MATCH REPORTS by Bryan Hale
THESE REPORTS DO NOT NECCESSARILY REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF THE CLUB
SELECT MONTH:
TOWN PUT THE BRAKE ON THE BRAKES
Stratford Town - 2 - Jakab 5 & 11
Leamington - 0
Town’s final pre-season home game was against Leamington on Tuesday evening when before a crowd of 407 they put on their best performance so far to run out convincing 2 - 0 winners courtesy of two early goals from their Hungarian striker Jozsef Jakab.
Town got of to a lively start with Matt Blair setting up a third minute shooting chance for Matt Gasper whose effort was well off target before going ahead in only the 5th minute. Ex-Leamington front runner Richard Adams made a searching break from halfway down the inside left channel to slip the ball through to Blair whose neat lay-off wrongfooted keeper Richard Morris and gave Jakab the opportunity to slot home from close range.
Leamington replied with a bullet header from Guy Sanders which flew narrowly wide but Town doubled their advantage in the 11th minute when a dreadful backpass from Ryan Parisi and a slip by the advancing Morris as he tried to collect it allowed the alert Jakab to walk the ball into the empty net.
With Leamington clearly stunned at being conceding twice so quickly Town settled down to play some eye-catching football. The hard working Jakab and the speedy Adams impressed up front, Jack Byrne competed strongly in midfield, while in defence Gary Moran was again solid at right back and Richard Munday resolute and increasingly confident in the centre.
Gradually however Leamington got their own passing game going, and in the 24th minute Town keeper Chris Jay did well to block a fierce effort from Jamie Towers after Micky Love had been caught in possession in the Town penalty area. Shortly after Shay Morgan was not far away with a shot past Jay’s left hand post, and the keeper then had to stretch to tip over a rasping effort from the dangerous Mark Bellingham.
Town responded with Blair shooting straight at Morris following a Gasper free kick before Town did well to keep their lead intact in the final minute of the half when Luke Corbett’s close range shot was deflected for a corner which resulted in some desperate defending in the Town penalty area before it was finally cleared.
After the interval Leamington began to dominate possession but Town’s defence - which was so shaky too many times last season - is looking far more organised this time around and absorbed the pressure without too much apparent difficulty. From the hour mark though both sides started to make substitutions - eventually six each - and the pattern of play inevitably became disjointed.
Nevertheless Love went close for Town with a shot from distance in the 63rd minute and a Bellingham effort for Leamington on 70 minutes was not far away after Marcus Jackson had provided the chance with an electric burst of pace down the left touchline.
For the home supporters however the main interest in the last half hour of the game was the reappearance in a Town shirt of the enigmatic Rory May who averaged virtually a goal a game in the early part of last season before seemingly losing his way and eventually departing to Hednesford. Clearly lacking fitness he made minimal impact here but if he could recapture his form of twelve months ago what an asset he would be
During the closing stages Town were forced to hang on as Leamington sought to at least get on the scoresheet. Steve Palmer shot over from 15 yards out, Liam Reynolds forced Jay into a sprawling save down to his left and Corbett netted only to be ruled offside, but there was no doubting that over the 90 minutes Town were worthy winners.
Town have no game this weekend but travel to old MFA rivals Quorn for their last friendly next Tuesday before their MFA programme begins with a visit to Coalville Town the following Saturday. If they can repeat the form shown in this match on a consistent basis when the serious business of picking up League points gets under way then they will surely be set fair for a promising campaign.
TOWN : Jay, Moran, Love, Mowl (Stephens 68), Munday, Crawford (Povey 74), Blair, Byrne (Faulds 41), Jakab (May 62), Adams (Knott 71), Gasper (Tilbury 74).
TOWN COME FROM BEHIND TO SEE OFF COMBATIVE ALVESTON
Alveston - 1 - Coles 14
Stratford Town - 5 - Byrne 28 & 47, Knott 34, Adams 58, McGurk 89
Thursday evening’s clash at the Home Guard Club was Town’s only pre-season match against lower league opposition and it was probably tougher than they expected as it proved to be a fiercely fought encounter with the hosts clearly “up for it”.
Town dominated the early possession but fell behind in the 14th minute when Tom Coles scored after the Town defence failed to deal with a left wing corner. With some meaty tackles now flying in and the game threatening to boil over Town’s discomfort increased in the 21st minute when Gary Moran sustained a nasty head injury necessitating a trip to Warwick Hospital after colliding with the wall of the dug-out Alveston following a clash near the touchline.
