Romulus 2 Stafford Rangers 2 (no extra time, Stafford win 4-3 on penalties)…It was clear to see what this victory meant to the Stafford Rangers players, management and supporters. After enduring some painful experiences on the road, they were finally able to cheer a victory away from Marston Road, though the final moments were bordering on comical. Rangers goalkeeper Jon Brain produced his second save of the shoot-out to give his side a 4-3 win. Stafford knew they’d won but Mr Chesiaua had lost count and wanted the shoot-out to continue until becoming convinced of his counting error.
Considering that following Stafford Rangers had been a part of my life since the early 1970s, I hardly get to see them in action these days. In the past, watching tonight’s game would have been a case of ‘I will’ rather than ‘will I’, particularly during the latter stages of Ian Painter’s reign as manger and the Phil Robinson era that followed. Whether a good or a bad thing [I think good], I watched no fewer that 314 consecutive competitive Rangers games between November 2001 and November 2007 – the one that broke the sequence was Phil’s last game in charge at Ebbsfleet United.
Since Rangers were relegated from Blue Square Premier in 2008, which coincided with a renewed desire to return to football travelling as a neutral fan, I’ve had the whole fixture list to choose from rather than one containing 42 or so league games and some cup ties. So much so, tonight’s Doodson Sports Cup tie (for Evo-Stik League clubs) turned out to be my first competitive game featuring the Boro since a trip to Stalybridge Celtic on the last day of the 2010/11 season.
It is fair to say that Stafford Rangers haven’t had the best of campaigns so far in 2013/14. Losing the opening seven league games cost Greg Clowes his job and successor Andy Mutch has brought hope that relegation can be avoided with improved form at Marston Road. Currently sitting second-from bottom (23rd) in the Evo-Stik League Premier Division with eight points from 18 games, Rangers are some 12 points from safety. The team have struggled away from home, losing all eight league games as well as an FA Trophy tie at Coalville Town.
Fortunes of Romulus have taken a turn for the better this season and they currently occupy 9th position in the Evo-Stik League Northern Premier Division One South. Six wins from their eight home league games highlight solid form at Coles Lane.
For those unfamiliar with the history of Coles Lane, the main stand was built during the 1950s to replace a previous structure destroyed by fire. Believe it or not, the current one was purchased from Manchester City! The 4G surface replaced the old grass pitch in 2011. It is certainly one of my favourites and high up on the list of my most visited grounds whether it be for a Sutton Coldfield Town or Romulus match.
Stafford (in black and white) got the game underway attacking the clubhouse end in the first half, right to left in relation to the stand. With less than a minute of the clockb, Sean Kinsella delivered a delicious right-wing corner which Tom Morris headed wide.
Romulus, however, took a 15th-minute lead. A superb throughball from Blake Thompson picked out Danico Johnson who hit a stunning 25-yard shot which flew past a stunned Jon Brain. It was certainly a fitting way for the young forward to mark his senior debut after impressing for the Under-21 side.
The lead lasted just six minutes as Darren Bullock met Kinsella’s free-kick (see photo) at the far right post to send an angled header past Lewis Exall.
Brain kept his side on level terms with a couple of vital blocks to keep out two decent shots from the lively Dubidat.
Stafford Secretary Mike Hughes revealed an interesting fact that, even though playing at home, Romulus always use the ‘away’ changing room and the visitors the one usually frequented by Sutton Coldfield Town.
Exall required lengthy treatment in the 40th minute and an opportunity for Stafford FM’s Gary Hazlehurst, broadcasting full-match commentary, to summarise the first half. “Even in terms of chances created,” he concluded. Stafford’s best opportunities were coming from set pieces while Romulus’s Dubidat certainly posed plenty of problems.
Stafford took the lead in the fourth-minute of stoppage time with virtually the last kick of the first half. The Romulus defence failed to clear another excellent Kinsella corner and Matthew Burke sent a low 20-yard drive into the bottom right corner past the motionless Exall.
Chatting at half-time to Gary, Chris and ‘Rugeley Mick’, amongst other things we wondered if Exall would re-emerge for the second half. He didn’t and defender Robert Evans took over in goal, a more than competent deputy as it turned out.
Chances continued and Brain again produced a vital save with an outstretched boot just after the hour mark to keep out a low left-foot shot from Luke Keen, once of Stafford Rangers.
It was Evans’ turn to excel in the 66th minute. The stand-in goalkeeper somehow kept out a far post shot from Daniel Cope with a diving save. Evans also saved a header from Morris as well though wasn’t overly kept busy.
