Stratford Town 4-0 AFC Telford United - Report

Whilst other results elsewhere made this less damaging for the Bucks, it halted their unbeaten league run at six matches.

Kevin Wilkin made three changes to the team that drew 3-3 at Hitchin Town a few days

earlier. Top scorer Matty Stenson’s injury was the biggest blow, Reece Styche getting a rare

start, whilst Jordan Cranston and Kyle Storer replaced Ellis Myles and Jimmy Armson.

Neither side flew out of the blocks in a cagey opening period, although with a couple of

minutes, the Bucks had a chance when Ricardo Dinanga glided through the Bards’ defence

and saw his effort blocked by the body of keeper Jake Weaver.

After 20 minutes, the Bards scripted the opener from a set-piece where the Bucks failed to

be alert to the danger. The kick from the right was played low and short before the Bards

located Lewis Ison, who drilled a low and hard effort past Brandon Hall.

Within ten minutes, the lead was doubled, as the Bucks conceded possession in midfield,

and the Bards played a low, searching ball through a Bucks’ defensive line that was largely

static. Dan Lafferty hared through and collected the pass before drawing Hall from his line

and beating him into his bottom, left-hand corner from fifteen yards.

The Bucks tried to stick to their plan and did create two more one-on-one chances, the most

notable for Reece Styche, who again saw Weaver come up with the block to deny him.

It took the Bucks a while to find some attacking impetus in the second half, but the

introduction of Jimmy Armson for Harry Hawkins got them going. Armson himself had the

Bucks’ best opportunity of that spell, the ball rebounding to him a few yards out at the near

post from a low ball in from the left, but Armson’s effort struck Weaver.

Two goals in three minutes killed the Bucks’ renaissance dead, as Ison headed home his

second of the game from a free-kick on the left, rising above a crowd to direct the ball over

Hall.

Lafferty was keen to keep pace with his colleague and lashed in the fourth goal in the 75th

minute, striking the ball in from the edge of the box as the Bucks failed in their defensive

duties, the ball presenting itself and Lafferty in no mood to refuse.

Hall’s instinctive stop Cranston’s inadvertent header from a corner prevented the Bards

from scoring a fifth, but the game was well out of their reach by that point.

Attendance: 1,044.

AFC Telford United: Hall, Piggott, Cranston, Storer (c), Pendley, Whittall, Walker, Hawkins (Armson 58’), Styche, Dinanga, Brown.

Subs: (unused) Gudger, Myles, Morris.

 Stratford Town 4-0 AFC Telford United by Rich Worton

Cautioned: None.

Stratford Town: Weaver, Vann, Brennan, Hawker, McCone (c), Solanke (Sammons 67’), Ison, Ebanks (Storer 80’), Lafferty, Williams, James (Leeson 78’).

Subs (unused): Wilson, Bapaga.

Scorer: Ison (20’, 72’), Lafferty (30’, 75’).

Cautioned: None.

Referee: Lewis Mountain.

Assistants: Ryan Jennings and Mariusz Tomon.