Boro bounce back with an excellent away performance
A RE-JIGGED Stafford Rangers deservedly brought a point back to Marston Road after an excellent draw at Evo-Stik premier leaders North Ferriby on Saturday.
NORTH FERRIBY UTD 1 STAFFORD RANGERS 1
Rangers were missing top scorer Danny Quinn, Ryan Brown and Fabrice Kasiama through injury and Luke George through suspension with manager Greg Clowes changing formation to counteract the table toppers.
It was the visitors that started the better, Sean Kinsella twice hitting the keeper with efforts on target. The Villagers first chance came on 12 minutes when Anthony Wilson got to the by-line, crossed low but Ryan Kendall could not scramble the ball home.
Wilson himself went close in the 19th minute, his shot going over the angle of post and crossbar.
The home side took the lead on 34 minutes when Nathan Peat threw to Wilson who knocked the ball over the top of the Rangers defence to Liam King who made no mistake with a first time volley.
Rangers could have been level within two minutes. Levi Reid picked out Peter Heler with a wonderful cross field ball. The right winger’s cross was inviting for Karl Ashton but the header was off target. With half time approaching both Kendall and King had efforts comfortably saved by Adam Alcock.
The Boro keeper was forced into action early in the second half, diving full length to turn a Ryan Williams shot past the post.
Rangers made a double substitution on the hour and the introduction of Luke Bottomer and Jon Sheldon saw Rangers change to a 4-3-3 formation.
An excellent cross from the busy Bottomer was just too high for Christian Dacres as Rangers asked questions of the home defence. Kendall continued to remain a threat and after shrugging off the challenge of Bolton, Alcock saved well.
Oliver Davies and Sheldon combined well down the left and Paul Foot reacted well to clear from Ashton for a corner. Kinsella’s dead ball eventually found the head of Liam Walshe whose header was spectacularly saved by Adam Nicklin but Dacres was on hand to nod in the rebound on 76 minutes.
The Villagers thought they had regained the lead in the 80th minute when Wilson met a corner from Russell Fry but Alcock made a flying save.
For the record: North Ferriby - Adam Nicklin, Steve Gardner, Nathan Peat, Liam King (Russell Fry 68), Gregg Anderson, Paul Foot, Danny Clarke, Chris Bolder, Anthony Wilson, Ryan Kendall, Ryan Williams (Paul Robson 70). Subs not used, Gary Bradshaw, Oliver Banks, Rob Moy.
Rangers - Adam Alcock, Jimmy Turner, Oliver Davies, Liam Walshe, James Bolton, Christian Dacres, Peter Heler, Lee Downes (Luke Bottomer 60), Karl Ashton, Sean Kinsella, Levi Reid (Jon Sheldon 60). Subs not used, Alex Curtis, Alex Forde.
Booked - Gardner (NFU), Walshe (Stafford). Referee - S Meredith (Mansfield); Att - 232.
Next up for Rangers is a league trip to lowly Stocksbridge Park Steels on Saturday (3pm).
That is followed by a home game against Witton Albion on Tuesday (7.45pm), before Marine visit on March 2 (3pm).