Stafford twice could have wrapped up the win during the final ten minutes. James McCarthy battled on the right before pulling the ball back to Joe Guest who couldn’t keep his shot down. McCarthy then created a glorious opportunity for Cope who fired across the face of goal.
Dramatically, in the third minute of stoppage time, with barely five seconds remaining on the referee’s watch, Scott Meer crossed from the left into the Stafford area where Johnson turned and sent a low shot into the bottom left corner of the net. Romulus 2 Stafford Rangers 2
Play continued for just a few seconds before Mr Chesiaua’s whistle signalled a penalty shoot-out to decide who progressed into the second round without having to endure an extra 30 minutes.
Using the goal at the clubhouse end, Burke and Morris as well as Romulus’s Keen converted the opening three penalties to put Stafford 2-1 up. Marcus Brown took the fourth penalty only to see it saved by Brain diving to his right. Guest increased Stafford’s lead to 3-1 before Lee Smith reduced the deficit to 3-2. Next up was Jack Lees who had his penalty saved by Evans and Gregory Downes sent Brain the wrong way to make it 3-3 with one penalty each left.
We wondered if Evans would emerge a hero by saving Stafford’s fifth penalty but Cope converted it even though the stand-in goalkeeper guessed correctly.
Pressure fell on Daniel O’Callaghan who had to score and Brain successfully dived to his right to produce another save. Stafford knew they’d won 4-3 but Mr Chesiaua had lost count and wanted the shoot-out to continue until becoming convinced of his counting error.
One pre-match topic centred around the potential size of the crowd. My database suggested that the lowest post-War crowd was 74 for a Staffs Senior Cup tie at Rushall Olympic in 1998. Tonight, even with the presence of a few visiting fans and groundhoppers, the official attendance of 60 set a new club low. Those who stayed away missed an interesting game.
Monday 11th November 2011
Romulus 2 Stafford Rangers 2
No extra time, Stafford won 4-3 on penalties
Doodson Sport Cup First Round
At: Coles, Lane, Sutton Coldfield
Kick-off: 7-45 pm
Admission: £7; Programme: £1 (16 pages)
Weather: mild and damp with drizzle
Romulus (red and white stripes / red / red): 1. Lewis Exall, 2. Robert Evans, 3. Scott Meer, 4. Cameron Lee, 5. Liam Francis (capt), 6. Gregory Downes, 7. Daniel Dubidat, 8. Blake Thompson, 9. Luke Keen, 10. Danico Johnson, 11. Tyron Amory. Subs: 12. Lee Smith (for Dubidat, 70), 14. Daniel O’Callaghan (for Exall, ht; Evans in goal), 15. Thomas Turton (not used), 16. Marcus Brown (for Amory, 70), 17. Craig Marshall. Manager: Dave Barnett.
Stafford Rangers (black and white stripes / black / black): 1. Jon Brain, 2. Paris Bateman, 3. Oliver Davies, 4. Tom Morris, 5. Darren Bullock (capt), 6. Jermaine Johnson, 7. Kaiyne Woolery, 8. Matthew Burke, 9. Dan Cope, 10. Sean Kinsella, 11. Louis Harris. Subs: 12. Scott James (not used), 14. Jack Lees (for Harris, 73), 15. James McCarthy (for Johnson, 62), 16. Joe Guest (for Kinsella, 66), 18. Jason Beardsley (not used). Manager: Andy Mutch.
Referee: Dimitru-Ravel Chesiaua.
Assistants: Matthew Bond and Gregory Rollason.
Attendnace: 60
Duration: first-half: 49:20; second-half: 48:39
Goals:
1-0 Danico Johnson (15)
1-1 Darren Bullock (21)
1-2 Matthew Burke (45+4)
2-2 Danico Johnson (90+3)
Penalty shoot-out
0-1 Matthew Burke (Stafford)
1-1 Luke Keen (Romulus)
1-2 Tom Morris (Stafford)
MISS Marcus Brown (Romulus)
1-3 Joe Guest (Stafford)
2-3 Lee Smith (Romulus)
MISS Jack Lees (Stafford)
3-3 Gregory Downes (Romulus)
3-4 Daniel Cope (Stafford)
MISS Daniel O’Callaghan (Romulus)
Cards:
Romulus: Scott Meer (YC, 38), Luke Keen (YC, 90+2)
Stafford: Jermaine Johnson (YC, 60)
Travels of the Traveller 