Recap

This was no fluke as Rangers came from a goal behind at the break to go 3-1 ahead before a late Hereford goal created a few nerves among the majority of the 3,004 crowd.

Rangers were dealt a blow when keeper Russ Saunders pulled up in the pre match preparations but his absence allowed Leon Phillips in for his first appearance since the 4-0 defeat against Shifnal 25 days earlier.

Rangers were on the front foot from the kick off and created the first chance of the game but Mitch Clarke headed wide from Scott Bakkor’s cross.

Hereford – two divisions above Rangers in the pyramid – settled and controlled the next 10-12 minutes. Rangers survived a scare when Beto Gomes tripped Danny Waldron. Referee Ben Tomlinson appeared to award the spot kick until he saw the assistants flag raised for offside.

Luke Spokes fired high over from 25 yards but the visitors found their way through on 23 minutes.

After some excellent approach play, Joseph James sent in a cross from the right for Danny Waldron to head home.

Rangers responded well to the set back but couldn’t quite find the moment to test Theo Richardson in the visitors’ goal. Wealth Da Silva took on one too many defenders rather than shoot then a long throw from Tom Tonks bounced across the area but Kyle Sambor could only find the side netting.

Penalty appeals were rejected when Joe Dunne went to ground after a battle for possession between Tonks and Billy Phillips then Jack Birch sent a low shot just wide after a training ground corner routine.

At the other end, Leon Phillips was fortunate to escape punishment when he appeared to gather the ball outside of his area – but the assistant was not in a position to be able to make the call.

An entertaining first half came to an end with Hereford holding their lead having shown sufficient glimpses of their higher status to shade it.

Half Time: Stafford Rangers 0 Hereford 1

Rangers stunned their visitors with the equaliser just a couple of minutes after the resumption.

The strength of Da Silva had given Hereford much to ponder and he beat Aaron Skinner on the right to get in a cross for Scott Bakkor to meet on the volley.

Shortly after, Mitch Clarke saw his shot turned over by Richardson then he headed wide from the resultant corner.

Da Silva was the next to head wide as Stafford grew in confidence although there were increasing concerns about the fitness of Phillips who needed treatment after receiving a kick on the leg from team mate Tonks.

But, when Phillips was called upon, he proved to be Rangers’ hero and saved with his legs to keep out a shot from Hereford sub Harrison Iwunze.

Clarke – he could have had a hat trick on another day – went wide with a shot on the turn before Rangers took the lead with a 77th minute penalty from Birch.

The spot kick had been awarded after Darryhl Mason had linked with Bakkor who was then tripped by Spokes.

The jubilant Stafford fans became more ecstatic just a couple of minutes later when persistence from Remi Efunnuga saw the ball come out wide to Bakkor and he curled a shot beyond Richardson from the left hand side of the area.

Mason thought that he had put the game beyond reach only to be flagged offside.

The last ten minutes brought late Hereford pressure. A slip by Clarke let in Cawley Cox but once again Phillips showed his class.

With a minute of normal time remaining, Spokes just beat Tonks to a ball on the half way line and was able to feed Cox and, this time, the Stafford keeper could do nothing to stop the Hereford forward.

Rangers did have a couple of chances to ease their nerves – notably when Ty Webster went clear only to be denied by Tomlinson – but the sound of the referee’s final whistle was met with a loud roar from three quarters of the Marston Road ground.

Full Time: Stafford Rangers 3 Hereford 2

Stafford: 1 Leon Phillips, 2 Beto Gomes, 3 Joe Dunne, 4 Todd Ferrier, 5 Andy Burns (c), 7 Kyle Sambor (19 Remi Efunnuga 78m), 8 Tom Tonks (17 Ashley Fallon 90+2m), 9 Scott Bakkor (6 Anis Zaknoune 90+4m), 10 Jack Birch (12 Ty Webster 88m), 14 Wealth Da Silva (11 Darrhyl Mason 67m), 15 Mitch Clarke. Unused Sub 18 Harvey Washington.

Hereford: 1 Theo Richardson, 2 Aaron Skinner, 3 Kam Kandola, 5 Will Merrett, 8 Harry Tustin (18 Liam Roberts 82m), 10 Danny Waldron (19 Harrison Iwunze 66m), 14 Luke Spokes, 15 Jordan Williamson (9 Cawley Cox 46m), 17 Joseph James (28 Kyle Howkins 46m), 20 Preston Bitemo, 23 Billy Phillips.

Unused Subs 6 Joe Willi, 21 Ollie Lewis, 24 Jack Tolley

Referee: Ben Tomlinson

Cautions: Bakkor 11m, Sambor 73m (Stafford) Spokes 42m (Hereford)

Goals: Stafford: Bakkor (2) 48m, 79m, Birch 77m pen Hereford: Waldron 23m, Cox 89m

Att: 3,004 (highest home crowd since Burnley visited for an FA Cup tie in November 1990 when 4,117 were in attendance)

Report by Chris Elsley