Match Reports - August 2007

Monday 27th August

ONLY A POINT AS

TOWN ARE HELD AT HOME

Stratford Town 1 Causeway United 1

Byrne 72 Jennings 75 (pen)

Causeway had been the last side to beat Town at their old Masons Road ground when winning there in February, and on Bank Holiday Monday they again proved to be frustrating opponents as they came away from Damson Park with a draw after a game which Town had controlled virtually throughout..

Mark Turner and Rory May were unavailable and so Micky Moore brought Gareth Alborough and Michael Crawford into the back four and moved Steve Ruck into midfield with Loz Rawlings partnering Jerome Grandison up front.

Causeway included striker Chris Busby who had a brief spell with Town under Dennis Mullholland’s managership.

The pattern of the game became apparent very early on. Town set out to dominate possession and Causeway’s response was to retreat in numbers and attempt to crowd Town out from deep inside their own half thereby denying the speedy Town front runners the time and space to use their pace to full advantage. It was soon clear that Town would miss the aerial presence of May and his ability to hold the ball up and lay it off under pressure as their efforts to create clear cut opportunities foundered against the resolution of the visitors’ skipper Barry Simpson and his defensive colleagues.

Causeway almost made Town pay for their eagerness to get forward in their first real sortie upfield when Mark Aston’s cross was headed only narrowly wide by Tom Jennings, but Grandison was particularly ready to shoot whenever possible and Town were firmly in control.

Grandison’s best effort occurred in the 20th minute when his shot went just the wrong side of the post with keeper Mark Millward beaten, while Ruck powered in a shot three minutes later which Millward could only hold at the second attempt.

Town were playing some neat football on the billiard Damson Park surface and Paddy Connolly was close to finishing off a good passing move when breaking into the penalty area on the half hour mark only to see his attempt miss the target by inches.

With the half drawing to a close Mark Faulda and Grandison again both went close but Causeway’s stifling tactics saw them to the break still on level terms.

Half Time - Stratford Town 0 Causeway United 0

Town seemed strangely hesitant in the early minutes of the second half, and Causeway enjoyed their best period of the game. In the 52nd minute a neat pass from Simpson put Busby through and Johnson was forced to save bravely at his feet, and shortly after Busby did the same for Jennings only for Johnson to parry his first effort and then see Jennings flash the rebound across goal with no other Causeway player near enough to apply the finishing touch.

Town’s best attempt was a 25 yard free kick from Ruck which was pushed over the bar by Millward who was then relieved to see another effort from Ruck flash the angle of post and bar.

As the game moved into its final quarter Town steadily regained the ascendancy, and the goal which their possession had merited arrived in the 72nd minute. A right wing corner was not cleared by the Causeway defence, the ball fell to Jack Byrne on the edge of the penalty area and he placed his shot wide of Millward’s right hand into the bottom corner.

Surely Town could now build on this advantage and go on to win the game, but only three minutes later a scrimmage in the Town penalty area ended with Johnson impeding Jennings and a spot kick was awarded. Jennings took it himself giving Johnson no chance and the visitors were back in the match.

Barely two minutes after that it could have been even worse for Town as substitute Mark Smith who had only just come on beat the offside trap to have a clear run on goal but he seemed to lack confidence and rolled the ball past the far post as Johnson came out to meet him

The remainder of the game was then played almost exclusively in the Causeway half as Town desperately sought a second goal to clinch the points. Munday had a header tipped over by Millward, Crawford and Grandison had shots blocked and numerous several centres flashed across the congested penalty area - if only May had been there - but somehow the visitors’ defence held out and Town had to make do with just one point.

The match threw up one curio for the statisticians as Micky Moore did not use any of his substitutes - when was the last time a Town manager did that ?

Town have a break from MFA action on Saturday when they visit Southam United in the Preliminary Round of the F A Cup. Southam have made a good start to the season in the Midland Combination Premier Division, and as this will be their first ever match in this famous old competition they will be very much “up for it”. Town will need to make sure that they are too.

