Stalybridge Celtic 2 Stafford Rangers 3
Nationwide North
At: Bower Fold
Kick-off: 7-45 pm
Programme: £1-50 (32 pages)
Attendance: 519
Weather: rain
Duration: first-half: 50:28; second-half: 47:58
Striking sensation Nathan Smith scored another two goals as Stafford Rangers bounced back from Saturday’s defeat in the best possible way. Twice they fell behind at eight-placed Stalybridge to goals from Lee Ellington but Kevin Street and Smith got Boro back on level terms. Then Smith hit a deserved winner with 14 minutes left and with Northwich held at home by Nuneaton, Rangers actually extended their advantage at the top of the table to three points.This was arguably Rangers’ best performance of the season considering that both Craig McAughtrie and Wayne Daniel were missing through injury. Phil Robinson, who started for the first time since February, was forced to name an unfamiliar three-man central defence of Liam Murray, Alan Dodd and Paul Groves.
The Bower Fold boasts cover on all four sides of the ground and Stafford got the game underway attacking up the slope towards the Lockwood & Greenwood Stand.
Stalybridge took the lead in the 11th minute on a wet pitch that survived a 5-30 pm inspection. Ellington ran in to head home Steve Garvey’s right-wing corner.Playing in continuous rain, Rangers got back on level terms seven minutes later with a spectacular strike. Stand-in skipper Kevin Street sent an unstoppable 30-yard drive into the top-left corner of the net.
Street was denied a second goal on 35 minutes when home keeper Paul Pettinger pushed over another rising shot that was heading for the top corner.
Celtic stunned Boro by regaining the lead deep into first-half injury time in controversial circumstances. With no obvious delay in play, an extra fifty seconds over the four minutes of added time indicated by the referee had elapsed when Ellington fired home at close range after Rangers failed to deal with a corner which was knocked down by Barrie Keeling.
Attacking down the Bower Fold ground’s slope in the second half towards the Joe Jackson Stand, determined Rangers worked hard to claim all three points. Peter Thomson, who had another good game, got clear into the area only to see his shot blocked by the advancing PettingerEventually Stafford levelled again on the hour mark when good approach was rounded out with a rising 20-yard shot from Smith.
Dean Williams pulled off a good save to keep out a low shot from Ellington through a crowd to keep Boro in contention.
The winner came in the 77th minute and it was Smith who was on target again. Set up by Thomson and Nathan Talbott, he sent a low shot past Pettinger from 15 yards to score his seventh goal of the season.
Stalybridge had a real go to salvage a point but Boro restricted them to just one decent effort on goal. Neil Prince’s 25-yard drive flashed past the goal just before the start of stoppage time.Ellington was named Man of the Match.
Stalybridge Celtic (blue/blue/white): 1. Paul Pettinger, 2. Tom Baker, 3. Mark Barnard, 4. Barrie Keeling, 5. Mark Haran (capt), 6. Chris Price, 7. Steve Garvey, 8. Paul Sykes, 9. Lee Ellington, 10. Jody Banim, 11. Neil Prince. Subs: 12. Phil Eastwood (for Garvey, 85), 14. James Turvey (not used), 15. Kevin Parr (for Baker, 73), 16. Nathan Wharton (not used), 17gk. Nick Buxton.
Stafford Rangers (red/red/red): 1. Dean Williams, 2. Paul Groves, 3. Nathan Talbott, 4. Alan Dodd, 5. Liam Murray, 6. Neil Grayson, 7. Lee Downes, 8. Kevin Street, 9. Peter Thomson, 10. Nathan Smith, 11. Phil Robinson. Subs: 12. Craig Lovatt (for Robinson, 39), 14. Danny Edwards (for Smith, 82), 15. Dave Walker (not used), 16. Alex Gibson (not used), 17. Alex Gibbons (not used).
Referee: I. A. Rose (Blackpool).
Assistants: A. Gear and A. Young.
Goals:
1-0 Lee Ellington (11)
1-1 Kevin Street (18)
2-1 Lee Ellington (45+5)
2-2 Nathan Smith (60)
2-3 Nathan Smith (77)
Stalybridge: Barrie Keeling (YC, 68), Jody Banim (YC, 82)
Stafford: Nathan Talbott (YC, 30), Craig Lovatt (YC, 64)
