Stafford Rangers 1 Altrincham 1
Blue Square Premier
At: Marston Road
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Attendance: 986 (186 away fans)
Weather: sunny spells
Stafford Rangers earned their first point of the season with a draw against old rivals Altrincham. Both goals came in the opening quarter with Marco Adaggio's penalty cancelling out an earlier goal scored by Robbie Lawton.Phil Robinson made two changes to the Stafford line-up with Marco Adaggio and Matt Hazley coming into the side in place of Neil Grayson and Sebastian Arnolin.
Atrincham midfielder Val Owen had the game's first attempt on goal when he lifted a shot over the bar from 20 yards.
The visitors took the lead in the 15th minute when Robbie Lawton tapped in after Danny Alcock kept out an initial shot from Chris Senior.
Stafford drew level five minutes later. Adaggio, brought down inside the area by Stephen Rose, got home to hammer the resulting penalty past Richard Acton.
The lively Adaggio almost scored again six minutes later. Greg Stones delivered a free-kick into the area and Adaggio, making his full debut, got in an overhead kick which didnt miss the right-hand post by much.
Chances were scare in the latter stages of the first half though Hazley did have one effort blocked outside the area.
Altrincham replaced Val Owen with Colin Potts at the interval.
Soon after the restart, Kevin Street crossed from out on the right. David McNiven knocked the ball down to Fred Murray who volleyed wide from 20 yards.
Stafford continued to create the better chances. Both McNiven and Adaggio had shots blocked on the edge of the area while the latter also drove over after good work by Street.
On the hour, Alcock pulled of the first of two fine saves. Potts' cross-cum-shot from out of the right bounced inside the area and the Rangers keeper pulled of a one-handed diving save to push the ball away.
Ramon Manak replaced Hazley before, in the 67th minute, Alcock pulled of a superb flying save to keep out Jake Sedgemore's curling free-kick.
Both sides could have scored what would have been the winning goal inside the last few minutes. For Stafford, Stones sent a dipping volley straight at Richard Acton while Potts drove over for the visitors
Stafford Rangers (black and white stripes / black / black): 1. Danny Alcock; 2. Richard Sutton, 5. Wayne Daniel (capt), 4. Craig McAughtrie, 25. Fred Murray; 8. Kevin Street, 23. Greg Stones, 7, Chris Flynn; 22. Matt Hazley; 10. David McNiven, 20. Marco Adaggio. Subs: 18. Ramon Manak (for Hazley, 66), 9. Neil Grayson (for Street, 78), 21. Jemiah Richards (not used), 24. Steve Hopkinson (not used), 27gk. Robert Duggan (not used))
Altrincham (navy blue with sky blue sleeves/sky blue/sky blue): 13. Richard Acton; 15. Chris Lane, 5. Darren Tinson, 14. Stephen Rose, 2. Stephen Aspinall; 7. Robbie Lawton, 6. Jake Sedgemore, 8. Val Owen, 11. Warren Peyton; 19. Chris Senior, 21. Gareth Whalley. Subs: 17. Colin Potts (for Owen, ht), 18. Pat McFadden (for Senior, 78) 4. Karl Munroe (not used), 12. Joe O'Neill (not used), 1gk. Stuart Coburn (not used).
Referee: D. Coote (Newark).
This match report was originally written for and published on the now defunct Stafford Rangers official website (www.staffordrangers.co.uk).
