Match Report: Market Drayton Town vs. Stamford, 7th Jan 2012

Danny Steadman returning in place of Andy Toyne was the only change to the starting line-up for Stamford with Mathieu Isamene on the bench.

The opening minutes were even with both teams playing some open football but the first chance went to Drayton’s Tom Rogers forcing Ross Whalin to save with his legs.  Rogers forced an even better save on ten minutes heading on a cross from Nicky Porter who was giving Stamford all kinds of problems on the right wing. Whalin stretched to tip the ball onto the post.  A minute later Porter drove a low cross into the Stamford box and Rogers dummied allowing the ball to go through his legs for Stuart Ellis to smash home from the edge of the box.

Market Drayton were forced to replace Andy Pryce in goal after only 26 minutes when he strained an ankle.

Stamford could not get in the game and had a real let-off after 36 minutes when an under hit back pass from Miles Chamberlain was picked up by Andy Cooke.  He chipped the ball over Whalin but the ball came back off the bar.  Two minutes later Whalin had to be sharp again to punch away a shot from Matt Johnson.

On 40 minutes, the bar came to rescue again for Stamford when Jason Francis headed on a free kick. Wayne Diuk cleared the return shot off the line but no-one could stop the follow up from Andy Cooke which doubled the Drayton lead.

Stamford went in two down but it could have been much worse with the woodwork saving Stamford three times with Whalin also making some good saves.  Stamford came out strongly and a superb ball from Jake Gibson set up Bruno Holden to run through the Drayton defence.  He chipped the ball over Damien Stevens but this time the cross bar came to the aid of Drayton.

Stamford were playing much better but without creating much threat and, just after the hour, a slip from Chamberlain let in Rogers but Whalin reacted quickly to dive low at the near post to turn his show away for a corner.

Stamford brought on Danny Brooks and Kieran Watson and the changes brought more urgency and guile to the Stamford play.  They pushed forward but were vulnerable to the Drayton break and Rogers missed a glorious chance to kill the game when one on one with Whalin he missed the target.

With 72 minutes gone, Stamford had their first shot on target! Good play by Kieran Watson set himself up for a shot but it was straight at Stevens.  Mathieu Isamene came on and his first touch was a cross to Nick Ghislanzoni.  His first time shot was helped into the goal but Stamford had pulled one back.

Isamene then added to the resurgent Stamford play, going past defenders with pace when he could but at other times using the ball well to bring other players into play.

The referee had been poor all afternoon.  In the first half most strange decisions seemed to go in favour of Drayton but on 78 minutes he made the first of two seemingly harsh decisions which went in Stamford’s favour.  The first resulted in Drayton going down to 10 men when a ball driven in by Brooks seemed to hit the arm of Matt Cohen only a couple of yards away. Cohen had already been booked and, after exchanging words with the player, the referee showed another yellow card followed by the red. 

With a couple of minutes to go, Ghislanzoni had the ball at his feet but with a melee of Drayton defenders trying to get it away, Ghis ended up on the floor and the referee immediately pointed to the spot.  Danny Brooks grabbed the ball and calmly placed it hard and wide of Stevens to bring Stamford level.  

Deep into stoppage time Ghislanzoni was close to stealing all three points for Stamford with a quick turn and shot which flew just wide of the Drayton post.

Stamford had to thank the woodwork and Ross Whalin that they hadn’t lost the game by half time but they got better as the second half went on and much better after the substitutions.  Their pressure in the last 15 minutes or so deserved the point.

Stamford:         Ross Whalin, Joe Pheasant, Adam Hewitt, Wayne Diuk, Miles Chamberlain, David Staff, Nathan Watson (Mathieu Isamene 74), Danny Steadman (Danny Brooks 60), Bruno Holden (Kieran Watson 65), Nick Ghislanzoni, Jake Gibson,

Subs not used: Luke Garton, Harry Deane.

MOM:   Ross Whalin

Market Drayton:                        Andy Pryce (Damien Stevens 26), Jason Francis, Danny Ting, Matt Cohen, Paul McMullen, Kyle Blake, Nicky Porter, Matt Johnson, Andy Cooke (Martyn Davies 65), Tom Rogers, Stuart Ellis (Shaun Humphries 80).    

Subs not used:Luke Reynolds, Dorryl Proffitt