Williams Runs The Show As Shots Win Again

An inspired Ryan Williams' performance helped the Shots comfortably see off relegation threatened Stafford at the Rec this afternoon.

The diminutive winger scored a brace and put in an excellent all round, Man of the Match winning performance.

Louis Soares replaced Dean Smith at full back, with Hudson taking the formers position on the right wing, in the only change from Saturday's defeat at Dagenham.

In the fifth minute Madjo, who yet again proved to be a thorn in the Shots side, squared a dangerous ball across the 6 yard box. It was met at the far post by White, who turned it back for Robin Smith, but his stab at goal was well blocked by Charles near the goal line.

A minute later the Shots went in front with their first attempt on goal. The ball was worked to Williams on the Shots left, and his cross-shot flew into the top right corner of the net.

The winger almost did it again in the twentieth minute, but this time his deep cross was well pushed away from under the bar by Duggan.

A penetrating long ball from Darren Barnard was then chased by John Grant, and in a 50-50 tussle with a defender, he went to ground in the box. However despite protests from Grant himself and a couple of other Shots players, the referee turned down the loud penalty appeals.

Stafford went straight down the other end and equalised in the twenty ninth minute, but it was a controversial goal to say the least. Guy Madjo appeared to be at least a couple of yards off side when put clear of the Shots defence, but the expected linesman's flag did not appear. The former Shots triallist easily took the ball around the onrushing Bull and walked the ball into an empty net.

However it only took the Shots six minutes to regain the lead. Ryan Williams put an excellent cross into the box, this time from the Shots right. John Grant controlled it superbly before dispatching a sweetly struck half volley into the bottom corner of the net from 15 yards.

Shortly after, another good Williams cross was volleyed just over the bar by Hudson.

Deep into stoppage time the visitors restored parity for the second time, and again it was that man Madjo. A free kick was flighted into box and the headed clearance was poor - Madjo was first to the loose ball and he drilled it past the helpless Bull from 8 yards out.

There was still time left for a Shots free kick but Barney curled his effort, from a good central position, just over the bar.

Half time: Shots 2 - Stafford 2

From a quick throw in Hudson got to the bye-line and hooked the ball back into the danger area. It was only half cleared to Ryan Williams and his half volley from 22 yards flew narrowly wide. Then after a corner wasn't properly cleared, Molesley's well struck effort deflected off Charles and went a yard wide of the upright.

In the fifty eighth minute, Ricky Newman's screamer from 25 yards was tipped onto the bar by the keeper. It bounced down onto the line and was cleared to safety.

The Shots were dominating proceedings and they got their deserved reward three minutes later.

A neat ball from Soares found Hudson, and he did well to cut inside the full back and fizz his cross over.

Ryan Williams made an excellent darting run across the 6 yard box and got in front of a defender to side foot home.

A slick Shots move across the box reached Dixon who cut inside, but then he ballooned his effort well over. However Dixon made amends in the seventieth minute. He controlled the ball inside the area and was just about to get his shot away when he was nudged over, but as he went to ground he stuck out a leg and the ball hit the back of the net.

Despite scoring, he was replaced shortly after by Pritchard. The substitute almost scored with his first touch, but after a neat Grant lay off, his low shot was well pushed around the post by the outstretched hand of Duggan.

On eighty one minutes a cross came over from the Shots right, but Madjo's hat-trick effort flew just over. The Shots ran down the clock with no further worries and Stafford now find themselves deep in a relegation dog fight.

TS Ratings: Bull 6.5, Soares 6.5, Barnard 7, Newman 7, Day 6.5, Charles 7, Molesley 6, Hudson 6.5, Grant 7.5, Dixon 6.5 (Pritchard), Williams 8.5.

Thanks to Tongham Shots for the report