Rangers duo catch manager’s eye
Wednesday 27th July 2011, 6:30AM BST.
Teenagers Jordan Wood and Rob Stephenson have given Stafford Rangers boss Greg Clowes food for thought after starring in a 4-1 victory over Norton United.
The Rangers boss rested a number of key players for the visit of the North West Counties outfit, but that handed the young pair their chance to shine.
Goalkeeper Wood, released by Shrewsbury at the end of last season, came off the bench and produced an impressive display in front of the manager.
Clowes admitted: “The goalkeeper in the second half did very, very well. He is only 17 but has shown a lot of maturity and, on that performance, has probably jumped in as Danny Read’s understudy.
“Out of what I have seen, he is the best of the other three keepers at this moment in time.
“He has shown that he is capable of coming and catching a ball and his kicking wasn’t too bad.”
Clowes also praised 17-year-old Stephenson, whose pace led to Rangers’ opener after the winger picked out Dan Skelton for the midfielder to rifle home on 37 minutes.
The manager said: “It was another good game for the young boy on the right, who is doing more good things than bad.”
Rangers doubled their lead through a Liam Shotton penalty before half-time, only for Norton to hit back through a Joe Rogers own goal early in the second-half.
But the introduction of Chris Budrys up front galvanised the home side and they completed the scoring through Neville Thompson and Budrys in the final ten minutes.
Clowes added: “It was a good workout and that is what it is all about at this stage.
“There were some good bits but there were also some bad bits – I was really disappointed to have given the goal away.”
UK Sport
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