Match Reports - october 2007
Saturday 27th October
TOWN WEAR DOWN TIPTON TO REMAIN LEAGUE LEADERS
Stratford Town 2 - May (pen) 54, Grandison 86
Tipton Town 0 -
.
Town deservedly got back to winning ways on Saturday with a resolute performance against a dogged Tipton side, although in a fairly dour game the points were not totally secure until the second goal went in four minutes from time.
After last week’s effort - or rather lack of it - at Market Drayton Micky Moore not surprisingly made some sweeping changes. Only Richard Robinson from the back four retained his place as Richard Munday and Steve Ruck went to the Subs bench while Gareth Alborough was omitted altogether, and in came Ashley Pringle, the veteran Terry Angus and Michael Crawford. In midfield Mark Faulds and Jerome Grandison joined Munday and Ruck on the bench and with Kirk Miller out due to injury there were starts for Lawrence Rawlings, Paddy Connolly - making his 150th appearance for the Club - and new signing Leigh Downing from Solihull Moors.
Given the number of changes Town took a little while to settle and it was Tipton who had the better of the early exchanges. In only the fifth minute they might have taken the lead when Dave Bate was allowed a free header from a Scott Stevenson free kick but fortunately for Town put his effort well over, and shortly after Stevenson tried a long range chip from out on the left which Craig Johnson was happy to tip over for a corner. The dangerous Nicky Campbell was then not far away when he tried his luck from 20 yards as the new look Town struggled to cope with the combative Tipton midfield and the pace of Stevenson and Calum Martin up front.
It was not until the fifteenth minute that Town seriously threatened Wes Cox’s goal when Rawlings played a corner short to Downing whose centre was met by Rory May only for his header to drift wide.
Nevertheless Town were getting more into the game and in the 21st minute could - and probably should - have gone in front. Jae Martin sent over a perfectly flighted ball from the right touchline to find May in space on the edge of the penalty area but the Big Man seemed to want one touch too many before shooting and Cox was quickly off his line to deflect his effort away for a corner.
The game was now developing into a rugged midfield battle with few chances being created, until on the half hour mark another Martin pass sent May through down the inside left channel but again Cox was able to come out to block.
Angus and Co were now looking in control at the back, but in the closing five minutes of the half Tipton nearly scored twice. Firstly Stevenson played Campbell in down the left and his low centre flew all the way across goal to right back Danny Bragoli whose fiercely struck shot rebounded to safety off Crawford, and then a Campbell effort from the right was deflected just past the far post with Johnson scrambling across his line to cover.
Half Time - Stratford Town 0 Tipton Town 0
Town made a bright start to the second period with Rawlings in particular causing the Tipton defence all sorts of problems with his pace and determination on the left and after nine minutes of the half the deadlock was finally broken. May picked up the ball on the left touchline and with his expert close control wriggled between two defenders and into the penalty area before shooting across goal. His effort looked to be going wide of the far post but it hit Tim Johnson’s hand and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. The Tipton protests were vehement but in vain and May calmly placed his penalty beyond Cox for his 12th MFA goal of the season.
However the goal did little to open the game up and the midfield slog resumed in earnest. Tipton tried hard but under Angus’ guidance the Town defence was generally looking secure and Johnson’s handling was increasingly confident.
Micky Moore introduced Grandison with just under 20 minutes remaining and he immediately gave Town an extra attacking dimension with his speed on the break, but Town had a scare in the 78th minute when a slick move between Martin and Campbell led to Tim Johnson having a clear shooting chance from six yards out but Craig Johnson kept Town in front saving bravely at his feet.
Two minutes later Tipton substitute Chris Turner shot wildly over after Town had struggled to clear a left wing cross from Brett Love, but with four minutes left Town settled the game with their second goal. May hit a precise ball through the static Tipton defence for Rawlings to run on to and he coolly drew Cox before slipping a pass inside for Grandison to stab home from close range.
After the two losses at Coalville and Market Drayton it was vital for Town to get back on track with a win and this they did with a gritty display against battling Tipton and hard working opponents.. It was not spectacular but it was solid and that is what will be needed in the months to come.
TOWN : Johnson, Robinson, Crawford, Byrne, Pringle (Faulds 86), Angus,, Downing, Connolly (Wood 89), May, Martin (Grandison 72),Rawlings. Subs Not Used - Munday and Ruck
TIPTON : Cox, Bragoli, Love, Smith, Harris, Johnson (Turner 80), Hamilton, Bate, Martin, Campbell, Stevenson. Subs Not Used - Douglin, Lane, Cutler and Watson (GK).
