl Pettefer drove over while Luke Foster narrowly missed with two left-foot strikes.
At the other end, Turley needed to tip over from Ged Murphy direct from a free-kick.
Duggan was initially hurt on the half-hour when falling awkwardly after punching clear a long throw.
Oxford took the lead in the 40th minute with big slice of luck. Barry Quinn’s weakly-struck free kick hit the wall, fell to Luke Foster who went for goal and the ball was turned in by Zebroski.
Luck played a part in Oxford’s second goal on the hour. Andy Burgess’ low left-wing cross hit both Daniel and Nathan Talbott inside the six-yard box before crossing the line. Daniel was officially credited with an own goal.
Stand-in keeper Grayson pulled off a couple of useful saves, first from Zebroski and another diving stop to deny Yemi Odabade.
Oxford United (yellow/navy blue/navy blue): Turley, Corcoran, Quinn, Day, L. Foster, Pettefer, Hargreaves, M. Foster, Burgess, Duffy, Zebroski. Subs: Anaclet (for Quinn, ht), Johnson (for Pettefer, 77), Obabade (for Duffy, 77), Tardiff, Robinson.
Stafford Rangers (black and white stripes/red/red): Duggan, Sutton, Daniel, McAughtrie, Talbott, Griffith, Lovatt, Murphy, R. Gibson, Madjo, Grayson. Subs: Lorougnon (for Murphy, 55), Edwards (for R. Gibson, 60), White (for Duggan, 67), Reid, A. Gibson.
Bookings: Burgess, Quinn (both Oxford); Murphy, Grayson (both Rangers).
Referee: Russell Fletcher (Derbyshire).
Attendance: 7,007 (inc 268 away fans).
