Rangers skipper's plea to players

Stafford Rangers captain Nick Wellecomme has urged his team-mates to put the disappointment of Saturday's defeat to Southport to bed when they return to action.

Rangers pushed Southport - the second-placed side in the Blue Square North no less - very close at Marston Road on Saturday, going in at half-time ahead before falling to two suspect goals after the break.

First the visitors were awarded a penalty when Craig McAughtrie handled after being bundled over in the area, allowing Steve Daly to convert from the spot, before a scrappy goal saw Daly force the winner home in stoppage time after the ball had bounced off each upright.

It was Wellecomme who had given his side the lead after 42 minutes, the top scoring forward's ninth league goal of the season, although it counted for nothing in the end as the club dropped out of the top ten.

They were was dizzy heights after three wins in a row, the first triple success since manager Chris Brindley took charge in December 2008, with the team so close to making it four.

It won't get easier either with a trip to play-off chasing Stalybridge Celtic on Saturday, but Wellecomme insists confidence is still high despite his anger over the Southport defeat.

He said: "I am bitterly disappointed with the result, especially after being a goal up, and we were done out of it by the referee, to be honest. It wasn't a penalty, and he played the ball when he shouldn't have for their second goal.

"But it's done now, there were positives to be taken out of the game and we can't let it get to us. Saturday is another chance to start again, we beat Stalybridge at the weekend and it's all smiles again.

"The lads are playing really well at the moment, and we won't go into any game fearing the other team."