Match Report  |  Stafford Rangers vs Gresley FC

Despite suffering an undeserved last minute defeat at Marsden Road the news filtered through that Spalding had been beaten at Romulus meaning Gresley had claimed the final play-off place.

The great travelling support were celebrating as were the players but there was a shadow cast over their celebrations as Gresley goalkeeper Liam Roberts had suffered a suspected fractured collarbone early in the game.

A collision with Christian Dacres as he went to collect a high ball saw the Gresley custodian fall to the ground clutching his shoulder. He received treatment and bravely tried to carry on. However, his discomfort was evident and with no substitute keeper on the bench he was replaced between the posts by left back Lucas Harrison making his debut in goal. Chris Richards took the defender's place and went on to have a man-of-the-match performance.

Gresley manager Wayne Thornhill kept with the same side which beat Chasetown in midweek as defender Mitch Hanson is still recovering from a foot injury.

With a blustery wind blowing and a bobbly surface the visitors started well winning a corner and Martin Smyth forcing home keeper Adam Whithouse to parry his well struck free kick.

With just five minutes on the clock Dacres went in for a high ball rather strongly and Roberts claimed the ball but was hurt in the process. Stafford could see the keeper's discomfort and Peter Till tested him hitting a shot that went just past the far post.

Roberts looked in trouble with restricted movement in his shoulder and on 17 minutes he succumbed to the injury with Harrison donning the green jersey. It was almost certain that Rangers would capitalise on Gresley's misfortune and were soon testing Harrison's resolve with Dacres heading into the side netting at the far post.

Dacres then flashed a shot wide of the far post which referee Mr Cooke adjudged to have taken a deflection for a corner.

Rangers continued to put balls into the box and somehow Gresley were resisting the pressure with some superb defending. Dacres headed Ryan Edmunds' corner goalwards but Eric Graves cleared with the help of his own bar and Harrison was able to gather the loose ball.

Just after the half hour mark Gresley had a golden opportunity to take the lead. A ball through the middle sent Luke Edwards racing forward only to sky his shot over the bar with only the keeper to beat.

Gresley finished the half strongly forcing three successive corners.

Within three minutes of the start of the second half another good chance fell for the visitors. A good passing move from Richards to Edwards who in turn sent O'Connell through whose shot comes off Whitehouse and spun towards the unguarded net but Matthew Wood got back to clear the ball off the line.

Another chance for Gresley when O'Connell ran onto a through ball but Whitehouse did well to block the shot and then to stop substitute Karl Ashton's follow up. Gresley could have been two or three goals to the good if those chances had been converted.

Rangers were then awarded a free kick taken by Edmunds who struck the ball well but stand-in keeper Harrison diving to his right superbly pushed the ball away for a corner.

Yet another chance for Gresley came but was not taken when O'Connell found Alex Steadman who in turn found Ashton in space on the right of the area but his first time shot went wide of the far post.

Harrison and Graves combined well to deny Dacres clearing his header from close in off the line. Gresley were still carving out chances themselves and another came with 7 minutes remaining. Ashton climbed well to flick the ball on to Martin Smyth who fired past the far post with Whitehouse rooted to the spot.

Unbelievably yet another chance fell for the visitors when Jamie Barrett's header found O'Connell who raced into the area only to blaze his shot high over the bar.

The only goal of the game came in the 4th minute of time added on when Dacres converted a long free kick in at the far post.

Although conceding the goal with just seconds remaining of the game, nothing could stop the supporters and players from celebrating their deserved place in the play-off where they will face league runners-up Leek Town on Wednesday at Harrison Park.