Stafford Rangers 0 Oxford United 1
Blue Square Premier at Marston Road
Attendance: 962
Stafford Rangers were again out of luck against Oxford United as they took all three points with an 11th-minute goal from Matt Green.
Manager Steve Bull MBE made six changes to the starting line-up with Liam Hughes and Marco Addagio both returning to the forward line having missed last Saturday's draw at Woking. In midfield, Samy Mawene, Damion Jarrett and Matt Hazley all started with Steve Hopkinson at left back. Oxford had former Stafford reserve Billy Turley in goal.
With drizzle falling at Marston Road, which hardly stopped during the game, Oxford got the game underway attacking the Social Club.
Hopkinson was the first player to go for goal with a 40-yard shot which was blocked by a defender on the edge of the visitors' area.
There was early danger for Stafford when Green broke down the right and crossed low into the area. The ball was aimed for Justin Richards but Wayne Daniel got back to clear at the expense of a corner.
On what looked like a slippery surface, Green again crossed from the right and Phil Trainer headed wide of the right-hand post from just eight yards out.
Djoumin Sangare was booked in the 11th minute for a foul on Green, just before the same Oxford striker scored the only goal. Eddie Anaclet slipped a pass through to Green who sent a rising right foot shot into the roof of the net from 12 yards out, giving Alcock no chance.
With former striker Chris Camden watching from the main stand, Stafford looked to bounce back from this early setback. Richie Sutton's long throw from the right was headed back by Hughes into the path of Mawene who fired straight at Turley from the edge of the area. Mawene also went close with a low 20-yard drive which flashed past the left-hand post.
Midway through the first half, Mawene turned provider to set up a chance for Hughes who flicked the ball wide at the near post.
Oxford's two front men proved to be a real handful during the first half. Richards turned on the edge of the area and sent his left-foot shot just wide of the target.
Adaggio nipped in between two defenders to head wide and Sutton drove straight at Turley as Rangers tried to threaten. Mawene delivered a near-post corner which Hughes headed across the face of goal.
As the interval neared, Jamie Hand was sent down the left by Anaclet's pass and crossed into the area. The ball fell to Green who shot over the bar.
Steve Bull MBE made two changes at the interval with Hughes and Adaggio replaced by Neil Grayson and Nathan Smith.
Danny Alcock pulled off the first of several excellent second-half saves shortly after play resumed. He dived to his right to push away a well-struck drive from Trainer before Anaclet wasted a straight-forward chance to double Oxford's lead at the far post. He got on the end of Green's low cross from the right and steered the ball wide of the target. Hand fired straight at Alcock from 25-yards.
Six minutes after the restart, Rangers were awarded a free-kick just outside the Oxford area for a foul on Ross Draper. Smith curled the ball around the wall and flew out for a corner after taking a deflection.
Oxford took off Richards in the 59th minute and brought on Craig McAllister who had faced Rangers before during his time at Woking. Soon after, Anaclet burst down the right and crossed into the area. Green slid in to hit what looked like a goalbound shot until Alcock somehow produced a fine reaction save.
Stafford made their third and final substitution in the 68th minute with Chris Flynn replacing Sangare and the change resulting in a reshuffle at the back. Mawene delivered a free-kick into a packed Oxford area, which was punched out by Turley to Hazley who volleyed over the bar from fully 30 yards out.
Alcock was named Man of the Match by the sponsors and produced another class save to keep Rangers' deficit at one. Hand fed McAllister who looked to have steered a 12-yard shot into the bottom left corner. The Rangers keeper had other ideas and dived full length to turn the ball round. Barry Quinn sent a downward header straight at Alcock from the resulting corner delivered by Adam Murray.
Jarrett caught Luke Foster with a stiff challenge in the 74th minute and was yellow carded by Mr Tierney after consulting his assistant over of the Lotus side touchline.
Oxford launched a swift break, Murray took the ball forward and drove both over the bar and Shed End stand. Matt Day saw 'yellow' in the 79th minute for a foul on Draper.
Day tried his luck from well outside the Stafford area and sent his shot high and wide of the left-hand post. Flynn required several minutes of treatment off the field for a cut below his right eye following a challenge by Green.
Stafford appealed unsuccessfully for a penalty in the 86th minute when Draper went down inside the area.
Alcock again excelled at full time approached to turn round a deflected shot from Trainer and also gathered up an 18-yard shot from Anaclet. Oxford replaced Trainer with Danny Rose in the 89th minute.
In stoppage time, Murray shot wide of an unguarded goal from 40 yards out.
Teams
Stafford Rangers (black and white stripes/black/black): 1. Danny Alcock, 2. Richie Sutton, 5. Wayne Daniel (capt), 6. Djoumin Sangare, 24. Steve Hopkinson, 35. Damion Jarrett, 22, Samy Mawene, 17. Ross Draper, 37. Matt Hazley, 20. Marco Adaggio, 41. Liam Hughes. Subs: 9. Neil Grayson (for Hughes, ht), 15, Nathan Smith (for Adaggio, ht), 7. Chris Flynn (for Sangare, 68), 30. Ishmale Reid, 33. Danny Allen
Oxford United (blue / blue/ white): 1. Billy Turley, 21. Matt Day, 4. Barry Quinn (capt), 16. Luke Foster, 14. Michael Howard, 2. Eddie Anaclet, 23. Adam Murray, 26. Jamie Hand, 18. Phil Trainer, 24. Matt Green, 25. Justin Richards. Subs: 12. Craig McAllister (for Richards, 59), 11. Danny Rose (for Trainer, 89), 22. Michael Blackwood, 37. Alex Fisher, 38. Declan Benjamin
Referee: P. Tierney (Lancashire)
Attendance: 962 (inc 277 away fans)
This match report was originally written for and published on the now defunct www.staffordrangers.co.uk
