Stafford Town picked up their second win of the season, defeating hosts Cammell Laird 3-0 with a much improved, organised and efficient performance that brings an end to a poor run of results. The victory gives Stafford some breathing room over Laird at the bottom end of the table and they will now be looking to show that the result was not a one-off by following it up with more positive results to push up the table. Stafford drafted in some new faces to bring fresh confidence back into the side which has been eroded in recent weeks; Dan Turton, Harvey Dangerfield and Kieron Miller all contributed across the ninety minutes, bringing more out of the regular contingent of Stafford players in addition to their own performances. In the fifth minute a forward ball by Turton released Declan Arber on the right of the Laird box, his ball across reaching Josh Oultram for a first time finish that hit the inside of the post on its way into the net to give Stafford the perfect start. Nathan Scott beat his man on the right a few minutes later but his lofted cross was headed away. Laird were trying to put Stafford under pressure but were guilty of forcing the ball forward and it was either dealt with by the Stafford defenders or ran through harmlessly to Zak Noble in goal. Stafford looked the more dangerous and on the half hour mark a driving run through the middle by Scott saw the ball break loose on the edge of the Laird box, a shot by Miller blocked for a corner. Scott curled an effort just wide from the edge of the area a couple of minutes later before an incident involving Miller had the hosts demanding a red card as the forward caught a Laird defender with his shoulder as he attempted to get in front and shield the ball. Fortunately for Stafford the referee only awarded a yellow card and in the final minute of the half Stafford gave the hosts a seemingly impossible mountain to climb; a driving run by Oultram on the break following a Laird free kick was slipped through to Ryan Taylor, the ball coolly slotted under the ‘keeper by the wide-man. HT 2-0 Stafford Town.
Oultram almost added to the Stafford lead five minutes into the second half, winning the ball off a defender and rounding the goalkeeper; however, the subsequent angle was too tight and his shot glanced off the front of the bar and was cleared. In the 58th minute a clever free kick by Callum White into the feet of Arber in the box enabled a low shot on the turn that was just wide of the far post. Oultram then sliced an effort wide from the edge of the box after being found by Miller, although in hindsight he should have carried the ball closer to goal first. Will Bates was introduced from the bench with 25 minutes remaining and his fresh legs caused problems for the tired Laird backline. After some good pressing by Stafford that saw them win the ball in the Laird half, a Taylor through ball found Bates but his shot across goal was parried and Taylor could not turn the ball home at the far post as he instead fired high. Stafford put the result beyond doubt in the 67th minute, Arber slipping the ball through for Bates to evade the ‘keeper and play the ball across goal for Miller to finish at the backpost. Bates had the ball in the back of the net again shortly thereafter but was correctly given offside and the goal was chalked off. Equally as important as the win for Stafford was the cleansheet and substitute Matt Dudley was on hand to clear one dangerous Laird ball into the box in the final minute. FT 3-0 Stafford Town. Stafford face a tough test to build on this result however, as fifth-placed Sandbach United visit Evans Park on Tuesday 6th September before a vital away match against 19th-placed Cheadle Heath Nomads on Saturday 10th September as Stafford look to pull away from the wrong end of the table.
Best of the action is here at Stafford Town TV:
https://youtu.be/omf0FMzodHo
