Stafford Rangers 1 Kidderminster Harriers 3
Blue Square Premier
At: Marston Road
Kick-off: 7-45 pm
Attendance: 1126
Weather: dry, mild
Stafford Rangers produced a fine display of football during the first half but it was Kidderminster who took the honours in this entertaining local derby. Justin Richards (26 mins) gave the visitors the lead against the run of play and Sebabtian Arnolin equalised with a super strike in firts-half injury time. However, a low drive from Gavin Hurren (66 mins) and a late penalty from Richards (85 mins) comdemned Rangers to defeat.
Both Kevin Street (calf) and Dolapo Olaoye (ankle) were forced to miss the game with goalscorer Arnolin and Matthew Hazley, a loan signing from Stoke City, coming into the starting line-up.
Rangers, attacking the 'Shed End', made a bright start with both David McNiven and Hazley firing wide. In the 19th minute, Greg Stones had an initial shot blocked on the edge of the area. The ball rebounded to Arnolin who earned a corner with a defected drive.
Neil Grayson got clear and managed to get the ball past Scott Bevan who had left his area to attempt a clearance. But the keeper quickly raced back onto his line before Grayson could shoot and managed to get down well to save.
However, Harriers took the lead against the run of play in the 26th minute with their first effort on target. Brian Smikle got to the right bye-line and delivered the ball low into the six-yard box where Justin Richards slotted home.
Stafford continued to press forward and entertained the crowd with some sensational attacking football. Grayson fired across goal and Arnolin shot straight at Bevan as chances continued to be created.
But there was danger when Mark Creighton headed a deep corner from Jeff Kenna wide of the target.
Arnolin fed Hazley on the left who cut in and drove the ball across the face of goal. Grayson ran in at the far post put couldn't quite apply the finishing touch.
Rangers were finally rewarded in first-half injury-time, moments before the half-time whistle. A long throw from the left was poorly cleared to Arnolin, lurking just outside the area. And the Frenchman on his full debut needed no second invitation to thump the ball into the bottom-left corner past the diving Bevan. Play resumed for barely a second before the referee sent the players into the changing rooms.
Kidderminster unsuccessfully appealed for a penalty at the start of the second half and Grayson was thwarted by Jonathan Munday's saving tackle made as the striker looked to get clear. Hazley also narrowly missed with a long-range lob.
A header from Creighton and shot from Smikle went close for the visitors who were thankful for a superb save from Bevan in the 63rd minute. Chris Flynn laid the ball into the path of Arnolin on the right who drove across the face of goal. The shot looked destined for the net until the fingertips of the diving keeper turned the ball round for a corner.
After Danny Alcock saved from James Constable, Kidderminster took the lead in the 66th minute. Smikle found Gavin Hurran who turned 20 yards out and fired low into the bottom right corner.
Rangers started to chase the game and Grayson headed Hazley’s cross wide. Craig McAughtrie also drove a free-kick straight at the tall Bevan and Hazley’s volley deflected off a defender for a corner.
Alcock kept Rangers in touch with a one-handed reaction save but Harriers added a cruel third goal in the 85th minute. Sponsors' Man of the Match Djoumin Sangare was harshly adjudged to have knocked over Richards inside the area, who got up to convert the resulting penalty.
In injury time, Alcock gathered up a shot from Iyseden Christie and Boro substitute Marco Adaggio took the ball forward and drove wide.
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, 89), 20. Marco Adaggio (for Arnolin, 90), 18. Ramon Manak, 21. Jemiah Richards, 27. Robert Duggan (gk)
Kidderminster Harriers (red/white/red): 1. Scott Bevan; 2. Jeff Kenna, 16. Jonathan Munday, 5. Mark Creighton, 18. Paul Bignot; 14. Brian Smikle, 4. Gavin Hurran, 10. Russell Penn (capt), 15. Michael McGrath; 8. James Constable, 9. Justin Richards. Subs: 17. Andrew Ferrell (for McGrath, 73), 23. Iyseden Christie (for Constable, 86), 21. Matthew Barnes-Homer (for Richards, 90), 20. Neil Howarth, 13, Dean Coleman (gk)
Referee: S. Procter-Green (Lincolnshire).
Attendance: 1126 (inc 264 away fans).
This match report was originally written for and published on the now defunct www.staffordrangers.co.uk
