Late missed chance after Rangers stage comeback
STAFFORD Rangers came from behind to record their sixth draw in nine league games and their eighth overall this season, writes Chris Elsley.
But it was a game that Rangers should have won in the final minute but Simon Everall dallied when well placed and eventually saw his shot blocked by the Rushall keeper.
The home side had the better of the opening exchanges and took a seventh minute lead through former Boro defender Gavin Caines who turned the ball past Adam Alcock after Grant Beckett’s corner had been flicked on by Ahmed Obeng.
After Danny Quinn had sent a header over the Rushall cross bar, Rangers got themselves back on level terms.
Peter Heler did well to maintain possession in the build up before Courtney Pitt’s centre from the left by-line picked out Jimmy Turner who nodded home from close range on 23 mins.
Peter Heler was cautioned on the half hour in a case of mistaken identity after Michael Carr’s challenge on Mitchell Tolley.
Buoyed by the goal, Rangers looked the more threatening of the two sides but found chances limited against the physical Rushall defence and the two sides cancelled each other out in the remainder of the first half action.
Rushall began the second half in the same man- ner as they had started the first with an early attack but Beckett’s scuffed shot was easily dealt with by Alcock.
Play switched to the other end, and Chris Gem- mell saved well from Ryan Dicker at the foot of his far post.
Obeng missed two good chances in a minute for Rushall but goal mouth action at either end diminished as the two defences comfortably won their battles.
As the match reached the final stages, Rushall’s Kyle Haynes volleyed over when well placed
while Stafford’s Turner lost his footing at the vital moment following Jon Sheldon’s free kick.
Rangers looked set to win it when Turner’s long ball over the Rushall defence picked out Everall but the striker pulled the ball back insidethree times before shooting with his left foot against Gemmell.
For the Record
Rushall: Chris Gemmell, Kyle Haynes, Grant Beckett, Mitchell Tolley, Gavin Caines, Lucan Spittle, Jordan Fitzpatrick, Danny Bragoli, Michael Clarke, Ahmed Obeng (Andre Landell), Lei Brown (Craig Owen). Unused subs: Jonathan Haynes, Josh Craddock, Ramone Stephens
Stafford Rangers: Adam Alcock, Karl Espley, Oliver Davies, Liam Walshe, Ryan Dicker, Michael Carr, Jimmy Turner, Lee Downes, Danny Quinn (Simon Everall), Peter Heler, Courtney Pitt (Jon Sheldon). Unused subs: Alex Forde, Liam New- man, Danny Read
Booked: Tolley, Caines (Rushall), Heler (Stafford)
Referee: Andrew Newbold, Att: 322.
