Blue Square Premier at Marston Road
Attendance: 627 (inc 97 away fans)
Stafford Rangers progressed into the FA Trophy Third Round draw thanks to goals from David McNiven and Ross Draper. McNiven opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 26th minute after Paul Stonehouse handled inside the area. Alex Lawless levelled things up nine minute after the restart with a deflected free-kick but Draper (pictured) fired home from Damion Jarrett's free-kick as the visitors appealed for offside.
The Stafford line-up showed three changes. Richard Sutton returned to the defence after completing a one-match ban in place of the injured Djoumin Sangare. Samy Mawene's departure gave Kevin Street his first start in three games. Dolapo Olaoye started for the first time since the opening day as Neil Grayson served a one-match suspension for picking up five bookings. Marco Adaggio returned to action as a second-half substitute and new signing Alex Gibson was on the bench.
Forest Green were hit by injuries and suspensions and former Stafford midfielder Michael Brough missed out. Another ex-Stafford player Danny Carey-Bertram started alongside the Blue Square Premier's leading scorer Stuart Fleetwood. Forest Green kicked off in dry but windy conditions attacking the Social Club end of Marston Road. They unsuccessfully appealed for a penalty when Carey-Bertram went down under Sutton's challenge inside the area. Ryan Lynch made a good tackle to prevent Fleetwood from getting a cross.
In the 10th minute, Matt Hazley's low driven cross from the left was cleared for a corner by defender Mark Preece. Damion Jarrett saw a well-struck shot blocked by a defender at the expense of another corner.
Visiting midfielder Simon Clist became the first of five players booked for a foul on Draper around the half-way line. Draper was able to continue after treatment.
As the midpoint of the first half approached, Fleetwood beat several defenders on a run down the middle towards the Rangers area only to be penalised for a foul on Sutton.
The lively Paul Stonehouse slipped a pass through to Mark Beesley inside the area down the left who aimed a low angled shot towards the far post. Danny Alcock got down well to hold.
Stafford took the lead in the 26th minute. Stonehouse was perhaps unlucky to handle Hazley's deep cross inside the area after the ball reared up off the surface. McNiven sent Ryan Robinson the wrong way with the resulting penalty.
Rangers looked for a second goal. Hazley tried his luck with a curling free-kick which just cleared the bar though Robinson appeared to have the ball covered. Sutton's 25-yard drive was blocked and Jarrett latched onto McNiven's throughball but couldn't take advantage.
Just before the break, Fleetwood broke clear and Wayne Daniel did well to force the striker wide. Fleetwood still managed to pull the ball back towards goal and Alcock claimed as Beesley looked to pounce. Carey-Bertram fired straight at Alcock in injury time after good build-up play involving Fleetwood and Beesley.
Stafford got forward at the start of the second half and Olaoye forced Preece to concede a corner.
But it was the visitors who did plenty of attacking as they looked to get back on level terms. Stonehouse's shot was blocked by Jemiah Richards while Alcock held another deflected shot from the same player.
Forest Green equalised in the 56th minute. Following a foul by Jarrett, Lawless scored direct from a 28-yard free-kick which took a deflection of the unfortunate Lynch on the way past the deceived Alcock.
After Lawless was booked, Les Afful tried to exploit a mix-up in the Stafford defence. He broke into the area and Alcock did enough to prevent the substitute from getting in a shot. Just after the hour, Fleetwood sent a clever backheel just wide of the left-hand post.
Marco Adaggio returned to action for the first time since October when he replaced Olaoye in the 63rd minute.
Stonehouse had another chance for Rovers. His chipped shot from the right dipped just over the bar.
The referee got his yellow card out again to caution Draper who was celebrating four minutes later.
From out on the right Jarrett swung a free-kick into the area. The visitors unsuccessfully tried to catch Rangers offside but the plan failed as Draper swept what proved to be the 73rd-minute winner from 10 yards out. It was Draper's second competitive Stafford goal to follow the one he got at Tamworth in the Senior Cup earlier in the season.
Needing to equalise again, Forest Green got forward and Lawless hammered a drive from outside the area inches past the left-hand post with Alcock diving at full stretch.
Lynch was booked for a foul on Afful in the 78th minute.
Beesley curled a cross from the right to the far post which Alcock leapt to claim ahead of attackers running in at the far post.
In the 84th minute, McNiven was brought down by Jamie Pitman in the edge of the 'D' and Lynch hit the resulting free-kick into the wall.
Both sides made another change with Steve Hopkinson replacing Hazley for Rangers.
The fourth official indicated four additional minutes for Rangers to hold on to their lead. And the only chance of note in stoppage time was a header from Adaggio which looped over the bar from Lynch's cross.
Stafford Rangers (black and white stripes / black / black): 1. Danny Alcock, 2. Richie Sutton, 5. Wayne Daniel (capt), 21. Jemiah Richards, 36. Ryan Lynch, 35. Damion Jarrett, 8. Kevin Street, 17. Ross Draper, 37. Matt Hazley, 10. David McNiven, 11. Dolapo Olaoye. Subs: 16. Tom Ingram (for Jarrett, 74), 20. Marco Adaggio (for Olaoye, 63), 24. Steve Hopkinson (for Hazley, 87), 33. Danny Allen (gk), 38. Alex Gibson.
Forest Green Rovers (green / green / green): 1. Ryan Robinson, 12. Mark Preece, 4. Darren Jones, 3. Anthony Tonkin, 2. Alex Lawless, 6. Jamie Pitman, 8. Simon Clist, 19. Paul Stonehouse, 14. Stuart Fleetwood, 7. Mark Beesley (capt) (Smith, 86), 23. Daniel Carey-Bertram (Afful, 56). Subs: 9. Adriano Rigoglioso, 17. Les Afful (for Carey-Bertram, 56), 20. Jonathan Smith (for Beesley, 86), 24. Ollie James, 25. Terry Burton (gk)
Referee: R. Fletcher (Derbyshire).
Assistants: M. Bristow and S. Mather.
Fourth Official: S. Williams
Attendance: 627 (including 97 away fans).
Sponsors Man of the Match: Ross Draper.
The original match report was written for and published on the now defunct www.staffordrangers.co.uk
