Oxford United 2 Stafford Rangers 1
Blue Square Premier
At: Kassam Stadium
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Attendance: 4617
Weather: sunny
Goals immediately before and half-time by Oxford midfielder Phil Trainer (45, 46 mins) helped Oxford United take maximum points in the sunshine at the Kassam Stadium. Craig McAughtrie (78 mins) reduced the deficit but Rangers couldn't find an equaliser.
Oxford v Stafford With Djoumin Sangare out with a groin injury, Fred Murray made his debut and Kevin Street returned to the midfield after missing the last two games. Ramon Manak came on in the second half for his debut. Oxford made one change with Michael Standing coming in for Luke Foster, who was fit enough only for a place on the bench..
Stafford certainly stuck to their task during the first half of keeping both Oxford and the crowd quiet until Trainer struck moments before the interval.
David McNiven has the first attempt on goal when he fired wide from outisde the area. Standing did a similar thing for Oxford.
Danny Alcock pulled off a couple of good saves around the midpoint of the first half, both from Alex Jeannin, as well-organised Rangers frustrated the U’s.
Just before the laf hour, Greg Stones got in a near-post shot from the right which hitthe side-netting.
With Rangers looking forward to enjoying half-time still on level terms, Trainer fired past Alcock from the left.
Stafford's task became harder just 19 seconds after the restart when Trainer struck again, this time with a fiercely struck shot just outside the area straight into the top-left corner from .
Alcock pulled off three fine saves, all to deny Yemi Odubade, and Trainer drove wide across goal as Oxford threatened to put the outcome completely beyond doubt. Eddie Anaclet, Trainer (again) and substitute Marvin Robinson all went close as well.
Stafford made full use of their three substitutions and they gave the small band of travelling fans some hope of salvaging what seemed to be an unlikely point.
Oxford v Stafford Matt Hazley, who was lively down the left, drove against the bar from outside the area before Stafford were rewarded with a goal scored in the 78th minute. Awarded for handball, McAughtrie drove a 28-yard free-kick through the wall and past the statuesque Billy Turley, once on the books at Marston Road.
In the closing stages, Stafford applied some pressure but were unable to find an equaliser which would have opened their points tally for the season.
Teams
Oxford United (yellow/navy blue/navy blue) 1. Billy Turley, 3. Michael Corcoran, 4. Barry Quinn (capt), 21. Matt Day; 2. Eddie Anaclet, 8. Eddie Hutchinson,24. Michael Standing, 18. Phil Trainer, 20. Alex Jeannin; 10. Yemi Odubade, 23. Gary Twigg. Subs: 11. Daniel Rose (for Standing, ht), 26. Marvin Robinson (for Twigg, 71), 9. Rob Duffy (for Odubade, 84), 16. Luke Foster, 30. Chris Tardiff
Stafford Rangers (red/red/red): 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, 19. Sebastian Arnolin; 10. David McNiven, 9. Neil Grayson. Subs: 20. Marco Adaggio (for Grayson, 58), 22. Matt Hazley (for Street, 58), 18. Ramon Manak (for Arnolin, 70), 21. Jemiah Richards, 27. Robert Duggan (gk)
Referee: Steve Creighton (Berkshire)
Attendance: 4617 (inc 89 away fans)
The match report was originally written for and published on the now defunct www.staffordrangers.co.uk
