Aldershot Town 4 Stafford Rangers 3
Blue Square Premier
At: Recreation Ground
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Attendance: 2669
Weather: overcast, rain before and during game
Duration: first-half: 47:22; second-half: 49:29
Stafford Rangers scored three times in this thrilling encounter away to the Blue Square Premier League leader but were denied a share of the spoils by a late winner from Aldershot. David McNiven (8 mins) put Boro in front but the home side hit back with goals from Louis Soares (10) and John Grant (20). Chris Flynn (34) levelled things up with his first Rangers goal only for Shots to regain the lead just before the interval through Jonny Dixon (42). Joint caretaker manager Neil Grayson (67) equalised with a long-range lob. However, Aldershot took the points and extended their lead at the top with Scott Davies' free-kick (78) thought Rangers were unlucky to see Wayne Daniel's later header cleared from in front of the home goal.
Stafford made two changes. Danny Alcock returned in goal and Nathan Smith started in a three-pronged attack in place of former loanees Scott Loach and Chris Humphrey. Young keeper Danny Allen was named on the bench for the first time.
Stafford, who kicked off attacking the covered north end of the Recreation Ground, took the lead in the 8th minute when David McNiven lobbed Aldershot keeper Nikki Bull from 20 yards out. The ball went in via the underside of the bar to provide the perfect start against the Blue Square Premier table-topper who started the day four points clear.
However, Aldershot quickly hit back and equalised two minutes later in the 10th minute. JohnGrant got forward down the right and squared a pass to Louis Soares who sent a rising shot into the top-left corner from 20 yards out.
Rangers were forced to make a change in the 16th minute when Nathan Smith limped off and Seb Arnolin came on for his first appearance since returning for a spell on loan at Hednesford Town.
Both sides wanted to attack at every opportunity and the crowd were entertained throughout on what was a wet and cold afternoon in north Hampshire.
The home side edged in front in the 20th minute. John Grant latched onto a throughball down the middle and fired past the unlucky Danny Alcock. The diving keeper got his hand to the ball but couldn't prevent it going into the bottom-left corner of the net.
Rangers survived a couple of scares either side of the half-hour mark. Djimi Sangare required treatment and fortunately was able to complete the game. John Grant almost intercepted a backpass from skipper Wayne Daniel but Alcock left his line to boot the ball clear.
After the rain and drizzle stopped, which had seriously put the game in danger of not started, Rangers equalised in the 34th minute thanks to a well worked move involving McNiven and Arnolin. Chris Flynn raced forward into the area from the left to latch onto a pass from Arnolin and finished with an angled shot across goal straight into the bottom right corner. Game on.
Alcock pulled off a superb diving save in the 42nd minute to round a low drive from Joes Grant. But Rangers were out of luck from the corner. The ball, delivered to the far post by Soares, was headed back by Ricky Newman for Jonny Dixon to head home at close range.
Moments later, Soares fired wide of the near post from the right as the home side looked to score again.
Rain again fell at the start of the second half and Ross Draper fed Arnolin who fired wide.
Stafford survived a strong penalty appeal when Joel Grant went down under Richie Sutton's challenge but referee Amy Rayner waived play on.
John Grant became the first player to be booked when Rayner flashed a yellow card in the 53rd minute for a foul on Samy Mawene.
On the hour, Anthony Charles slipped inside the area and presented a chance to McNiven. Before the striker could get in a shot. Lewis Chalmers slid in to block at the expense of a corner.
Rangers got back on level terms again in the 67th minute. McNiven fed Grayson who launched a lob from fully 30 yards out which sailed over Bull and dropped with pinpoint accuracy into the unguarded net.
The home side responded with a double change that saw the introduction of eventual match winner Scott Davies and Kirk Hudson.
Sangare was forced to concede a corner when he got in the way of a shot from Hudson. Dixon then almost scored his second goal of the game with a curling shot that missed the top right corner by inches.
Aldershot scored what proved to be the winner a minute later in the 76th minute. Sutton brought down John Grant inside the 'D' and Davies stepped up to fire the free-kick into the bottom left corner with aid of a deflection off the six-man wall.
Rangers werent finished and press forward in search of yet another equalsier. And they almost succeeded.
Daniel got his head to Arnolin's corner only to see his effort cleared from in front of goal.
After Steve Hopkinson replaced the injured Mawene, McNiven was also unlucky in the 86th minute. His low shot beat the diving Bull and agonisingly ended up the wrong side of the left-hand post.
After the final whistle, fans from both sides applauded their heroes after seeing what was nothing short of a 'five star' match. Of course, there were boos directed towards the referee from the home side but, then again, 'panto season' is just around the corner. She smiled, and made what must have been a humorous remark to the assistants, as she left the field after what was a good performance in difficult conditions.
If Stafford came repeat this attacking endeavour at Marston Road, fans will be flocking back to Marston Road once news spreads and this relegation battle is far from over.
Aldershot Town (red/red/red): 1. Nikki Bull; 20. Robert Gier, Anthony Charles, 4. Ricky Newman (capt), 3. Anthony Straker; 23. Joel Grant, 7. Louis Soares, 8. Lewis Chalmers, 19. Ben Harding; 9. John Grant, 12. Jonny Dixon. Subs: 1. Scott Davies (for Soares, 71), 17. Kirk Hudson (for Joel Grant, 71), 10. Rob Elvins (for Dixon, 90), 18. Dave Winfield, 22 Mikhael Jaimez Ruiz
Stafford Rangers (black and white stripes with black sleeves / black / black): 1. Danny Alcock; 2. Richard Sutton, 5. Wayne Daniel (capt), 6. Djimi Sangare, 32. Luke Potter; 22. Samy Mawene, 17. Ross Draper, 7. Chris Flynn; 15. Nathan Smith, 9. Neil Grayson, 10. David McNiven. Subs: 19. Sebastian Arnolin (for Smith, 16), 24. Steve Hopkinson (for Mawene, 84), 16. Tom Ingram, 21. Jemiah Richards, 33. Danny Allen (gk)
Referee: Amy Rayner (Leicestershire).
Assistants: M. A. Bingham and A. Coggins.
Fourth Official: G. Muge.
Goals:
0-1 David McNiven (8)
1-1 Louis Soares (10)
2-1 John Grant (20)
2-2 Chris Flynn (34)
3-2 Jonny Dixon (42)
3-3 Neil Grayson (67)
4-3 Scott Davies (78)
Man of the Match: Jonny Dixon.
Cards:
Aldershot: John Grant (YC, 53)
Stafford: Richie Sutton (YC, 84)
This match report was originally written for and published on the now defunct www.staffordrangers.co.uk
Speaking after the game, Neil Grayson said: "To come away with nothing is disappointing but the lads know what we can do now.
"We can take a lot of positives from the game. In training we need to work on things that cost us a couple of goals and be tighter next week.
"We had a talk on the pitch at the end of the game. We were obviously all upset not to have won. But every single player was saying 'we know what to do now, know what we are capable of doing' and now they need to repeat it week in week out."
"I'm enjoying management at the moment. We had a good performance as well last week so the job looks good while everything is going right so I might fancy the job.
"Being the player-manager is all right. During the game, I may be shout a bit more than I have done. Before and after the game I do think a lot more about team selection and set pieces. When I am playing, I just get on with the game."
