Matt Elliott on Rangers' crucial win

Stafford Rangers manager Matt Elliott admitted his side had lived dangerously on their way to a dramatic victory over relegation rivals Redditch.

Ben Mills bagged the game's only goal on three minutes but the home side made Rangers work hard for their victory.

Elliott said: "We cleared the ball off the line three times, they have hit the post and Lee Evans has made a fantastic penalty save. They had a few other scrambled efforts as well.

"We made a few chances but I was frustrated how we played at times. We took an early lead but I think we then relaxed a little bit.

"I said to the players beforehand that Redditch would come at us, they would be good, vibrant, willing and keen.

"We got the early goal and I think they then thought they were going to coast it. That wasn't the case and we struggled to get ourselves out of that mode of thought.

"We were lucky to come off at half-time ahead. But that's our first away win of the season and we battled away.

"Certain individuals performed extremely well and, while we didn't play as well as we could have done, it has set us up for a good old ding dong against Hyde on Saturday."

The win lifted Rangers to within three points of this weekend's opponents with two games in hand.

Elliott said: "Points are more precious than performances and that's the case wherever you are in the season.

"Yes, you want to play with a certain swagger or in a certain pattern and with a certain confidence as that bodes well for the future.

"But we are in a right old situation and those three points are invaluable."