Rangers march on in Trophy
Stafford Rangers' love affair with the FA Trophy continues as they defied the odds to sweep into the last 16 of competition.
Stafford Rangers' love affair with the FA Trophy continues as they defied the odds to sweep into the last 16 of competition.
Man of the Match Ross Draper gave Rangers their first home win over Blue Square Premier opposition this season and the second victory in this competition for caretaker bosses Neil Grayson and Kevin Street.
But the suspended Grayson had to watch from the sidelines for a change as David McNiven fired his team into a first half lead from the penalty spot and then hold his breath as Rangers clung onto a slender lead restored by Draper.
The midfielder sprung Forest Green's lackadaisical offside trap in the 72nd minute to sweep home Damion Jarrett's right wing free-kick.
The visitors' defenders appealed furiously, but they were wasting their time.
Even if it was a maginal decision, they couldn't complain because their leveller, just nine minutes into the second half, had more than a stroke of good fortune about it.
Rangers had no quibble with the free-kick awarded against Jarrett for his foul on Mark Beesley, although the yellow card that followed was a bit harsh. But Alex Lawless's 30 yard free-kick was heading into the safe arms of Danny Alcock, until it clipped off the wall and left him stranded.
That was poor reward for Rangers' efforts up to that point. They dominated the first half and if Del Olaoye, making his first start of the season in Grayson's absence, had been further down the road to full match sharpness, would probably have celebrated with a goal.
As it turned out, Rangers needed an undisputable spot-kick to break the deadlock, after Ryan Lynch's 24th minute cross cannoned into the hand of Paul Stonehouse. McNiven, supplier of two defence splitting passes for Olaoye, sent Ryan Robinson the wrong way.
For a period after the equaliser, Forest Green threatened to get their noses in front, but once Rangers had their lead back, they showed the dogged determination needed to hold on to it.
Hot-shot Stuart Fleetwood, scorer of 31 goals in 30 games this season and eyed by a number of Championship clubs, was largely shut out by Wayne Daniel, assisted by Jemiah Richards. The closest Fleetwood got was a backheel narrowly wide just after the equaliser.
Draper deservedly won the sponsors' Man of the Match award, for the second week running, for his tigerish and inspiring midfielder work. In addition to Olaoye starting the match, Rangers also had the added bonus of Marco Adaggio coming on for the last half-hour. It was the young striker's first action since October.
Rangers: Alcock. Sutton, Daniel, Richards, Lynch, Jarrett (Ingram 73), Draper, Street, Hazley (Hopkinson 86), McNiven, Olaoye (Adaggio 61). Subs: Gibson, Allen.
Forest Green: Robinson, Preece, Jones, Tonkin, Lawless, Pitman, Clist, Stonehouse, Beesley (Smith 80), Fleetwood, Carey-Bertram (Afful 55). Subs: Rigoglioso, James, Burton.
Referee: R Fletcher (Derby).
Attendance: 627.