Jack Byrne came on in his place and brought Town level in the 28th minute with a rasping shot from all of 30 yards, and Town went ahead in the 34th minute when they were awarded a penalty for handball. Although James Knott’s spot kick was saved he reacted quickly to slot home the rebound.
As the half drew to a close Town should have had two more. Michael Crawford blazed wide of an open goal and Knott missed a second penalty after he had been brought down hitting this one against the outside of the left hand post.
Byrne extended Town’s lead shortly after half-time when he surged into the penalty area to exchange passes with Jay Tilbury and finish clinically into the far corner, and Richard Adams made it four within minutes of coming on when rifling in an unstoppable effort from 20 yards out.
With Alveston now wilting the tempo slackened and the game slowly petered out, but triallist Jimmy McGurk notched Town’s fifth a minute from time when he powered in a header from a left wing corner.
TOWN : Jay, Faulds, Moran (Byrne 21), Mowl (Adams 52), Munday, Crawford, Tilbury, McGurk, Knott, Blair, Gasper (Jakab 67). Sub Not Used - Rawlings
TOWN ARE MORE THAN A MATCH FOR THE MOORS
Stratford Town - 1 - Jakab 16
Solihull Moors - 1 - Streete 78
Following their 1 – 0 win over Sutton Coldfield Town on Saturday courtesy of a Matt Gasper goal Town took on their temporary landlords of last season, Solihull Moors, in their third pre-season friendly on Tuesday evening and held their Blue Square North opponents to a thoroughly creditable draw.
On a beautiful summer evening with the Knights Lane pitch resembling a billiard table the game was played at a good pace, and with both sides playing some neat football there was plenty for the fans to enjoy.
Town were first to threaten when Loz Rawlings forced Moors keeper Danny Crane to punch away his 5th minute free kick, and they deservedly went ahead in the 16th minute with as soft a goal as they will score all season. A routine long pass was hoisted into Moors penalty area and when Crane and defender Micky Tuohy left it to each other to deal with Town striker Jozsef Jakab had the simple task of walking the ball into the empty net.
Town then settled down to control the rest of the first half and although the Moors are three leagues higher than Town it certainly did not appear so from the run of play. Up front Richard Adams looked sharp as did Ramone Stephens, who was with Shifnal Town last season and seems a ready made replacement for Jerome Grandison who featured - and scored - for Romulus against Racing Club Warwick on Saturday.
In midfield ex-Leamington man Craig Dutton caught the eye while in defence Gary Moran - who played under Micky Moore for Solihull Borough in the 2006/7 campaign - impressed at right back which was a problem position for Town all last season.
The Moors started to have the better of the possession after the interval and Town keeper Chris Jay did well to thwart Jason Moore when the Moors striker beat the offside trap on the hour mark, but Town were pretty sound at the back with Richard Munday particularly dominant in the air and Jay was generally well protected.
Both managers were now making substitutions - in all Town made six and Moors eight - with both the Faulds brothers coming on - Mark for Town and Peter for Moors - and the Moors eventually equalised in the 78th minute when Town failed to clear a left wing corner and big defender Theo Streete was able to head in from close range.
Shortly after James Knott, who was a Town regular under Dennis Mulholland two seasons ago, could have restored Town’s lead but he shot straight at Crane after Matt Gasper’s persistence had set up the chance, and then Jay kept the scores level with a good save going to his right to push away a long range Moors effort.
Overall this was a highly promising display from Town. Already the signs are that the squad will be stronger than last season, especially taking into account that the holidaying Jamie Petty and Micky Love were both missing for this match, and Town’s pre-season preparations now move on to Alveston on Thursday evening.
TOWN : Jay, Moran, Povey (Angus 86), Byrne (Mowl 61), Munday, Crawford, Stephens (Tilbury 71), Dutton, Jakab (Knott 55), Adams (Faulds 66), Rawlings (Gasper 61).
It's the opening goal for Telford after just 3 minutes as the Town defence are caught flat footed.
Mark Faulds is congratulated after scoring Town equaliser.
Nick Mowle 'gets to grips' with a Telford player in a midfield battle.
What will Rod say when he comes back. The Telford drummer has taken over his desk!
Its take two (Mark Faulds and Nick Mowle) to stop Telford.
Eyes on the ball.
