Graham Deakin hails “superb” Stafford Rangers response in survival push
Determined Stafford Rangers boss Graham Deakin insists their survival fight is “far from done”.
Matt Hearsey powered a header home at Newcastle Town last weekend to keep Rangers five points clear of the Northern Premier League West Division relegation zone.
The draw made it four league games unbeaten as they welcome Sporting Khalsa tomorrow, a place below them in the standings, in another crucial survival six-pointer.
“It’s far from done,” Deakin said about Stafford’s survival quest.
“If our performances are right, the same as we have been over the last few weeks, then we're a match for anybody in the division.
“Then we can control our own fate. I don't look at what other teams do.
“I believe in a group and what we can do and if we can we can hit those heights and those targets of what I'm asking them to do, then it'll be up to us to pull clear.
“Just being able to create a mentality within the group, that it's a togetherness, and playing for each other, the club, and the supporters.
“They're a talented group of players. The lads have been great, they've took the information on board and they've been absolutely superb.”
Hearsey has made a big impact since joining Rangers from Stafford Town, netting three league goals. Rangers have also recently welcomed Max Chimenes from Darlaston Town, with Deakin relishing his bolstered attacking options.
He added: “We needed a little bit more help and a little bit more firepower up top.
“The defence also needs massive credit. As a team, how we're defending off the ball allows us to go and produce in the final third, and we've been more clinical than we have been all season, which is really pleasing.”
Khalsa will be looking to bounce back from defeat at league-leaders Bury, having won their previous two league games before that loss.
Elsewhere, strugglers Darlaston Town entertain Chasetown, who are in a slump of their own. The Scholars have lost their last four league games, leaving them ninth in the standings, nine points adrift of the play-off places.
Darlaston, meanwhile, sit 20th, four points from safety after a 9-1 defeat in new boss Exodus Geohaghon’s first game in charge.
In the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands, Lichfield City visit Long Eaton United looking to end a four-game winless run. Ivor Green’s side are 15th, seven points off the play-offs and eight clear of the relegation zone in a highly competitive division.
