Stafford Rangers 2 Tamworth 2
FA Carlsberg Trophy Third Round
At: Marston Road
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Attendance: 1025
Stafford Rangers go into the hat for Monday’s quarter final draw but will need a replay to reach the last eight of the FA Carlsberg Trophy.
Both Kevin Street (35th minute) and Damion Jarrett (45th minute) found the net before the interval after the visitors took an early lead through Nick Wright (7th minute). Tamworth were reduced to ten men in the 39th minute with the dismissal of Gareth Evans for violent conduct and skipper Dave Bampton scored the equaliser (63rd minute).
The replay will be on Tuesday, 5th February, at Tamworth’s Lamb ground.
Stafford made two changes to the starting line-up. Richie Sutton failed to recover from his stomach muscle problem so Djoumin Sangare started for the first time in three games. Marco Adaggio partnered David McNiven with Dolapo Oloaye on the bench. Tamworth’s former Stafford defender Craig McAughtrie was an unused substitute.
Tamworth got the game under way attacking the Town/Shed End and soon unsuccessfully appealed for a penalty when Jemiah Richards challenged Jamie Reed inside the area.
Nick Wright fired wide from 15 yards before he put the visitors ahead in the seventh minute. The Lambs’ striker broke into the area down the inside left channel, got past Danny Alcock and fired a low narrow-angle shot towards goal. The ball rebounded off the inside of the far right post and was adjudged to have crossed the line by the assistant after being hooked clear by a defender.
There was a short break after eight minutes while the assistant on the Lotus side limped off and was replaced by the fourth official.
Rangers won the game’s first corner which skipper Wayne Daniel headed over at the far post. In the next attack, both David McNiven and then Jarrett were both denied by saves from Alex Cisak. The keeper blocked McNiven’s effort and held the follow-up from Jarrett.
Stafford broke from Tamworth’s first corner and Daniel charged down the left into the visitors’ half. His progress was halted by Michael Briscoe who became the first of six players to see ‘yellow’
Both sides created chances. Street fired powerfully at Cisak while Bampton volleyed over the Stafford bar and Alcock gathered up a shot from Reed.
A spectacular strike got Rangers back on level terms in the 35th minute. Street went for goal from 35 yards out and the ball took a deflection on the way past Cisak. The caretaker manager certainly enjoyed scoring on his 100th appearance for the club.
Tamworth were awarded a free-kick 25 yards out in the 39th minute which Jon Richter played straight out for a goal kick. Moments later, Jarrett ended up on the ground and Evans was shown quickly shown a straight red card. A mêlée followed with both Bampton and Ross Draper were booked after the three match officials consulted.
When play resumed, the visitors got forward into the Stafford area. Both Richter and Bampton saw shots blocked.
Lacking a central defender, Tamworth sacrificed Richter in favour of Adie Smith who slotted into the position vacated by Evans.
Just before the initial 45 minutes were up, Rangers were celebrating a second goal. Matt Hazley’s throw on the left was crossed to the far post where Jarrett fired home via the underside of the bar.
In the five minutes of added time indicated by the fourth official (i.e. the injured assistant) which turned out to be six minutes, Richards was unable to continue with a foot injury and a reshuffle at the back following the arrival of substitute Chris Flynn. The names of both Hazley and Chris Nurse were added to Mr Naylor’s collection and Street hammered a 40-yard free-kick inches wide.
With the lights on for the start of the second half, Tamworth, now attacking with the aid of the strong icy wind, created a couple of chances. Gareth Sheldon volleyed wide from 25 yards and Alcock tipped over another long-range from the same midfielder.
Rangers suffered a blow when Adaggio was fouled by Briscoe and required treatment.
Just before the hour mark, Wright wasted a simple chance to net the equaliser. He rounded Alcock only, to the relief of Stafford fans, put the ball over an unguarded net from barely two yards out.
Adaggio was replaced by Dolapo Olaoye on the hour.
Tamworth got back on level terms in the 64th minute. Bampton the skipper fired past Alcock at close range.
The visitors pressed forward with Sheldon’s rising 30 yarder just clearing the bar. Reed nipped in at the near post to flick Nurse’s low cross just wide of the post.
Both sides made further changes and Neil Grayson returned from injury in place of Hazley. Tamworth replaced both starting strikers with Matthew Williams and Jake Sheridan.
In the 84th minute, Sangare who was up with the attack saw a low shot gathered up by Cisak. Sheldon went for goal once again and this time volleyed wide of the left hand post from 20 yards out.
After Sangare was booked, the resulting free-kick was scrambled clear and neither side could find a winner in the four minutes of added time at the end.
Teams
Stafford Rangers: Alcock, Sangare, Daniel, Richards (Flynn 45), Lynch, Jarrett, Draper, Street, Hazley (Grayson 74), McNiven, Adaggio (Olaoye 60). Unused subs: Ingram, Gibson
Tamworth: Cisak, Lyttle, Evans, Briscoe, Langdon, Richter (Smith 44), Bampton, Nurse, Sheldon, Wright (Williams 71), Reed (Sheridan 81). Unused subs: Ebdon, McAughtrie
Referee: Michael Naylor (Sheffield)
Attendance: 1025 (inc 312 away fans)
This match report was originally written for and published on the now defunct www.staffordrangers.co.uk
