Stoke Ramblers 2-1 Stafford Rangers

Last updated : 22 January 2011 By Dan Buxton

The Ramblers finally got their first EVER victory after coming from behind to beat local rivals Stafford Rangers

After last weeks game with Motley Crewe saw that elusive first ever win denied by an injury time equaliser the Ramblers were out to make sure they got the ever growing monkey off their back this week.

Starting with the same 4-1-4-1 system that had seen the Ramblers fortunes change so drastically in last weeks game with Crewe the Ramblers, who usually start matches well, were under a bit of pressure as the visitors had the wind behind their backs and were able to pressure the Ramblers defence and although the hosts did have a few chances of their own they went in at the  in the 6 yard box, a Stafford head managed to power the ball into the net ro break the deadlock.

The second half saw the Ramblers gain the advantage of the wind at their backs and soon had the wind in their sails as they equalised when, after a scramble in the box resulted in a goal bound shot being blocked on the line by a defenders hand, Alex Bradford stepped up to sidefoot the spot kick high towards the top left hand corner of the goal and equal the scores.

The Ramblers continued to push and it was only the reactions of the Rangers keeper that kept the scores level for as long they were as he repeatedly denied an ever increasingly dominant Ramblers side.

The keeper was beaten, rather freakishly, with twenty minutes to go as a corner from Tawn swung back towards goal and dipped under the crossbar and into the net. Tawn had gone close from the previous corner but his effort then had bounced off the bar and behind for a goalkick.

Ramblers were now looking at running down the clock and making sure there was no repeat of last weeks heartache and they did so comfortably, seeing out the remaining minutes for a win with little fuss and very few scares.