But, after an evenly balanced half hour, Shields broke the deadlock. A swift move saw Shields open the Stafford defence through Gilchrist and Mason. The latter found Craig Baxter free on the left and he fired past King from the edge of the area. Shields were buoyed by their opener while Rangers clearly felt the knock in confidence. The visitors went close again as Matt Hill cleared off the line from Brown and Mason forced King to save after holding off several Stafford players. Then, on the stroke of half time, Gilchrist added a crucial second, when he converted Lowe’s ball across the face of goal. Both sides had half chances early in the second half. Thompson-Brown blazed high and wide when he should have advanced closer on goal before Lowe curled one just over the intersection of post and cross bar. Jack Sherratt gave Stafford a lifeline on the hour when he turned Jordan Hunter to fire home from 15 yards out after Jake Charles and Grayson had helped on a long ball from Josh Burns. For the first time, Shields looked vulnerable as Stafford sought an equaliser. Moran had a header blocked, Sherratt fired low at Miles Boney while shots from Will McGuffie and Jake Charles were off target. At the other end, King saved well from Briggs to keep Rangers’ hopes alive, but time ran out and it was the visitors who took all the points back home. Referee: Neil Pratt Cautions: McGuffie (Stafford), Bone, Brown (South Shields)