Stafford Rangers 0 Woking 1
Blue Square Premier
At: Marston Road
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Attendance: 682
Weather: rain
A breakaway goal early in the second half (54 minutes) from Marvin Morgan gave Woking victory at Marston Road
With Kevin Street and Dolapo Olaoye not fit enough to considered for selection, Phil Robinson named an unchanged side. Woking boss Frank Gray made one change with Goma Lambu coming in for the injured Matt Gray.
Chances were few and far between during a low-key first half with players finding the greasy surface difficult at times. The referee frequently stopped play to penalise petty offences and as a result the game lacked any sort of flow. There wasn't a malicious tackle in sight.
A couple of crosses from Woking, who also won a corner, were the only notable incidents during the opening cautious exchanges.
Stafford, looking to bounce back from two defeats, had the first attempt on goal in the 14th minute. Summer signing Sebastian Arnolin picked up the ball 40 yards out and launched a lob which Woking goalkeeper Nick Gindre got back to his line to hold.
Craig McAughtrie drove a 35-yard free-kick against the wall and Flynn following up fired wide of the right-hand post.
From Stafford's first corner, the ball was cleared to Chris Flynn was unlucky to see a low drive blocked inside the area. The rebound fell to McAughtrie who also sawa a well-struck shot blocked as well.
David McNiven had the best chance of the first half on the half hour. Found by Arnolin, he drove across the face of goal and narrowly wide of the far post with the diving Gindre beaten. The shot was agonisingly close to putting Stafford in front.
The visitors created several openings during the closing stages of the first half. Morgan slipped the ball through to Giuseppe Sole who drove wide. Sole also got on the end of a pass from Bradley Quamina and fired straight at Danny Alcock. Morgan couldn't direct a header on target from Lambu's dangerous right-wing cross and Alcock left his area to boot clear a throughball from Tom Hutchinson.
Gindre got down well to hold a low shot from Stones at the start of the second half and pulled off a fine save.
McNiven fed Stones who hammered the ball towards goal and Gindre against thwarted the midfielder this time with a flying catch. The goalkeeper immediately launched a break upfield for the visitors. Morgan got free of his markers and thumped the ball past Danny Alcock to net his side's 54th minute winner.
A combination of a defender and woodwork prevented the visitors from doubling their lead four minutes later. From Sole's corner, Hutchinson powered a header that hit both the right-hand post and Steve Hopkinson before rebounding out.
Stafford looked to make a breakthrough and had a great chance to level in the 80th minute. Craig McAughtrie up with the attack knocked the ball down to Grayson, 6 yards out in front of goal, who lifted the ball over the bar.
Woking finished with ten men after Matt Pattison was dismissed for two bookings late in the game. He was first cautioned for a foul then inexplicably booted the ball into the crowd to waste time with inevitable consequences.
But just like Farsley a week ago, Rangers had insufficient time to equalise in a late surge of pressure on the visitors' goal. McMiven fired over, Marco Adaggio saw a shot blocked and a cross from Stones caused confusion inside the Woking area.
Teams
Stafford Rangers (black and white stripes / black / black): 1. Danny Alcock; 6. Djoumin Sangare, 5. Wayne Daniel (capt), 4. Craig McAughtrie, 2. Ritchie Sutton; 19. Sebastian Arnolin , 7. Chris Flynn, 23. Greg Stones, 22. Matthew Hazley; 10. David McNiven, 9. Neil Grayson. Subs: 24. Steve Hopkinson (for Hazley, 56), 20. Marco Adaggio (for Arnolin, 69), 18. Ramon Manak, 21. Jemiah Richards (for Sangare, 57), 27. Robert Duggan (gk)
Woking (sky and white stripes / white / white): 1. Nick Gindre; 2. Paul Lorraine, 5. Tom Hutchinson (capt), 6. Jay Gasson; 16. Matt Ruby, 15. Goma Lambu, 4. Bradley Quamina, 11. Matt Pattison, 3. Danny Bunce; 24. Giuseppe Sole 8. Marvin Morgan. Subs: 9. Michael Charles (for Sole, 69), 17. Jerome Maledon (for Morgan , 73), 14. Adam Green, 18. David Shin, 12. Ross Worner (gk)
Referee: Richard West
Attendance: 682 (inc 64 away fans)
This match report was originally written for and published on the now defunct www.staffordrangers.co.uk
