VETERAN former Rowntree Mackintosh striker Neil Grayson will be hoping to halt his home city's play-off push at Stafford Rangers tomorrow.

York-born Grayson, now 42, has netted 13 times this season for the Marston Road men, who are just as intent on securing maximum points to stave off the threat of an immediate return to Conference North.

Stafford currently lie one place above the relegation zone, two points ahead of Halifax Town who have a game in hand.

Manager Phil Robinson has set a safety challenge of two wins from his side's remaining four games with home matches against Northwich and Forest Green Rovers either side of a trip to Oxford following tomorrow's home clash with the Minstermen.

Grayson, who made one substitute appearance for York during a brief spell in 1991, was rested for Rangers' 4-2 Easter Monday mauling at Aldershot - their third consecutive defeat.

He has also only scored in two of his last 25 matches but bagged a brace on both occasions during victories against fellow strugglers St Albans (3-0) and Grays (4-2).

Robinson, however, could turn to the former Northampton, Cheltenham and Forest Green forward, who only broke into professional football at the age of 25 when he joined Doncaster Rovers on a non-contract basis.

On-loan Kidderminster striker Andy White is the man most likely to pave the way for a Grayson return with Cameroon-born front man Guy Madjo netting both goals at Aldershot.

Seasoned non-League campaigner Ged Murphy, who has previously played for Nuneaton, Stalybridge, Droylsden and Altrincham, is available again after serving a two-match suspension and is likely to replace Levi Reid in midfield.

Left-back Nathan Talbott will continue playing with a hernia injury which requires a summer operation and skipper Wayne Daniel will line up in the centre of defence despite a back problem.

With three games left at Marston Road, Stafford will be hoping to improve on the Conference's second poorest home record to ensure survival.

Robinson's part-timers, who train three nights a week, have taken just 21 points from a possible 60 and lost 11 times in front of their own supporters.

Only bottom team St Albans, already relegated, have fared worse in 2006-2007.


Stafford v City Match points

Compiled by David Batters

City have made only one previous visit to Stafford and that was in the FA Cup in 1981-82 when in a first round tie Gary Ford and Keith Walwyn netted in a 2-1 win.

City's line-up on November 20, 1981 was: Blackburn, Senior, Hood, Kay, Flood, Stanley, Pollard, Crosby, Walwyn, Ford, Bentham.

It Happened On April 14

1952: A 1-1 draw at Gateshead with Billy Fenton the scorer. City were mid-table in Division Three North.

1956: City lost 3-2 on this trip to Gateshead with Arthur Bottom netting both goals. City were 11th in the Northern Section.

1962: A 4-1 win over Oldham Athletic and City were fifth in Division Four. Scorers were Gerry Francis, Peter Wragg, Norman Wilkinson and Jimmy Weir and the crowd was 5,279.

1973: City suffered their fourth successive defeat when they lost at home to Rochdale 2-1 and were 19th in Division Three (League One). John Stone was the scorer and the attendance was 2,144.

1984: Keith Houchen scored on his debut in a 4-1 win at Aldershot. The other men on the scoresheet were John MacPhail (pictured right), John Byrne and Alan Pearce. It was City's fifth successive away win and they were 14 points clear at the top of Division Four.

2001: A 2-1 home win over Halifax Town thanks to goals from Lee Bullock and Lee Nogan. The crowd was 3,465 and City were 17th in Division Three (League Two).