Stoke Ramblers 3-2 Stafford Rangers

Stoke Ramblers got their season off to a thrilling start wIth a dramatic late win over local rivals Stafford Rangers. With the sun beating down on the Ramblers new home at Bradeley Football Development Centre the game, and the season, kicked off with both sides enjoying some early chances. The first goal arrived after fifteen minutes and saw the visitors take the lead as a mix up in the defence allowed the ball to be confidently strokes home from 20 yards with the goalkeeper caught out of position. The situation was made worse by the withdrawal of influential left winger Chris Cope shortly after with a David Haye-esque broken toe, a substitution that allowed Dean Lovatt to come on for his debut. This sparked more life into the hosts and the scores were levelled up when a corner was headed out to Alex Bradford, 25 yards out, the skipper controlling on his chest before volleying the ball into the top corner. Lovatt was teasing the full back time and again and his corner created the second goal as Bradford doubled his tally by beating the keeper to the ball at the bear post to nod into the net. The score stayed the same through to midway through the second half when Stafford equalised with a well taken effort that left keeper Wollington no chance. The equaliser came in the middle of a heavy spell of pressure from the visitors that needed a strong defence and good, alert goalkeeping to keep them at bay on more than one occasion. The Ramblers did however come back to finish the match strongly and grabbed the games fifth and final goal when a driving run behid the defence from Simon Duckmanton drew the defender and goalkeeper before a dinked ball to the back post allowed the incoming Lovatt to become the hero on debut as he slid in to tap the ball home.