TOWN : Johnson, Miller, Ruck, Faulds,, Munday, Alborough, Connolly, Byrne, Crawford, Rawlings, Grandison. Subs (All Not Used) - Robinson, Mowl, Wood, Pringle and Oakley

Town Yellow Cards - Byrne

Attendance - 112

Town Man of Match - Richard Munday - the introduction of this Robbie Savage look-a-like at Stapenhill significantly strengthened the centre of Town’s defence and he put in another solid performance on Monday. Strong in the tackle and effective in the air he is a more than useful addition to Micky Moore’s squad.

Match Stats :-

Town - GA 18 OT 9 HW 0 CW 9 FC 13 OS 3 YC 1 RC 0

Causeway - GA 6 OT 2 HW 0 CW 2 FC 12 OS 4 YC 0 RC 0

Saturday 25th August

TOWN GO BEHIND AGAIN

BEFORE SECURING

A COMFORTABLE WIN

Stapenhill 1 Stratford Town 3

Wczasek 28 May 68 & 84

Faulds 82

In the end Town were worthy winners against a modest Stapenhill side, but they made it more difficult than it need have been by again falling behind to a sloppy goal before decisively asserting their superiority in the second half.

Not surprisingly after the manner in which the three goals were conceded against Atherestone Micky Moore made sweeping changes to the defence. Only Kirk Miller of the back four retained his place with new signings Richard Munday and Mark Turner forming a new partnership in the centre and Steve Ruck reverting to left back Michael Crawford and Ian Wood were relegated to the subs bench and Ashley Pringle was omitted altogether, while Lawrence Rawlings came in to replace Ruck in midfield.

Town started strongly with Rory May catching the eye with some nice touches and in the 10th minute he all but put Jerome Grandison clear with a neat flick of his right boot only for keeper Richard Critchlow to be alert to the danger and come quickly out to gather.

With Town dominating possession Stapenhill were forced to drop deeper and deeper and to concentrate in crowding Town out whenever they got within shooting range. Against such a packed defence and on a bumpy pitch which made close control difficult Town struggled to create any really clear cut chance, and then fell behind to a sucker punch of a goal in the 28th minute.

Munday conceded a free kick on the halfway line from which Stapenhill made ground down the left and casual Town defending allowed Greg Smith to hoist a long cross into the six yard box. Nobody picked up Simon Wczasek making a run from midfield and with Craig Johnson rooted to his line he had a simple task to head his side into the lead.

This was to be the host’s only on-target effort of the whole 90 minutes.

Town returned to the attack but Stapenhill now had something to hold on to and with James McCarron having a fine game in the centre of their defence they managed to keep Town at bay for the remainder of the half.

Half Time - Stapenhill 1 Stratford Town 0

The early minutes of the second period again saw Town batter the Stapenhill defence. Turner had a chance from a Ruck free kick but couldn’t hit the target and a clever lob from Jack Byrne after a Town corner was touched onto the post by Critchlow before being hacked away.

Turner then had a header saved by Critchlow, but the keeper was well beaten in the 57th minute when Paddy Connolly rattled the crossbar with a trademark shot from the edge of the area.

Slowly but surely Town were now starting to open up the resolute home defence and on the hour mark the speedy Grandison made a good run into the penalty area only to choose to pass instead of shoot and the chance was gone. Barely a minute later another Grandison pass fell to May but the ball was taken off his toe by McCarron as he sought room for a shot.

Stapenhill were now beginning to tire under the relentless Town pressure and they eventually cracked in the 68th minute. Lawrence Rawlings got away down the inside right channel and having reached the byline played the ball across goal and May had an easy tap-in from 3 yards out.

Straight from the restart Town had a scare when Jon Jenkisson broke into the penalty area but he blazed well over the bar, and Town were soon on the attack once more. Mark Faulds had been getting well forward all game and in the 77th minute he got on the end of a Miller free kick only to direct his header straight at Critchlow, but he only had five minutes to wait for his first goal of the season.

Grandison out on the right played the ball inside to Connolly and he helped it on to Faulds who hit it low into the bottom corner from 12 yards out. At last Town were in front and Stapenhill were visibly deflated.

Two minutes later Town made the points safe due to some old fashioned centre forward determination from May. Chasing a hopeful Town clearance deep into the Stapenhill half he outmuscled McCarron to gain possession as the ball bounced before sidestepping a somewhat half-hearted challenge from Critchlow and rolling the ball into the empty net.

