Aldershot 4 Rangers 3
Stafford Rangers gave Blue Square Premier leaders Aldershot Town a real scare before finally succumbing to a late winner.
Stafford Rangers gave Blue Square Premier leaders Aldershot Town a real scare before finally succumbing to a late winner.
After taking an early lead through David McNiven, Stafford then twice fought they way back in to contention to level things up with goals from Chris Flynn and caretaker boss Neil Grayson.
But Shots substitute Scott Davies scored the decisive fourth goal direct from a free-kick.
Both sides went on the attack from the off and kept it up right until the final whistle to serve up a thrilling game.
Rangers stunned Aldershot with a goal after just eight minutes. Grayson set up McNiven who beat home keeper Nikki Bull from 20 yards with a clever lob that dropped in via the underside of the bar.
Aldershot, however, equalised two minutes later. John Grant squared a pass for Luis Soares to drive into the top left corner.
Stafford suffered a blow when Nathan Smith limped off and Sebastian Arnolin came on.
A mistake by defender Luke Potter allowed the home side to take lead in the 20th minute.
John Grant was played on side as he latched onto Jonny Dixon's throughball and fired low past the diving Danny Alcock who got his hand to the shot.
Alcock, back in the side following the end of Scott Loach's loan spell, couldn't prevent the well-struck shot from nestling in the bottom-left corner.
But Stafford showed great spirit and equalised in the 34th minute. McNiven and Arnolin were both involved to set up Chris Flynn who got forward into the area down the left.
The midfielder got on the end of Arnolin's pass and fired across goal into the opposite corner of the net.
Alcock pulled off a superb diving save in the 42nd minute to turn round a low drive from Joel Grant.
From the resulting corner, played deep to the far post, Ricky Newman knocked the ball back and Dixon headed home at close range.
Referee Amy Rayner came to Stafford's rescue early in the second half when she waived away a strong penalty appeal after Joel Grant when down under Richard Sutton's challenge.
The best of the game got Rangers back level at 3-3 in the 67th minute. McNiven fed Grayson who netted with a spectacular 30-yard lob that sailed over the head of Bull and dropped into an unguarded net.
Aldershot, however, left Rangers gutted by scoring what proved to be the winner in the 78th minute. Sutton fouled John Grant on the edge of the area and Davies fired home direct from the free-kick with the aid of a deflection off the wall.
Rangers weren't finished and almost scored another equaliser in the closing stages.
Wayne Daniel's header was cleared from in front of goal and a low shot from McNiven beat the diving Bull only to end up just the wrong side of a post.
