Droylsden F.C.-The bloods on the net!

STAFFORD RANGERS 0 - 0 DROYLSDEN

Blue Square North – Saturday 14 March 2009

Report by Gary Owen

Stafford will value their point more so than Droylsden, who will probably consider this two points dropped in this proverbial game of two halves played in a blustery wind.

Whilst The Bloods bossed the opening half, Stafford looked the more likely to score in the second.

It took just six minutes for Droylsden to register their first shot, with Matthew Tipton forcing Tim Sandercombe into a full stretch save.

Sandercombe saved again, this time from Alex Brown, and then moments later Carl Lamb had the Boro custodian in more action with Stuart Pierpoint completing the clearance.

The Stafford ‘keeper made his best stop just before the half-hour, when he palmed away Tipton's free kick, which was bound for the top corner. Sandercombe denied Tipton again just before the break with Jamie McGuire unable to convert the rebound.

An Alex Brown volley flew over the Stafford bar after the re-start, but after that it was mostly one-way traffic towards the Droylsden goal. Craig Mawson had to be out swiftly to deny Jake Moult before a Chris Clements shot had the sting taken out of it by a bounce and Mawson gathered easily.

Mark Magee benefitted from some good work by Liam Murray, but his shot was just wide of the mark, before David McNiven saw an effort blocked with Tom Thorley firing the rebound over the bar.

In between those chances, Ian Fitzpatrick saw his deflected shot saved by Sandercombe at the other end.

Clements and Moult exchanged passes for the latter to shoot, but his effort was too high, and Stafford thought they had snatched all three points in the dying moments, but Wayne Daniel's header was just inches off target.

If Droylsden's promotion aspirations are to be realised, then it is this type of game which must be won, but The Bloods' plight was not helped on this occasion by a rather bumpy pitch in need of some water.

TEAMS:

Stafford Rangers

Sandercombe, Francis, Murray (Millar, 63'), Thorley, Daniel, Pierpoint, Clements, Moult, McNiven, Magee (Wellcombe, 73'), Wilson.

Unused Subs.: Buckham, Dodd, Morris A.

Droylsden

Mawson, Brownhill, Newton, Halford, Ruffer, Sorvel, Brown (Beck, 84'), McGuire, Speight (Prince, 75'), Tipton (Fitzpatrick, 58'), Lamb.

Unused Subs: Morris G., Byron.

Referee: Mr. C. E. Husband (Worcestershire)

ATTENDANCE: 474