Town were now in total control and nearly had a fourth when Grandison headed a Ruck cross against the bar in the final minute of normal time.

Eventually then this was a well deserved win for Town. They were easily the better side and even though they again conceded a poor goal the introduction of Munday and Turner certainly gave the centre of defence a more solid look than hitherto this season.

TOWN : Johnson, Miller (Robinson 85), Ruck, Faulds,, Munday, Turner, Connolly, Byrne (Mowl 87), May, Rawlings (Alborough 70), Grandison. Subs Not Used - Crawford and Wood

Town Yellow Cards - Munday

Attendance - 85

Town Man of Match - Rory May - the big striker’s most effective game yet for Town He worked hard gain and keep possession on the ground and had a good battle with the Stapenhill defence whenever the ball was in the air

Match Stats :-

Town - GA 15 OT 4 HW 2 CW 12 FC 11 OS 0 YC 1 RC 0

Stapenhill - GA 4 OT 1 HW 0 CW 3 FC 11 OS 3 YC 1 RC 0

Saturday 18th August

Polymac Services Midland Football Alliance

SECOND HALF FIGHTBACK EARNS

A POINT FOR SPRITED TOWN

Stratford Town 3 Atherstone 3

Grandison 49 Dunkley 6

May 72, 86 Jones 20

Haynes 47

What a difference a week makes ! Last Saturday on an afternoon of unbroken sunshine at Barwell Town led 2 - 0 at half time , conceded a sloppy goal straight after the restart and eventually drew 2 - 2. This Saturday on an afternoon of relentless rain at Damson Park they were 2 - 0 down at half time, conceded an even worse goal straight after the restart to go 3 - 0 down and then somehow fought back to draw 3 - 3. Crazy stuff and a manager’s nightmare !

The team news centred on Jae Martin whose hand injury sustained against Sphinx on Wednesday - a finger broken in three places - could sideline him for the next few matches. Micky Moore’s solution to his absence was to introduce Ian Wood into the back four and move Steve Ruck into midfield, while Mark Faulds also came into midfield for his first appearance of the season in place of Nick Mowl who was at a wedding. Lawrence Rawlings had recovered sufficiently from his thigh strain to be included on the subs bench.

The match had added spice as Atherstone’s Assistant Manager this season is a certain Criag Woodley, while their squad includes ex-town players Luke Barlone, Nathan Jones and Peter Saunders (although Barlone was suspended on Saturday).

Town made a promising start and created a good chance in the very first minute. Kirk Miller hoisted a long cross over from the right which found Rory May on the far side but his first touch let him down and the ball squirted away for a goal kick.

On six minutes however Town were rocked when the visitors went ahead with their first real attack. Left back Dominic Reece fed Jones and his lobbed pass into the centre of Town’s penalty area found Roy Dunkley all alone six yards out. The Adders’ prolific seldom misses such opportunities and gave Craig Johnson no chance.

Town seemed to be in total disarray at the back and Dunkley could have completed a hat-trick in the next few minutes. First he got in a header from a corner which Johnson just got a hand to, and then he was inches wide with another header as Ashley Pringle and Michael Crawford left a cross to each other and Johnson stayed rooted to his line.

Town tried to respond with May wide with a header and Ruck testing Richard Williams with a shot low to the keeper’s right, before in the 20th minute the defence was found wanting again Jones was first to react to Jai Stanley’s powerful header from midfield and easily brushed aside Pringle and Wood to slot the ball past the advancing Johnson.

Things could only improve in the Town defence and gradually Pringle and Co began to get a grip on the Atherstone front runners, although Dunkley still looked sharp and forced Johnson to save at his feet in the 35th minute when again put through by Jones. But Town hinted of perhaps better to come as the half drew to a close when Ruck was put clear by May only to be narrowly offside and then a May header just cleared the bar.

Half Time - Stratford Town 0 Atherstone Town 2

Town needed a positive start to the second period to get back into the game, but instead fell further behind almost immediately with a goal which will haunt Johnson for some time to come. Clearing the ball from the right hand side of his area he hit it straight to Danny Haynes standing practically on the centre spot and seeing the keeper out of position Haynes thought that he would try his luck with an audacious lob towards the unguarded goal.