Town Yellow Cards - None
Tipton Yellow Cards - Bragoli and Johnson
Attendance - 98
Town Man of Match - Terry Angus - his experience was vital in bringing stability to the Town backline and ensuring a welcome clean sheet after the defensive lapses of recent games.
Match Stats :
Town - GA 8 OT 5 HW 0 CW 5 FC 15 OS 3 YC 0 RC 0
Tipton - GA 13 OT 4 HW 0 CW 9 FC 10 OS 1 YC 2 RC 0
Saturday 20th October
WOEFUL TOWN ARE SOUNDLY BEATEN AT MARKET DRAYTON
Market Drayton Town 4 Stratford Town 0
Ellis 15
Anslow 66
Davies 75 & 90 (pen)
Taking Racing Club Warwick as a form guide Market Drayton went into this match as clear favourites having walloped the Racers 5 - 1 last Saturday whereas Town had struggled to beat their near neighbours 2 - 0 the previous weekend and the form duly worked out, although Town contributed hugely to the result with a totally insipid performance and hardly mustered a worthwhile attempt on goal all afternoon.
After the defeat at Coalville team changes were inevitable, and Micky Moore replaced both full backs. Richard Robinson moved from midfield to take the right back slot instead of Adam Overton whilst Steve Ruck took over from Michael Crawford on the left. Jack Byrne came into Robinson’s position in midfield, and Craig Johnson took over from the holidaying Mark Sheils in goal. On the subs bench Paddy Connolly made a welcome return to action after missing the last eight matches.
Both sides made a tentative start on the cramped Greenfields pitch, but Johnson had to be alert in the 4th minute coming smartly off his line to smother at Tom Rogers’ feet after a neat flick-on by David Howells. At the other end Rory May gave Jerome Grandison an opening down the right but Gary Anslow was quick to snuff out the danger, and as the game settled down Drayton began to look the most threatening.
Stuart Ellis was proving troublesome on the left with one of his crosses resulting in a wholesale scramble in the six yard box and another reaching the tall Steve McCormick only for it to bounce off him into Johnson’s arms before Drayton took the lead that they just about deserved in the 15th minute. Town failed to deal with a right wing corner and when Tim Allen returned the ball into the box Joihnson’s weak punch went only as far as Ellis who shot low and hard into the bottom corner.
Spurred on by being in front Drayton started to dominate with the experienced Duncan Horler beavering away to good effect in midfield whilst at the back the two Pauls - McMullen and Bowyer - were hardly letting Town danger man May have a meaningful kick.
By the half hour mark Town had barely troubled Drayton keeper, Andy Pryce, but the predatory May almost put Town level in the 32nd minute when he beat Pryce to a Ruck free kick only for his header to go wide of the post.
Drayton responded with a heading chance of their own when Horler took advantage of some sloppy Town work in midfield to go on a run down the inside right channel and put over a cross for McCormick which the striker put well wide when he really should have done better.
With half time approaching Town tried to raise their game and Byrne was not far away with a snap shot from 20 yards after receiving a throw-in from Ruck, but on the overall balance of play Town could hardly complain at being behind going in for the break.
Half Time - Market Drayton Town 1 Stratford Town 0
Given how ineffective Town had been for most of the first half Micky Moore made changes for the restart. Robinson was taken off allowing Kirk Miller to drop to right back with Lawrence Rawlings coming in up front on the left, and the change had an instant impact as Rawlings was soon troubling the Drayton defence with his pace and determination. After just two minutes Pryce fumbled a firmly struck Rawlings shot and when the ball was hacked clear to Byrne 30 yards out his first time effort was only held by the recovering Pryce at the second attempt..
Town were now enjoying their best spell of the game and an equaliser began to appear likely. Rawlings was the focus of their attacks and from a cross of his on the hour mark Town had a good shout for a penalty when May seemed to be impeded by McMullen but the referee was unmoved.
Then just when the game looked to be going Town’s way they conceded a second goal. Drayton were awarded a free kick on the edge of Town’s penalty area and when it was hit into the defensive wall it rebounded out to Horler. He chipped into the left side of the area for Ellis to run on to and as Johnson hesitated Ellis reached the byline and crossed low for Anslow to slot home from six yards out.
Micky Moore immediately sent on Ashley Pringle for the out-of-touch Jae Martin, and his first touch almost reduced the deficit as May played him in and his shot beat both Pryce and the left hand post.
However Drayton were in no mood to let the points slip away, and made them safe in the 75th minute. A forcing run down the left by Rogers won a corner which was hit low into the six yard box. Johnson did well to block substitute Davies’ first effort but Davies made no mistake with the rebound lashing it into the roof of the net.
