Stafford Rangers 0 Crawley Town 1
Nationwide Conference
At: Marston Road
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Attendance: 967
Weather: -
An early deflected goal from Stephen Evans was the difference between the sides.
In only the eight minute, the midfielder, recalled in place of the suspended Tony Scully fired the towards goal from just outside the area. The ball hit defender Richie Sutton, who was blameless, and completely wrong footed Rangers goalkeeper Robbie Duggan.
Stafford dominated for long periods of the second half but were unable to find a way back into the game.
The early goal from Evans, which proved sufficient for the visitors, came during a bright start by Stafford.
In the 13th minute, Guy Madjo got on the end of a cross from Sutton but his shot lacked power.
However, there was danger for Rangers to dealt with. A smart move involving Elliott Benyon and Tyrone Berry was thwarted when the latter’s low cross into the area towards Marcus Richardson was cut of by Wayne Daniel. Richardson also stabbed a low shot wide from the edge of the area.
Duggan pulled off a smart save on the half hour at the expense of a corner to turn round a deflected shot from Dannie Bulman at the expense of a corner.
Stafford responded with Guy Madjo seeing a low shot gathered up by Ben Hamer. Levi Reid, back in side with Ged Murhy starting a two-match ban, also headed just wide.
As the interval approached, Madjo controlled a pass from Sutton and volleyed just over.
Madjo was thwarted just after the restart by a double save from Hamer, who pulled off another fine stop to keep out a close-range effort from Craig Lovatt.
With Stafford pressing forward in search of an equaliser, Crawley almost doubled their lead on the hour. Duggan tipped over a curling free kick hit by Evans from 27 yards out.
Robinson brought on Andy White for Reid and played the last half hour with three strikers.
Madjo forced a good near-post save out of Hamer but Rangers ended up enduring a frustrating afternoon in from of goal. Neil Grayson sent a dipping shot just over who also fired over following good work by Madjo. White sent another effort inches over the Crawley bar in injury time. Just before the full-time whistle, Danny Edwards and White combined to set up Madjo who couldn’t get in a clean shot inside a crowded area.
Crawley substitute Scott Marshall almost put the outcome beyond doubt late on when he drove just wide from Scott Rendell’s pass.
The new stands at either end of the ground were used for the first time.
Stafford Rangers (black and white stripes/black/black): Duggan, Sutton, Daniel, McAughtrie, Talbott (Edwards, 82), R. Gibson, Lovatt, Griffith, Reid (White, 63), Grayson, Madjo. Unused subs: Alcock, A. Gibson, Murray.
Crawley Town (red/red/red): Hamer, Hiley, Okuonghae, Woozley, Bull, Berry (Marshall, 86), Bulman, Blackburn, Evans, Richardson (Rendell, 75), Benyon. Unused subs: Judge, Charles, Obersteller.
Sponsors Man of the Match: Robin Gibson.
Referee: Roger Vaughan (Somerset).
Attendance: 967 (inc 47 away fans).