His luck was very much in. Johnson realised the danger and tried desperately to get back into position but having done so in attempting to guide the ball over the bar he only succeeded in palming it into the roof of the net.

Town were three down and surely there was no way back now, but within two minutes they regained at least a toehold in the game. Ruck worked the ball into Paddy Connolly on the edge of the penalty area and he in turn slipped it through to Jerome Grandison who had time and space to thump it past Williams from 12 yards out.

At last Town stated to exert some real pressure on the visitor’s defence, and were given an unexpected boost in the 65th minute when Atherstone substituted their two anger men Dunkley and Jones. Both had apparently taken knocks and after their withdrawal the visitors seldom featured as an attacking for the remainder of the game.

Realising the situation Micky Moore took off Wood leaving three at the back and replaced him with Rawlings whose pace and determination immediately gave the Town attack an added dimension. A Connolly header from a Ruck cross in the 70th minute was only just reached by Williams, and two minutes later Town got their second. As Atherstone retreated to the edge of their penalty area Rawlings, Faulds and Ruck all had efforts blocked before the ball broke to May who swivelled and a hit low right footer into the bottom corner of Williams’ net.

It was all Town now and Atherstone became increasingly rattled. A Ruck free kick was deflected for a corner and a Connolly strike from distance beat both Williams and the far post as Town desperately sought the equaliser.

It finally arrived in the 86th minute. A 30 yard effort from substitute Gareth Alborough was fumbled away for a corner by Williams and when the corner came across May made full use of his height to climb above the Atherstone defenders and bullet a header into the net.

Amazingly the visitors could have won the game in the dying minutes when Stanley laid on a chance for substitute Ryan Allmark but he miscued horribly and ballooned the ball well over, while at the other end Town appealed loudly for a penalty when Rawlings clearly had his shirt tugged by Reece but the referee played advantage instead and his run came to nothing.

So Town earned point that their second half efforts well merited, but clearly they must tighten up at the back if they are really to go places this season.

TOWN : Johnson, Miller, Ruck, Faulds,, Pringle, Crawford (Alborough 84), Connolly, Byrne, May, Wood (Rawlings 69), Grandison. Subs Not Used - Robinson, Kavanagh and Oakley

Town Yellow Cards - Ruck and Faulds

Attendance - 149

Town Man of Match - Paddy Connolly - a typical Paddy performance driving Town on throughout and never giving defeat a thought even when they went three behind..

Rod’s Stats :-

Town - GA 13 OT 7 HW0 CW 4 FC 11 OS3 YC2 RC0

Atherstone - GA 7 OT 4 HW0 CW 4 FC 14 OS6 YC3 RC0

STFC			OPPONENTS
Totals	Av. Per Game		Totals	Av. Per Game
36	12	Goal Attempts	27	9
19	6	On Target	12	4
0	0	Hit Woodwork	0	0
8	2.6	Corners Won	13	4.3
45	15	Fouls Conceded	48	16
9	3	Off Side	12	4
7	2.3	Yellow Cards	6	2
1	0.33	Red Cards	1	0.33

Wednesday 15th August

Polymac Services Midland Football Alliance

PLENTY OF FIRSTS FOR TOWN

AGAINST THE SPHINX

Stratford Town 3 Coventry Sphinx 1

Grandison 44 (pen) Owen 39

Byrne 63

Ruck 69

Town eventually ran out worthy winners against a gutsy Coventry Sphinx side on Wednesday evening and in doing so achieved a number of notable firsts. Apart from recording their first win of the new season it was also Town’s first win at their temporary Damson Park home and their first win under Micky Moore, while this match was the first meeting between the two Clubs at senior level.

In addition Jack Byrne and Steve Ruck both scored their first goals for the Club.

Micky Moore opted for continuity in team selection with the only change from Saturday being an enforced one due to Lawrence Rawlings being ruled out with a thigh strain. Rory May took his place in the starting line-up and Leon Thomas came onto the subs bench. Included in the Sphinx side were two ex-Town players, Craig Martin and Scott McGregor.

The pace of the game was lively from the start with Sphinx hustling and bustling in midfield and making sure that Town could not settle on the ball with any comfort. The first goal attempt came in the 4th minute when David Brennan beat Town’s offside trap and set up Craig Martin with a clear shooting chance which he blazed well over.