Fellow sub Nicky Porter forced another save from Johnson when he tried his luck from distance, while Connolly - coming on with just eight minutes to go and being unluckily booked for his very first tackle - brought a sprawling save from Pryce after latching on to a quickly taken Miller free kick.
Town were now just hoping for the final whistle but in the last minute Drayton extended their lead with a fourth goal from the penalty spot. Davies chased a long ball from Anslow into the right hand side of the area and Johnson’s rash challenge made the referee’s decision inevitable. Davies took it himself making no mistake.
Coming on top of last week’s disappointment at Coalville this was a desperately limp effort from Town. They were second best in virtually every aspect of the game against a side which were workmanlike and organised but really no more than that. They seemed to bear no relation to the team which outclassed Friar Lane only three weeks ago, and worryingly have now conceded 24 goals in 14 MFA games while in 5 of those games 3 or more goals have gone in. Clearly that is just one issue that needs to be addressed if success is really to come Town‘s way this season.
TOWN : Johnson, Robinson (Rawlings 46), Ruck, Miller, Munday , Alborough, Grandison,, Faulds (Connolly 82), May, Martin (Pringle 68), Byrne. Subs Not Used - Mowl and Wood
MKT DRAYTON : Pryce, Cartwright, Anslow, McMullen, Bowyer, Allen, Howells, Horler (Francis 82), McCormick (Davies 70), Rogers, Ellis (Porter 68). Subs Not Used - Timmis and Biddle.
Town Yellow Cards - Connolly
Mkt Drayton Yellow Cards - None
Attendance - 72
Town Man of Match - Lawrence Rawlings - only on for the second half but his determination down the left flank looked to getting Town back into the game until the two late goals put the result beyond doubt.
Match Stats :
Town - GA 7 OT 3 HW 0 CW 5 FC 8 OS 3 YC 1 RC 0
Mkt Drayton - GA 10 OT 7 HW 0 CW 7 FC 14 OS 4 YC 0 RC 0
Saturday 13th October
IT’S UNLUCKY THIRTEEN FOR TOWN AT COALVILLE
Coalville Town 3 Stratford Town 2
Dodd 66 Faulds 35
Swan 78 (pen) May 47
Johnsonl 85
After the shortlived distraction of the Birmingham Senior Cup at Redditch on Tuesday evening Town returned to the action that really matters in the MFA on Saturday, but were disappointingly outfought in the second half by a resolute Coalville side and lost their unbeaten League record in their thirteenth match.
Micky Moore’s team selection reverted to the basis of the side which had secured wins against Friar Lane and Racing Club in the previous two matches but with Michael Crawford replacing Steve Ruck at left back and with Jae Martin and Richard Robinson coming in for Jack Byrne and Lawrence /Rawlings in midfield. There was also a place on the subs bench for Nick Mowl instead of Ashley Pringle.
The early action saw Jerome Grandison set off on a promising run down the right after good work by Rory May and Richard Robinson before eventually losing out to Nathan Thompson, and then Robinson played May in for a shot but the angle was tight and his effort went wide.
At the other end Richard Munday and Gareth Alborough were being tested by the pacy Michael Swan and the more physical Jermaine Gordon, and with Craig Patterson impressing in midfield for the hosts Town soon realised that they had a real contest on their hands.
Town’s first attempt on target came in the 16th minute when Grandison and the busy Mark Faulds combined to set up a chance for Robinson but keeper Danny Hanley saved well low to his left and the next two opportunities fell to Coalville. In the 19th minute Rob Johnson got away down the right but his shot went harmlessly across goal, and three minutes Swan did well to control a long ball from Andy Crabtree and jink inside Alborough but his firmly struck effort was comfortably held by the well positioned Mark Sheils.
As the first half progressed Town started to look the better side, and could have gone ahead on the half hour mark when a pinpoint cross from Adam Overton on the right found May but the Big Man headed tamely over. A similar effort two minutes from another Overton cross was palmed away by Hanley before Town took the lead in the 35th minute. Jae Martin threaded a pass through to Robinson down the inside right channel and he got to the byline before sending over a low cross which fellow midfielder Faulds reached before Hanley and two defenders to force it home.
Town were now on top and Faulds was close to a second goal in the 40th minute when a long cross from Robinson out on the right touchline was headed back by May and Hanley just got enough hand on it to deflect it out of the midfielder’s reach.
Half Time - Coalville Town 0 Stratford Town 1
Town came out for the second half looking to maintain control, and they doubled their advantage after only two minutes with a quality goal from May - his 11th in the MFA this season. Receiving a through ball from Martin he accelerated into the penalty area and slipped his way between Lee Tatton and Ashley Brown before flicking the ball past Hanley with the outside of his right boot.
