Tim Flowers backing Rangers fight

Stafford Rangers manager Tim Flowers has challenged his players to recreate the spirit of the last two games at Hyde in the relegation six-pointer.

Flowers may still be searching for his first Blue Square North win as boss but has hailed the team for valiantly mixing it with the big boys, taking a point at AFC Telford on New Year's Day and narrowly losing to second-placed Alfreton on Monday.

Rangers had a goal disallowed in the 2011 curtain-raiser against their local rivals, before missing two great chances to turn a defeat into a win at Marston Road.

It leaves them still in the second relegation place, but tomorrow's fixtures are a great chance for all of the bottom four to take a scalp in their battle against the drop.

Flowers' team go to a Hyde side directly above them in the league while bottom club Redditch host 18th-placed Hinckley, with three points separating both teams in each game.

The respective results could prove vital at the end of the season with Flowers confident of getting a win, based on what he has seen over the festive period.

He said: "It's not going to define the season but if we match the effort, skill and determination levels of those last two games, we will certainly be in with a chance of beating Hyde.

"It was a tremendous team display against Telford and I only made one substitution, against a team that have got probably quadruple the budget we have.

"Then we missed two of the most gilt edged chances you will ever see against Alfreton, who are tipped to win the league and probably will.

"They were two incredible team efforts and a massive step up in standard by my lads, I have to say that I am incredibly proud of what they have done.

"The festive period was a massive boost for Stafford Rangers, without a shadow of a doubt."