STAFFORD stole the three points eight minutes from time in this otherwise turgid affair, played in unusually hot conditions, which was frustrating to watch for fans and management teams alike.

The game started well with both sides hitting the woodwork in the opening 12 minutes, but it went gradually downhill thereafter.

The first chance fell to the visitors on five minutes when Nick Wellecombe connected with a lofted ball forwards.

His looping header beat Craig Mawson, who was caught in no-man’s land, but unfortunately for Rangers, it hit the crossbar and Colin Cryan cleared the danger. Then, on 12 minutes, Damian Rouse saw his header from a Droylsden corner pushed onto the post by Tim Sandercombe.

Rangers were then forced into a reshuffle as Nick Amos was forced off through injury, Bobby Wilson taking over at centre-half and Alex Morris slotting into midfield.

Ashley Burbeary’s curling effort was wide before Sandercombe blocked at Aaron Burns’ feet on the half-hour.

Little improvement was forthcoming in the second half, meaning that chances were at a premium as Droylsden enjoyed long spells of possession, but without testing Sandercombe.

Kevin Townson’s overhead bicycle kick was wide of the mark, while Mike Byron’s long-range effort went so wide that it summed up the game to that point. Carl Palmer won possession for Stafford in midfield as they sniffed an opportunity, and he fed Nick Wellcombe, but he had strayed well offside. However, just two minutes later, Palmer again ran at the Droylsden defence but he stood on the ball and the chance appeared to be lost.

Jimmy Phillips was alive to the loose ball, though, and took a touch before beating Craig Mawson from the edge of the box to inflict the Bloods’ first defeat of the season.

Attendance: 443

Gary Owen

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