Stafford Rangers 2 Weymouth 1
Blue Square Premier at Marston Road
Attendance: 591
Stafford Rangers were finally able to celebrate their first home league win of the season after Courtney Shaw, on his debut, scored a late winner.
The winger, who was part of the County Senior League and Reserve setup, forced the ball over the line at close range in the 86th minute, not long after coming on as a substitute.
Earlier, in the Marston Road sunshine, Neil Grayson headed Rangers into a 29th-minute lead and Gavin McCallum levelled for the visitors in the 73rd minute.
The win, coupled with Droylsden's home defeat, lifts Rangers off the bottom into 23rd position in the Blue Square Premier table.
Injuries and suspensions meant an unfamiliar starting line-up. Regulars Richie Sutton and Neil Grayson both returned while Alex Gibson was given a first start since returning from Droylsden. Seb Arnolin and Steve Hopkinson also came into the starting line-up. New signings Keenan Meakin-Richards and Courtney Shaw were both named on the bench.
After Weymouth kicked off, Stafford, attacking the Social Club end, were the first side to threaten. However, the visitors had the first attempt on goal. Michael Malcolm crossed to the far post from the right to the unmarked Anton Robinson who fired in rising shot towards goal. But Danny Alcock was there to pull off an outstanding save and tip the ball over.
The save triggered two corners in quick succession and, from the second, Kyle Critchell hooked the ball over the bar.
Grayson flicked on a long clearance into the path of Dolapo Olaoye who shot past the advancing Jason Matthews and just wide of the left-hand post.
The game was certainly an even one and Rangers created another chance in the 17th minute. Damion Jarrett's free-kick was cleared to Kevin Street 25 yard out who fired towards goal. But the ball took a deflection, lost pace and Mathews comfortably saved.
Weymouth got forward down the right. Alcock failed to hold Critchell's cross but Marcus Browning sent the loose ball over the bar. James Coutts then got in a looping header which Alcock held.
The deadlock was broken in the 29th minute. Jarrett delivered a perfect free-kick from the right towards the far post where Grayson rose to send a header into the net wide of Matthews.
Weymouth were awarded a free-kick for a foul by Sutton on Stuart Beavon just outside the area. Paolo Vernazza played the ball into the area and, unlike Grayson minutes earlier, Browning sent his header over the bar.
As the interval approached, Alcock gathered up a low weak shot from Browning and the Rangers keeper dived bravely at the feet of Coutts who looked to get on the end of Vernazza's throughball.
Weymouth made a strong start to the second half. Coutts hammered a free-kick into the wall but the ball wasn't cleared and Rangers were perhaps relieved to see a raised flag for offside.
The visitors made two changes and went three at the back. One of the newcomers, Simon Weatherstone started to immediately pose problems and forced a diving save out of Alcock. The same player also drilled another shot wide of the target.
In the 57th minute, Scott Doe became the first of two Weymouth players to see 'yellow', receiving his for a foul on Jarrett.
On the hour, the other substitute Nick Crittenden fired across the face of the Rangers goal from the right and wide of the far post.
Two corners within a couple of minutes followed from the visitors and Grayson cleared a deflected shot from Weatherstone off the line. From yet another corner, the ball wasn't cleared and Doe fired over.
Stafford made a first change and Alex Gibson, who had looked composed in his familiar right-back role, was replaced by Tom Ingram.
In the 72nd minute, Jarrett fed Olaoye got past a couple of defenders and shot past the advancing Matthews. The ball drifted wide.
Weymouth boss John Hollins made a third and final change in the 72nd minute and the glove-wearing Gavin McCallum made an immediate impact. Barely a minute after coming on for Macolm, he headed past Alcock from 15 yards to level things up.
Before play resumed, Marco Adaggio in his orange boots replaced Arnolin.
Jarrett certainly can deliver an accurate free-kick and created a great chance for Grayson. The joint player-manager thumped a shot inches wide of the left-hand post. Shortly after Jarrett crossed into the area, Grayson helped the ball on and Daniel, up with the attack, headed straight at Matthews.
Browning was booked in the 78th minute for a foul on Jarrett.
Found by Steve Hopkinson on the left, Adaggio cut infield but ended up firing well wide of the far post.
Weymouth pressed forward and there was danger for Rangers when Vernazza headed wide at the far post. In the next attack, Beavon drove just wide of the left-hand post while at the other end, Adaggio's overhead kick flew wide.
'Cometh the hour, cometh the man'. In the 83rd minute the fourth official held up his board which read '40 24' and Shaw replaced Hopkinson.
Three minutes later, Shaw became a hero. A scramble ensued after Jarrett played a free-kick into a populated area and the substitute forced the ball home. Yes!!!!!!
Weymouth, needing points to keep clear of the relegation picture, piled men forward and Grayson dropped back as an extra defender.
Weatherstone tried his luck from just outside the area and somehow lifted his shot so high that the linesmans' flags would, no doubt been raised at Twickenham to indicate a conversion.
Joking aside, Vernazza almost spoilt the day in the 90th minute by firing past Alcock against the left-hand post. Four minutes of stoppage time was indicated and, in it, Vernazza's corner wasn't cleared and Weatherstone sent his shot side from 15 yards out.
The win improves Rangers' recent record against Weymouth since the Millennium to 9 victories out of 12 meetings. Today's win was the fourth in a row against the Terras and a 'double' for the second consecutive season.
Teams
Stafford Rangers: 1. Danny Alcock, 38. Alex Gibson, 5. Wayne Daniel (capt), 2. Richie Sutton, 7. Chris Flynn, 35. Damion Jarrett, 8. Kevin Street, 19. Seb Arnolin, 24. Steve Hopkinson, 11. Dolapo Oloaye, 9. Neil Grayson. Unused subs: 16. Tom Ingram (for Gibson, 68), 20. Marco Adaggio (for Arnolin, 74), 40 Courtney Shaw (for Hopkinson, 83), 10. David McNiven, 39. Keenan Meakin-Richards
Weymouth: 17. Jason Matthews, 2. Kyle Critchell, 12. Scott Doe, 26. Joe Kitamarike, 5. Narada Barnard, 6. James Coutts, 4. Marcus Browning (capt), 22. Paulo Vernazza, 11. Anton Robinson, 10. Stuart Beavon, 30. Michael Malcolm. Subs: 13. Simon Weatherstone (for Barnard, 53), 7. Nick Crittenden (for Coutts, 53), 25. Gavin McCallum (for Malcom, 72), 1. Dave Roberts, 23. Justyn Roberts
Referee: Jake Collin (Liverpool)
Attendance: 591 (inc 84 away fans)
This match report was originally written for and published on the now defunct www.staffordrangers.co.uk
