Good start at Rangers for Bully
New boss Steve Bull made an impressive start to his managerial career as Stafford Rangers extended their unbeaten run to three games with a hard-fought point.
New boss Steve Bull made an impressive start to his managerial career as Stafford Rangers extended their unbeaten run to three games with a hard-fought point.
The Wolves legend had intended to watch from a seat in the stand at Shay Stadium but quickly took up a prominent position on the touchline to encourage his side at every opportunity.
Keeper Danny Alcock and his back four won the day with a resolute defensive performance but, going forward, Rangers managed just three efforts on goal all game.
Former caretaker Kevin Street picked the team which showed one change. Forward Marco Adaggio came in for the injured Dolapo Olaoye.
Ross Draper, back from a two-match ban, got a decent run out after replacing Steve Hopkinson midway through the first half.
Halifax, without a league win since New Year's Day, almost took the lead after just 16 seconds. Alcock got down well to hold a low long-range effort from Simon Heslop.
Seb Arnolin also fired wide from outside the area inside the first minute with Rangers' only attempt on goal in the first half.
The home side did nearly all the attacking before the break and Alcock held another long-range drive from Heslop.
Jon Shaw looked to finish off a move involving Nathan Joynes but his rising shot from barely eight yards out was tipped over by Alcock.
The busy Rangers keeper dived to his left to keep out Tom Kearney's low drive. Joynes headed wide at the far post from Kearney's deep left-wing corner.
Chances started to dry up for Halifax but Rangers couldn't make any headway against a well-organised defence or even trouble goalkeeper Adam Legzdins, on loan from Birmingham.
Whatever Bull said to his players at the interval had some impact as Rangers posed more of a threat in the second half.
Chris Flynn chipped the ball into the home area but tightly-marked Damion Jarrett couldn't get in a shot.
Halifax continued to be the more likely side to score and they were upset not to be awarded a penalty when Jon Shaw went down in the area.
Even Bull later admitted the referee could have pointed to the spot.
Adam Quinn bravely headed narrowly wide and Jon Shaw beat Alcock only to see the ball rebound off the post. In between these two chances around the hour mark, Jarrett fired at Legzdins from 20 yards.
Alcock tipped Quinn's header over the bar and Craig Nelthorpe cut in from the right to fire wide. It seemed only a matter of time before Halifax would score but chances kept on being wasted.
Alcock held a well-struck drive from Kearney and also tipped over a ferocious strike from the same player.
Rangers could have snatched victory in the last 15 minutes but Neil Grayson and Wayne Daniel couldn't quite get on the end of Matt Hazley's inswinging corner.
Boos from the home fans at the end signalled their frustration and a job well done by Bully and his new charges.
Halifax: Legzdins, Davies, Clarke, Quinn, Doughty, Heslop, Griffith (Killeen, 60), Kearney, Nelthorpe, Joynes (Campbell, ht), Shaw.
Rangers: Alcock, Gibson, Sutton, Daniel, Flynn, Jarrett, Street, Arnolin (Hazley, 65), Hopkinson (Draper, 26), Grayson, Adaggio (Shaw, 40).
Attendance: 1,103.
