It was derby day delight for Hednesford Town thanks to a second half goal from Matt Dodd giving them all three points from their trip to Marston Road.
Manager Neil Tooth made two changes from the side which had played just 48 hours before with Lewis Wright and James Lawrie coming in for Joe Ballinger and Jordan Nadat.
It was the home side who would have the first chance of note when in just the third minute Pitmen goalkeeper James Wren was forced into a smart save to deny Levi Reid.
Hednesford had their first half chance in the 8th minute but Luke Rodgers fired well over the bar following a smart turn in the penalty area. Six minutes later the striker saw an effort saved by Adam Whitehouse in the Rangers goal.
Wren watched on as a shot from Louis Briscoe dribbled wide of his goal in the 15th minute before Devarn Green fired an effort over the crossbar and Kris Taylor saw an effort blocked away.
The best chance of the half would fall the Pitmen’s way in the 32nd minute when a Taylor free kick picked out Tom Thorley but the midfielder planted his free header from six yards wide of the goal.
HT: 0-0
After a halftime talking to from Tooth the Pitmen started the second period on the front foot and worked a chance for Green in the 50th minute which Adam Whitehouse was forced to turn behind for a corner.
Alex Melbourne also saw a shot saved after some good build-up play before former Hednesford man Richard Batchelor was denied by Wren in the 57th minute after a surge into the penalty area.
A minute later Lawrie moved forward and his swerving effort was claimed by Whitehouse at the second attempt.
It would be the Pitmen that would strike first though in the 61st minute when some good football saw Thorley play in Matt Dodd who rounded Whitehouse and fired into an empty net before he and his teammates celebrated with jubilant supporters.
Seven minutes later Hednesford had a chance to make it two following a quick counterattack but Lawrie wasn’t able to get his shot away.
The home side introduced former Pitmen Kyle Perry and giant defender Exodus Geohaghon as an emergency striker in the final 20 minutes as they resorted to route one to try and test the visitors.
The Pitmen were now coming under an aerial bombardment and almost conceded in the 88th minute when Sam Oji rose highest and headed just wide of his own goal.
Following two more long throws into the Pitmen penalty area and over four minutes of stoppage time, Tooth and his side were finally able to celebrate victory with their supporters as Hednesford earned early season bragging rights.
Stafford Rangers: Whitehouse, Davis (Geohaghon 82), Brown, Morris, Bailey, L Reid, I Reid, Briscoe (Langston 70), Westwood, Fortnam-Tomlison (Perry 65), Batchelor
Subs not used: Sherratt, Caswell
Hednesford Town: Wren, Wright, Melbourne, Taylor, Mutton, Oji, Dodd, Thorley, Lawrie, Rodgers (Glover 70), Green (Bailey 84)
Subs not used: Nadat, Palmer, Veiga
Attendance: 1,226