Coalville were now in some disarray and May could have put the game well and truly beyond them just two minutes later when he latched onto a Grandison pass only for his first touch to be too heavy which allowed Hanley to come out and save with his feet. Then in the 57th minute he was released down the right by another Martin pass but with Grandison waiting in the middle his centre was too close to Hanley who gathered easily.
However several times this season Town have looked at their most vulnerable when holding a two goal lead and in the 66th minute they were guilty of a lack of concentration as Coalville pulled a goal back out of nothing. Left back Thompson sent over a routine cross which found substitute Lewis Dodd unmarked six yards out and he neatly directed a looping header beyond Sheils
Town attempted to hit back and Faulds forced a smart save out of Hanley when he picked a loose ball on the edge of the penalty area and sent in a fierce right footer, but the momentum was now with Coalville and after having a penalty claim turned down five minutes earlier they drew level from the spot in the 78th minute. Dodd chased a pass into the left side of the penalty area when he was tripped by Overton and Swan made no mistake with a well placed strike to Sheils’ left.
Town were now hanging on as a game they had looked like winning comfortably slipped away, and Coalville’s inevitable third goal came with five minutes of normal time remaining with Town‘s concentration once more found wanting. Coalville won a corner on the right and played it short to Johnson lurking on the edge of the penalty area. Unmarked and with Town slow to close him down he was able to hit a rasping left footer through the crowd of defenders and well beyond Sheils‘ right hand into the far corner.
In the time remaining Town sought desperately to keep their unbeaten record intact. Jack Byrne had an effort from 20 yards well held by Hanley, May made a run into the area only to be crowded out by a combination of Hanley, Thompson and Crabtree, and when Hanley palmed away a last minute free kick the game was over.
No team ever wins every time and sooner or later Town were bound to lose. The real disappointment is that at 2 - 0 up Town should have had this game in safe keeping but allowed themselves to be out battled by a team that were resolute but no more.. The crucial test will be to see how they react to this setback as their next opponents are Market Drayton and it will be no easy ride there either.
TOWN : Sheils, Miller, Crawford (Grigg 89), Overton (Byrne 81), Munday (Wood 67), Alborough, Grandison,, Faulds, May, Martin, Robinson. Subs Not Used - Mowl and Johnson (GK)
COALVILLE : Hanley, Brown, Thompson, Patterson, Tatton, Crabtree, Johnson, Smith (Dodd 50), Swan, Gordon (Carl Lawrence 81), Russell. Subs Not Used - Orton, Jarvis & Callum Lawrence.
Town Yellow Cards - None
Coalville Yellow Cards - None
Attendance - 157
Town Man of Match - Mark Faulds - gave his usual wholehearted performance in midfield and was in the right place at the right time when he put Town in front in the first half.
Match Stats :
Town - GA 13 OT 7 HW 0 CW 8 FC 12 OS 2 YC0 RC 0
Coalville - GA 12 OT 5 HW 0 CW 6 FC 11 OS 2 YC 0 RC 0
Tuesday 9th October
HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF AT THE VALLEY
Redditch United 5 Stratford Town
Murphy 68 & 68
Forinton 73
Johnson 80 & 90
For the second year running Town exited the Birmingham Senior Cup at Redditch’s Valley Stadium, and as twelve months ago the scoreline was nowhere near a true reflection of how the game was played. For well over an hour Town more than matched the home side - who play three grades higher than Town in Blue Square North - and in the end the margin of victory was more down to superior fitness than anything else.
Micky Moore had indicated after the Warwick game on Saturday that he would use this match as an opportunity to provide a number of his squad members who, for various reasons, had not featured in recent matches with a chance to impress, and he duly did an “Alex Ferguson “ by making no less than ten changes from Saturday’s starting line-up. Only Lawrence Rawlings remained from the Warwick starters, and it was particularly pleasing to see Nic Oakley - who had been injured after only two minutes against Southam in his only previous Town appearance - and Leon Thomas - who had lasted for just six minutes against Coventry Sphinx - both play the full 90 minutes here.
By contrast the Reds team contained ten players who had appeared at Workington on Saturday with the only change being Richard Anstiss in goal - he had been playing for Studley in the Vase on Saturday instead !!
Even with their much revamped side Town were quicker into their stride than the Reds with Will Grigg prominent in the early skirmishes, and he almost put Town in front in the 8th minute. Skipper for the evening, Jae Martin, headed a long clearance onto him down the inside right channel and he cut into the penalty area to shoot right footed only for Anstiss to get down well low to his right and pushed the ball past the post.
