Blue Square Premier
At Kingfield
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Attendance: 1133 (37 away fans)
Stafford Rangers twice came from behind to earn a point against ten-man Woking and end a run of two straight defeats.
Seb Arnolin, with a first-half penalty, and Neil Grayson, in the second half, were the men on target at Kingfield. Woking had been reduced to ten men on the half hour with the dismissal of skipper Tom Hutchinson for handball which resulted in the penalty.
Manager Steve Bull made three changes to the starting line-up. Alex Gibson, who failed a late fitness test, and the ill Liam Hughes both dropped out of the sixteen and Damion Jarrett was amongst the substitutes. Arnolin, Ishmale Reid and Dolapo Olaoye were trio brought in. Defender Alan Dodd, who recently rejoined the club, was amongst the substitutes.
Stafford got the game underway attacking the large all-seater Bellway Stand at the south-western end of the Kingfield.
Inside the first minute, Olaoye showed a good bit of skill on the left inside the area as he turned and fired across the face of goal. Kevin Street got forward but couldn't quite get on the end at the far post. Woking were awarded a free-kick just outside the Rangers area, right of the 'D', from which Adam Green drove over the bar.
Chances were scare in solid opening by Rangers until Woking took the lead in the 18th minute. Danny Alcock couldn't hold Danny Bunce's left-wing cross and Matt Pattison fired home a first-time shot from eight yards out.
Stafford got back on level terms on the half hour. Olaoye beat the Woking offside trap and took the ball forward into the area. Keeper Ross Worner left his line and dived at the feet of the forward. The ball ran free to Ross Draper who saw a goalbound shot handled by Hutchinson. The referee brandished a straight red card for the defender and Arnolin stepped up to convert the resulting penalty.
With a man advantage and an unsettled opposing defence lacking a central defender, Stafford quickly got forward again. Grayson lifted the ball past Worner and inches wide of the left-hand post. Woking brought on Matt Ruby as a replacement defender with Green sacrificed from the midfield.
Rangers enjoyed a good spell. Good approach play involving Arnolin and Draper created an opening for Olaoye. However, the brave Worner dived at the feet of the striker to save his side. Olaoye got into the area again down the right and this time was thwarted by a solid, but fair, challenge by Damian Batt at the expense of a corner.
Alcock needed to remain alert and did well to push clear a 35-yard free-kick from Matt Gray that was heading for the right-corner of the net. Rangers were forced to make a change in the 43rd minute with Olaoye, hurt by Batt's earlier challenge, replaced by Damion Jarrett. Bradley Quamina, named Woking man-of-the match by the sponsors, lashed a 30-yard shot wide of the left-hand post.
The second half began with another Rangers chance two minutes after the restart. Chris Flynn's throw on the left found Jarrett who in turn slipped the ball forward. Grayson latched on and fired inches wide across the diving Worner and just past the right-hand post.
Woking were awarded free-kick on the right which Gray hammered into the area and the ball hit Daniel. It rebounded back to Gray who got in another shot which took a deflection off Flynn and Alcock got down to hold.
But Rangers were out of luck in the 55th minute. Daniel tried to shield the ball back to Alcock but Marvin Morgan nipped in and squared for Jason Norville to slot into an unguarded net from six yards out.
Once again, Stafford showed spirit in quickly getting forward. Jay Gasson sliced a clearance over his own bar at the expense of a corner. A right-wing cross by Richie Sutton led to Rangers getting back on level terms in the 58th minute. Jarrett's header was blocked on the line by a defender and Grayson reacted to force the ball home from 6 yards out.
The game was certainly more open that it was in the first half and chances continued to be created. Draper fired wide from well outside the area and Gasson sent a looping header on the roof of the Rangers net from Bunce's free-kick. Ruby was booked in the 65th minute for a foul on Flynn 30 yards out. Arnolin curled the free-kick around the wall and into the arms of Worner.
There was danger for Rangers when Norville charged down Djoumin Sangare's clearance. Morgan latched on to the ball and Flynn produced a vital tackle to halt the progress of the Woking striker.
Bull made another change in the 70th minute when Courtney Shaw came on for Arnolin. Grayson again went close. Tightly marked by Gasson, the veteran got in a shot which Worner turned round for a corner.
Woking replaced both strikers with Liam Maurm on for Norville in the 76th minute and Giuseppe Sole on for Morgan three minutes later. In between these changes, Street drove straight at Wormer from 25 yards out.
Rangers thought they had taken the lead in the 81st minute. Wormer could only parry Street's long-range strike and Grayson headed home the rebound. However, the assistant referee had raised his flag for offside and video evidence suggested the decision was a correct one.
Both sides clearly wanted all three points. Marum fired straight at Alcock and Reid headed wide of the Woking goal. A shot from Jarrett took a deflection off Batt and Wormer dived at full stretch to prevent the ball going in.
As full-time approached, Woking applied a final bit of pressure. Sole hooked the ball over from 8 yards out, Pattison sent a 20-yard first-time right-foot volley flashing past the right-hand post and, in stoppage time, Alcock held Quamina's drive.
Woking (white and red halves / white / black): 12. Ross Worner, 21. Damian Batt, 5. Tom Hutchinson (capt), 6. Jay Gasson, 3. Danny Bunce, 11. Matt Pattison, 7. Matt Gray, 4. Bradley Quamina, 14. Adam Green, 9. Jason Norville, 8. Marvin Morgan. Subs: 16. Matt Ruby (for Green, 32), 10. Liam Marum (for Norville, 76), 24. Giuseppe Sole (for Morgan, 79), 1. Nick Gindre (not used), 15. Goma Lambu (not used).
Stafford Rangers (blue/white/blue): 1. Danny Alcock, 2. Richie Sutton, 5. Wayne Daniel (capt), 6. Djoumin Sangare, 7. Chris Flynn, 8. Kevin Street, 19. Seb Arnolin, 17. Ross Draper, 30. Ishmale Reid, 11. Dolapo Olaoye, 9. Neil Grayson. Subs: 35. Damion Jarrett (for Olaoye, 43), 40. Courtney Shaw (for Arnolin, 70), 18. Alan Dodd (not used), 33. Danny Allen (not used), Keenan Meakin-Richards (not used)
Referee: SA Hooper (Swindon).
Attendance: 1133 (inc 37 away fans)
This match report was originally written for and published on the now defunct www.staffordrangers.co.uk
