Check mate for Bully at Droyslden

Stafford manager Steve Bull feels like his side have won a game of chess after they battled to a 1-0 win at Droylsden in the Blue Square North.

A goal from Stoke loanee Jimmy Phillips in the second-half, on his full home debut, saw off their hosts at the Butchers Arms ground, ending the Bloods unbeaten record on home turf this season.

Both sides had squandered what little chances had come their way before that but the goal killed the game - it was Stafford who went home with the points.

Bully concedes that the game was hardly end-to-end excitement but the objective was achieved.

He said: “That is one draw and three wins in succession now. Hopefully we are a bit of a roll and we need to continue that. Droylsden are unbeaten at home so it was an achievement in itself. It was like a game of chess - and about as exciting!

“They played a system that was designed to cancel us out. It was a frustrating game to be fair. Then Jimmy got his chance and took his goal well. It was only ever going to be one goal that decided it.

“They come down with us, so they wanted to get one over us. We got the lucky break and that all the difference. I must also mention again Carl Palmer, who was man-of-the-match for me by a mile. He covered every blade of grass.”

Next up for Stafford is the unenviable 202-mile rearranged trip to Gateshead on Wednesday night, followed by the FA Cup second qualifying round match at Coalville on Saturday.

Two wins would put Rangers into the hat for the next round and into a play-off spot after 10 league games.

Bully is keenly aware of that but just wants to take each match as it comes.

He said: “It is important that we take each match as it comes. Lets get Gateshead out of the way first - at long last - and then we can think about Coalville.”

There are also limited places left for the the club’s official golf day, hosted by the one and only Bully himself, at the Ingestre Park Golf Club an October 10.

To enter a four-man team costs £350 plus VAT, with a three-course dinner, entertainment, prize presentation and goody bag for the teams involved. A chunk of the proceeds will go to Stafford General Hospital’s Childrens Ward and local charities.

Any interested parties can contact 0870 062 1000/07980 734 751.