Dinning the difference for Rangers

Stafford Rangers midfielder Tony Dinning believes his introduction to the side on Saturday was a masterstroke after feeling "unlucky" not to start.

The veteran former Wolves player came on at half-time for striker Warwick Alexander at Stalybridge Celtic with the team 2-0 down, his first action since December 5 after suffering a back injury in a minor car accident.

His presence to shore up the middle of the park in a holding role allowed central midfielders Michael Burns and Tom Thorley to push on, aided by wingers Fabrice Kasiama and Levi Reid in support of lone striker Nick Wellecomme.

It worked - Kasiama pulled a goal back before Thorley equalised with 10 minutes to go. Goalkeeper Lee Evans had to save a penalty in stoppage time, after captain Wellecomme was penalised for a push in the box, but Rangers managed to escape with a point which looked highly unlikely at the break.

Dinning's introduction was where it all started, and the 34-year-old is hoping to have made a lasting impression on manager Chris Brindley.

He said: "I felt a bit unlucky not to start as I thought it was an ideal game for me to play in away from home, but it was the gaffer's decision and I respect that.

"The first-half was a bit flat to be honest, Chris realised that at the break and it wasn't any disrespect to any of the players on the field, it was just not working for us where it has done in the weeks gone by.

"Something had to change and it was my job to shore it up in the second-half and let the other midfielders bomb forward, because at that point it couldn't get any worse. It was the most two-sided game you have ever seen, they battered us in the first-half and we had them in the second.

"It was good to make the change - it got the result we needed."