Dinning set for Rangers recall

Stafford Rangers are set to recall Tony Dinning to midfield for his first start in two months at Blyth Spartans in the Blue Square North.

The veteran former Wolves player came off the bench at half-time last Saturday to excel in a holding role as the team came from 2-0 down to snatch a draw at Stalybridge Celtic, and will likely be named in place of striker Warwick Alexander as the team go 4-5-1 at Croft Park tomorrow.

Wingers Levi Reid and Fabrice Kasiama will be expected to push on and support lone striker Nick Wellecomme, with Dinning shoring up behind playmakers Tom Thorley and Michael Burns.

Rangers have also added Hednesford defender Grant Goodhead to their ranks as cover, with the former Market Drayton centre-half set to travel with the squad to Northumberland, but Craig Holland is missing after picking up a shoulder injury in a midweek reserve game.

It will be an arduous for the Marston Road club to play the match, the second time this season they have undertook the 440-mile round trip after an FA Trophy exit last November.

But Rangers have lost just one of their last five games, and assistant boss Darren Read has warned fatigue will not be accepted as an excuse tomorrow.

He said: "There is no excuse in any game, we have got to get something from it. Destiny is in our own hands and the boys are aware of that, we will take a point minimum but we want all three.

"Anything else will be classed as underachieving. The lads have been in the league long enough to understand the travelling that comes at this level. We are going up there with the right attitude and we have already proved we can compete with anybody in the league.

"We are leaving our ground about 8:30am and will take a nice steady ride up. It's about a four-hour run each way, we will get there nice and early so we can have a walk around, so it's not going to be rushed.

"It's not like it's just jump on a coach, get up there, jump off and play."