Stafford Rangers 1 Gloucester 0

A stunning volley from Jake Moult and a dazzling display from goalkeeper Lee Evans helped steer Stafford to their first home win in three months.

And a rare clean sheet – Boro's first in 17 games – was also something to cheer manager Chris Brindley.

Moult struck after just eight minutes, powering a first-time effort past goalkeeper Mike Green from the edge of the area.

Ben Mills and Levi Reid had chances to add to the tally while Evans produced a number of good saves to keep out a Gloucester side struggling to come to terms with life in Blue Square North.

Brindley said: "I'm chuffed to get a clean sheet but we need more of them. It helps having a settled team. We've started to get a settled line-up now, especially with not having so many midweek games.

"We are in a tough league and we have players that other sides wouldn't consider good enough to be in their team. But you can only bring on what you can afford and there are going to be times when we get beaten.

"You don't get sympathy in football, you get slaughtered, but the players have shown a togetherness and a spirit that has taken them through.

"We know we have to beat the sides around us and that's what we've done."

Gloucester's hopes of salvaging something from the match were not helped when midfielder James Palmer was sent off late in the game, after his foul on Moult prompted a second yellow card.

But it was not all smiles for Brindley. Leading scorer Nick Wellecomme hobbled off with back trouble before half-time – a re-occurrence of an injury that has blighted the striker all season – and could be a doubt for the FA Trophy trip to Blyth Spartans next weekend.

Stafford: Evans, Wooliscroft, Vauls, Thorley, Wilson, Udoji, Reid, Moult, Mills, Wellecomme (Kasiama 40), A Francis.

Subs (not used): Lycett, Rogers, E Francis, Lunn.

Gloucester: Green, Mustoe, J Harris (Sykes 68), Richards, Hamblin, Rose, Smith, Palmer, Morford (Pitcher 62), Symons, Sevill (Marshall 57).

Subs (not used): Baldwin, A Harris.