McAughtrie's challenge from Grant

Stafford Rangers defender Craig McAughtrie admits that the emergence of Grant Goodhead has got him sweating on his place after being forced to sit out the last game.

Hometown player Goodhead, drafted in from Hednesford as cover last month, was part of the team that kept a clean sheet at play-off chasing Eastwood on Saturday in his second successive start, partnering Manny Udoji who returned from a groin injury to take the other spot at the back.

McAughtrie was forced to sit out the game at Coronation Park as he is still contracted to Eastwood, who have loaned him to Rangers until his deal expires in the summer.

And the 29-year-old now doesn't count him as certain to start Saturday's Blue Square North game at Northwich Victoria.

He said: "Grant has been awesome, he's a young lad but has done magnificent for us in the games he has played. Him and Manny got a clean sheet together on Saturday, so there's no guarantee I will start the next game and that is the way it should be.

"Competition for places produces the best out of players. If people get comfortable in their positions, their performances tend to ebb on the pitch, but if somebody is trying to force their way into the side they tend to pick up again.

"That is a good thing for us."

McAughtrie returned to Marston Road in late January some 18 months since leaving the club for Tamworth, after racking up over 200 appearances in a five-year spell from 2002 to 2007.

A policeman by day, the centre-half commutes to and from training from his home in Burton-on-Trent, but was initially worried about what reception the Rangers fans would give him after leaving for their local rivals in 2007.

He said: "I did worry, but the fans have been magnificent. I am really enjoying my football again, and I feel that I have played well since I came back.

"We may not have got as many wins as I would have liked, but there are a good set of lads here."