Sphinx were also willing to try their luck from distance whenever they had sight of goal. Adam Knibbs just wide with a 30 yard effort in the 15th minute and Kyle Rhodes then forced Craig Johnson to make a fine save low to his right five minutes later when he let fly with a rasping shot from a similar range.

Town’s main focus of attack at this stage was to try and set up May with an opportunity to use his height in the box. Paddy Connolly, Jae Martin and Jerome Grandison all provided crosses aimed at the tall striker without May being able to make sufficient contact to trouble Sphinx keeper Callum Harrison, and it was Grandison who gave Harrison his first real moment of anxiety on the half hour mark when he jinked past three defenders and put in a firm shot which the keeper could only gather at the second attempt.

However Sphinx were generally having the better of the exchanges with Criag Martin always looking for a chance and Mark Owen on the right causing problems with his speed and directness, and it was no more than they deserved when they took the lead in the 39th minute. Rob Stevenson cut in from the left and his low cross took a couple of deflections as Town tried desperately to clear. As the ball ran loose Owen reacted quickest and stabbed it past Johnson from five yards out.

Barely a minute later it nearly got worse for Town when an underhit back pass from Michael Crawford allowed Owen another opportunity but to Town’s relief he put his effort well over the bar.

But then with half time imminent Town were presented with an equaliser out of nothing. Harrison flattened Grandison when the pair went for a through ball and although the challenge was clumsy rather than malicious the referee immediately pointed to the spot. Grandison himself took the kick, blasting the ball past the keeper and so Town went into the break on level terms being perhaps fortunate to do so.

Half Time - Stratford Town 1 Coventry Sphinx 1

The pattern of play in the early minutes of the second half mirrored that of the first period with Sphinx continuing to work hard all over the pitch , but gradually they began to tire and Town started to gain control. They nevertheless had a let-off in the 58th minute when Johnson could not hold a fierce low shot from Jerome Murdock but no Sphinx player was close enough to take advantage.

Town lost Jae Martin a minute later when he fell awkwardly and broke a bone in his hand. Thomas came on but lasted only six minutes before taking a knock on his ankle and having come off himself.

By then however Town were in front. Ruck hoisted a Beckhamesque free kick from out on the right into the Sphinx penalty area, Connolly headed it back across goal and Byrne as on hand to apply the finish from close range.

Six minutes later Town made the game safe. A long pass from Connolly sent Grandison galloping down the right touchline, he easily beat Knibbs and whipped in a low cross which flashed across the Sphinx goal and Ruck overlapping from the left gave Harrison no chance with a crisp shot into the bottom corner.

Sphinx were now a beaten side although substitute Carl Hind tested Johnson with a header low to the keeper’s right in the 80th minute, but Town had clearly learnt from Saturday’s late equaliser and made sure that they kept possession in the critical areas of the field.

At full time they were well on top and had put in a solid performance against a side which could easily do rather well in the MFA this season.

TOWN : Johnson, Miller, Ruck, Mowl (Robinson 81), Pringle, Crawford, Connolly, Byrne, May, Martin (Thomas 59, Wood 65), Grandison. Subs Not Used - Faulds and Alborough

Town Yellow Cards - Ruck

Attendance - 143

Town Man of Match - Jerome Grandison - his pace and composure on the ball were a problem for Sphinx all evening, particularly in the second half, and the way in which he laid on the third goal was typical of his performance.

Rod’s Stats :-

Town - GA 11 OT 6 HW0 CW 0 FC 12 OS5 YC1 RC0

Sphinx - GA 13 OT 4 HW0 CW 5 FC 16 OS5 YC1 RC0

Saturday 11th August

Polymac Services Midland Football Alliance

TOWN DENIED BY BARWELL’S

LATE LATE EQUALISER

Barwell 2 Stratford Town 2

Charley 46 Grandison 8 & 23

Plummer 90 (+ 11)

After all the pre-season preparations the Micky Moore era at Town began for real at Barwell on Saturday when on a gloriously sunny afternoon Town conceded an equaliser deep into stoppage time and were denied an opening day win which their overall play just about deserved.

