Rangers boss slams side after cup exit

Stafford Rangers manager Greg Clowes slammed his players after seeing his side dumped out of the FA Cup by Midland Alliance minnows Stratford.

Two goals in the final five minutes earned the Warwickshire side their giant-killers tag and left the Rangers boss fuming by an inept home display.

Clowes said: "The players should be ashamed of themselves. I'm embarrassed and, out of a long time in management, that's probably my worst ever result – the worst result and the worst performance.

"If I could stop their wages I would – the players don't deserve a penny. We have given hope to the fans after Tuesday night's performance and they have let everyone down.

"But I have to ask whether it actually bothers the players. I cannot defend them. The players have been told what I think about them but they are probably that arrogant that it has gone in one ear and out the other.

"We gave them clear instructions of what we wanted at half-time and certain players decided they weren't going to take that on board."

Rangers dominated the first half chances and an upset looked unlikely as they went in at the break with a deserved lead.

But they only had one goal to show for their efforts, an own goal from Stratford defender Andy Gregory who diverted Rob Stevenson's cross into his own net on 16 minutes.

Chris Budrys had a shot blocked by the legs of Richard Morris on the half-hour and injury time saw another Stevenson cross wastefully directed into the arms of the goalkeeper by Jon Sheldon.

The game swung early in the second period with the introduction of Stratford substitute Josh Blake – an extra striker for the home defence to deal with.

And the Rangers back-line were found wanting just two minutes after his arrival, former Stafford frontman Chris Murphy firing home after being left unmarked on the edge of the area.

Ben Mackey, who scored five in his side's demolition of Clowes' previous club Newcastle Town in the previous round, netted a second for the visitors on 65 minutes, firing into the roof of the net from 15 yards.

Rangers substitute Alan Nagington hauled the home side level 15 minutes from time but the home side failed to make the most of a series of chances to restore their lead, with Budrys and Michael Morton both culprits.

Those misses were punished in the closing stages when Blake notched a third for the visitors, before fellow substitute Karl Fellows wrapped up a dismal afternoon for Clowes' side.