Rangers beaten again

Stafford Rangers were given another dose of the Blue Square Premier blues by Djimi Sangare's old club Grays.

The Rangers defender, promoted to first choice centre back following Craig McAughtrie's departure, could to little to prevent his side slumping to their eighth defeat in nine league games.

Fellow Frenchman Cedric Avinel was also pitched straight in by manager Phil Robinson a day after signing on loan from Watford.

They were supposed to put some backbone into a leaky rearguard - unfortunately they and the rest of the team were let down by keeper Danny Alcock.

Earlier this year, Alcock was in such good form that he was picked for the England National Game X1, but on Saturday he was a bystander as Charley Hearn's clipped free kick into the box flew over everyone's head and into the net.

That 34th minute goal handed all the initiative to Grays and with one of the meanest defences in the league, Rangers always faced an uphill struggle from then on.

But things got worse in first half stoppage time and there was also a finger of suspicion pointing at Alcock over Gavin Grant's second goal for Grays.

Alcock wasn't responsible for him breaking clear when Rangers were caught a little square, however the final shot looked eminently saveable.

Grays were scarcely worth their half time lead and, to their credit, Rangers did try to do something about it.

Sad to say, their other great failing - in front of goal - reared its ugly head.

The match stats would tell you that while Grays had barely more shots than the ones they scored from, Rangers missed SIX good scoring opportunities after the break, to add to the crafty chip from David McNiven that would have brought a first half equaliser, but for Ross Flitney's fingertip save.