Rangers survive late scare to draw

Relieved Stafford Rangers manager Greg Clowes admitted his side didn't do enough to upstage impressive Evo-Stik Northern League new-boys Rushall Olympic.

Clowes was forced to hold his breath last night as the Walsall-based Pics failed to convert a late penalty, which would have almost certainly seen them take maximum points from the derby clash at Marston Road.

It followed a pulsating finish to the 1-1 draw which saw two goals arrive in as many minutes as both sides pressed for the vital breakthrough.

Clowes said: "We failed to build on our first-half performance because we didn't get the ball down and play enough.

"I told the lads at half-time not to get into a fight with them but we missed out on our opportunities."

The Rangers boss was critical of referee Sian Massey – who was at the centre of the sexism row which cost Sky Sports presenters Andy Gray and Richard Keys their jobs in January – for handing the Pics their late penalty.

Clowes claimed the 86th-minute spot-kick decision typified her performance, adding: "She was poor. I thought she awarded them a penalty just to even things up after giving us one."

Chances were at a premium in the first half. Having fired a couple of earlier chances narrowly wide, Liam Shotton unselfishly set up unmarked Sean Kinsella on 40 minutes but, with only Pics goalkeeper Chris Gemmell to beat, Kinsella fired wide.

Olympic's best move arrived a minute before the break when Ahmed Obeng picked out Matt Lewis, who set up Danny Bragoli in front of goal.

But before Bragoli could pull the trigger, Rangers captain Paul Donnelly slid in to block his shot with a goal-saving tackle.

The second-half was much more entertaining and quickly came to life when Olympic full-back Sean Platt fired an optimistic cross against the inside of Rangers' post.

That was followed by Shotton squeezing his way past two defenders before firing over, with just Gemmell to beat.

The Pics pulled themselves ahead on 81 minutes when Rangers failed to deal with Platt's corner. Johnson kept out Bragoli's opening effort before the ball ping-ponged around the Rangers goalmouth.

Christian Dacres had another effort blocked before Obeng's shot struck Rangers winger Peter Heler on the chest and finished up in his own net.

But credit to Rangers who raced straight back upfield where substitute Chris Budrys appeared to have been tripped by Platt and Sean Kinsella made no mistake from the resulting penalty.

There was still some time for further drama, though, when Luke George was alleged to have brought down Obeng.

However, Rushall marksman Matt Lewis fired his penalty wide of the mark.