Rangers Get First Win Of Season - Stafford Rangers vs. Mickleover Sports

View from the corner at Marston Road

I lived in Staffordshire for three while years while studying at Keele University but I never made it to the county town until this weekend. Stafford Rangers were the only appealing option with Evesham playing on the Sunday and cheap advance rail tickets set the afternoon up. Stafford were hoping for distraction from their form in The Northern Premier League where they hadn't won so far in six games. Oddly they played their opponents Mickleover Sports as recently as the late August bank holiday and they lost that match one nil.

Kick off in Staffs

The first half is a bit of a non event with Stafford having a goal ruled out for offside after the Mickleover keeper spilled a free kick being the sole highlight.

Goalmouth action of sort in the first half

 Mickleover come close when the the Stafford keeper has to tip over a shot when the forward is found with a cut back pass. The opening goal comes for Stafford as the forward is allowed to cut inside and he takes full advantage, bending the ball past the Mickleover keeper. The critical second goal comes from a powerful header at the back post from a corner. In the closing stages as Mickleover are gunning for a way back into the game, Stafford break out and the attacker squares the ball for his team who scores from close range to round off the three nil win.

Two nil Stafford

Trains to Stafford depart from Euston and the quick train takes an hour and twenty minutes on the Virgin services and can take between just under two to nearly three hours on the slower services. I really liked Stafford and the museum in The Ancient High House is really worth visiting. Both the Titanic and Joules breweries having taps at The Sun and The Olde Rose and Crown with both being excellent. A short walk from the ground is The Kings Arms which had a wide selection of beers. The clubhouse outside the ground had numerous bars within it and has Sky Sports and the usual selection of beers. There is also a bar inside the ground underneath the main stand. To break up the twenty minute walk back to the station and to watch the start of the England game I popped into The Bird in Hand which also had a decent choice of ales - a really town for history, football and ales!

Somehow it stayed dry!