Weymouth 1 Stafford Rangers 3
Blue Square Premier
At: Wessex Stadium
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Attendance: 1217
Weather: warm and sunny
An early strike from Marco Adaggio (15) and a goal in each half from David McNiven (41, 59) earned Stafford Rangers a deserved first victory of the season. Weymouth scored early in the second half through Nick Crittenden (56).
With Chris Flynn and Greg Stones both unable to travel, Phil Robinson brought David Oldfield and Richard Sutton into the midfield. David McNiven also started up front in a third change to the starting line-up. Weymouth boss Jason Tindall made five changes following last Tuesday's home defeat at the hands of Rushden & Diamonds.
Weymouth created the game’s first scoring opportunity. Stuart Beavon’s lob hit the bar but, had the ball dropped in, the goal would have been disallowed because of a raised flag for offside.
Chances were created in what was a bit of an end-to-end start. Sutton played the ball into the area where Djoumin Sangare got in a shot but the diving Jason Matthews saved.
From Paulo Vernazza’s near post corner, Kyle Critchell got in a header which was blocked by a Stafford defender. Jefferson Louis also fired wide from 10 yards from a pass by Crittenden.
A well worked goal led to Stafford taking the lead in the 15th minute. Adaggio exchanged a one-two with McNiven to pierce the home defence and comfortably slotted past the Weymouth keeper.
A saving tackle from Critchell prevented Kevin Street connecting with a low cross from McNiven and Matthews tipped over from Fred Murray (though another raised flag for offside will have ruled out a goal). Wayne Daniel also ran in to connected with a corner delivered by Street and sent a header over the bar.
Stafford deserved to double their lead in the 41st minute. McNiven lifted the ball over Matthews who could only palm it into the roof of the net.
After Stafford won a corner shortly after the restart, Weymouth went on the attack as they had to do. And they reduced the deficit in the 56th minute. Crittenden, wide on the right, punted a diagonal ball forward which cleared Loach and ended up in top left corner of the net. It didn't mattter whether he meant it - the goal momentarily got The Terras back in contention.
However, McNiven struck again three minutes later to restore the two-goal advantage. He stayed onside to break clear and sidefooted past the helpless Matthews.
Louis headed over while Paulo Vernazza and substitute Gavin McCallum both went close without troubling Loach. The Stafford goalkeeper pulled off a fine diving save to push away a low drive from Crittenden but Weymouth found it tough going against a well-organised Stafford defence.
Late on, Sangare got forward and fed Adaggio who fired wide.
Weymouth (terra/terra/sky blue): 17. Jason Matthews; 13. Simon Weatherstone (capt), 26. Joel Kitamirike, 14. Ashley Vickers, 2. Kyle Critchell; 7. Nick Crittenden, 22. Paulo Vernazza, 21. Conal Platt, 6. James Coutts; 9. Jefferson Louis, 10. Stuart Beavon. Subs: 25. Gavin McCallum (for Couts, 66), 23. Justin Roberts (for Platt, 71), 1. John Stewart (gk), 8. Danny Phillips, 12. Scott Doe.
Stafford Rangers (black and white stripes with white sleeves / black / black): 12. Scott Loach; 26. Cedric Avinel, 5. Wayne Daniel (capt), 6. Djoumin Sangare, 25. Fred Murray; 2. Richard Sutton, 28. David Oldfield, 17. Ross Draper, 8. Kevin Street, 10. David McNiven, 20. Marco Adaggio. Subs: 9. Neil Grayson (for McNiven, 79), 16. Tom Ingram, 19. Sebastian Arnolin, 24. Steve Hopkinson, 1. Danny Alcock.
Referee: Keith Yeo (Essex).
The match report was originally written for and published on the now defunct www.staffordrangers.co.uk