The team selected for this first MFA match of the new season was very much based on performances in the earlier friendlies and perhaps the only surprise was Craig Johnson being preferred in goal to last term’s regular No1 Mark Sheils. Rory May who has been trialling with Barnet was on the bench.

Town started brightly and thought they had taken the lead in only the 5th minute when a flowing move down the left involving Jack Byrne and Steve Ruck ended with Ruck’s cross being headed past Liam Castle by Paddy Connolly only for the effort to be ruled out for offside against Jae Martin.

However Barwell’s reprieve was to last for just three minutes as more good work down the left led to another teasing cross from Ruck and Jerome Grandison climbed above his marker to easily beat Castle and put Town one up.

Town were now giving the right hand side of the Barwell defence all sorts of problems and the lively Lawrence Rawlings could have put Town three up in the 16th minute when he skipped past a static Scott Clamp and closed in on goal. Choosing to go on his own he then blazed wastefully over when a better option might have been to slip the ball inside where Grandison and Martin were waiting.

With Barwell seldom seen as an attacking force Town’s second goal was not long in coming and was due to some quick thinking by Byrne. In the 23rd minute Town won a free kick halfway inside Barwell’s half and seeing Grandison making a run down the inside left channel Byrne neatly slipped the ball through the unprepared Barwell defence allowing Grandison to go clear on goal and finish clinically past Castle to double Town’s advantage.

And it could have got even better for Town as the remainder of the half continued in a similar pattern. Grandison was inches away from his hat-trick when he headed a long free kick from Rawlings narrowly over on the half hour mark, and then as half time loomed two more good chances came Town’s way.

First yet another Rawlings cross from the left was this time met by Martin whose header produced a sprawling save from Castle , and then in a rare foray down the right it was Martin who sent over a long cross which eluded everyone except Rawlings who stole in at the far post but was unable to direct his close range effort on target.

Half Time - Barwell 0 Stratford Town 2

Having bossed the first half Town made the worst possible to the second period by conceding a sloppy goal within a minute of the restart. The defence dithered when a routine pass played into the penalty area and when Ruck missed his clearance the ball was allowed to reach the unmarked Kevin Charley who made no mistake from eight yards out.

Not surprisingly this gift did wonders for Barwell’s morale and for the first time in the match they put Town under pressure, but although they dominated possession they failed to create a really clear cut chance and gradually Town got back into the match.

Byrne was always looking for a shooting opportunity, and on the hour mark he was responsible for Town’s first on target effort of the half when he let fly from fully 30 yards forcing Castle into a smart save low down to his left.

At the other end Johnson had to be alert to save from Jake Duffy, but the game now developed into a scrappy affair punctuated by a succession of free kicks and the referee seemed to add to the frustration of both teams by seldom applying advantage and allowing the play to flow.

Nevertheless Town appeared to be in control as the game entered what was to be a lengthy period of stoppage time, only for there to be two crucial moments still to come.

Firstly in the 8th added minute Michael Crawford and Peter Barry were involved in a scrimmage when challenging for the ball near the dead ball line and after a discussion between all three officials were both sent off. Then barely 90 seconds later Ashley Pringle was penalised for pushing when disputing a bouncing ball with Duffy just outside Town’s penalty area. Substitute Luke Plummer took the kick and bent it low round the wall into the bottom right hand corner of Johnson’s net to level the scores.

Town hardly had time to kick-off again before the referee at last blew the final whistle and two points had disappointedly slipped away. It is to be hoped that they are not seen as critical when the final count is made next April.

TOWN : Johnson, Miller, Ruck, Mowl, Pringle, Crawford, Connolly, Byrne, Rawlings (May 73), Martin (Wood 90),Grandison. Subs Not Used - Faulds, Alborough and Robinson

Town Yellow Cards - Ruck, Byrne, Rawlings and Martin

Town Red Cards - Crawford

Attendance - 134

Town Man of Match - Paddy Connolly - a typical all action display from this whole-heated midfielder who is now happily recovered from last season’s injury problems.

Rod’s Stats :-

Town - GA 12 OT 6 HW0 CW 4 FC 22 OS1 YC4 RC1

Barwell - GA 7 OT 4 HW0 CW 4 FC 18 OS1 YC2 RC1