Redditch responded with a header from their towering defender Exodus Geuhaghon which was not far away, and a shot from Richard Ball which was blocked at close range by Craig Johnson.
Much of the game was being fought out in midfield, but Town had two opportunities as the half hour mark approached. Firstly Richard Robinson made a smart interception to send Grigg free down the right touchline and his cross was met by Rawlings whose effort was deflected away for a corner, and then the quick thinking Grigg dispossessed Richard Softley to go clear on goal only to overhit the ball and allow Anstiss to smother it at his feet.
At the other end the Reds best chance came with five minutes to go to half time. Jai Stanley hit a long ball down the right to Howard Forinton who laid it back for Ball on the edge of the area but he hit his shot well wide of Johnson’s right hand post.
Half Time - Redditch United 0 Stratford Town 0
Town had to make an enforced substitution at the break as the unfortunate Rawlings had picked a groin strain which may keep him out for 2 or 3 weeks. Jerome Grandison came on in his place and he soon made his presence felt with a typically forceful run down the left which required Anstiss to come out and kick clear.
Anstiss was called into action again in the 56th minute to deal with a header from Ashley Pringle after a right wing corner, and shortly after when an astute Grandison pass sent Thomas away down the right his low cross was bravely collected by Anstiss as Grigg closed in.
Nevertheless there were now signs that Redditch were looking stronger, and on the hour mark Town had a fortunate escape when a header from Ball after a left wing cross hit Ian Wood and bounced just wide of the left hand post with Johnson wrong footed.
Although Town were still resolutely hanging on the match was decided with two goals amazingly within 30 seconds of each other in the 68th minute. Firstly a long cross from the right was headed back by Ball to the unmarked Chris Murphy just outside the penalty area and his crisp right footer gave Johnson little chance, and when Town carelessly lost possession straight from the following kick-off Murphy exchanged passes with Forinton before finishing clinically from close range.
It was all Redditch after that as their fitness and strength began to tell. Ball had a shot from distance held by Johnson before Forinton hit the goal of the evening in the 73rd minute with his rocket from 25 yards screaming into the top corner giving Johnson not a hope.
It was now damage limitation for Town, and they conceded two further goals in the final ten minutes to substitute James Johnson, the first a close range tap-in after being set up by Ball and then a powerful header from a long cross from fellow substitute Simon Hollis.
On paper this was a disappointing result but in truth there were plenty of encouraging individual performances which shows the depth of the current Town squad. The MFA is the main focus for the season, and that battle resumes at Coalville on Saturday.
TOWN : Johnson, Oakley, Crawford, Mowl, Pringle, Wood, Thomas, Robinson (Miller 84), Grigg, Martin, Rawlings (Grandison 46). Subs Not Used - Ruck, Faulds and Overton
REDDITCH : Anstiss, Stanley, Whitcombe, Rea (Walker 51), Geohaghan, Softley, Murphy, Downes (Hollis 46), Ball, Edwards (Johnson 75), Forinton.. Subs Not Used - Markman and Lewis (GK).
Town Yellow Cards - Pringle
Redditch Yellow Cards - Whitcombe
Attendance - 127
Town Man of Match - Will Grigg - on his sixth Town appearance the 16 year old played the full 90 minutes for the first time and in the first half especially was a real handful for the Redditch defence. He has pace, a real eye for goal and a willingness to keep battling away - he surely has a bright future ahead of him in the game.
Match Stats :
Town - GA 6 OT 1 HW 0 CW 6 FC 13 OS 3 YC1 RC 0
Redditch - GA 13 OT 5 HW 0 CW 6 FC 14 OS 3 YC1 RC 0
Saturday 6th October
TOWN MAKE IT FOUR LEAGUE WINS IN A ROW - BUT WHAT A STRUGGLE
Stratford Town 2 Racing Club Warwick 0
May 71
Grigg 90
If it is the mark of a good team to play badly and still win then Town are definitely a good team as they gave their poorest performance of the season so far against their near neighbours on Saturday yet still collected all three points.
Not surprisingly after their win at Friar Lane last week Micky Moore selected an unchanged team for the visit of Racing Club, whilst the Racers included four ex-Town players in their starting line-up - including Dan Hicks on loan from Evesham - plus two more on the subs bench.
The Racers were quicker into their stride, and it was Hicks playing in a unfamiliar midfield role who had the first shot on goal in the third minute but his effort from the edge of the penalty area was well over. Another former Town man, Jay Holtom, was much closer barely a minute later with a 20 yarder, and as the visitors continued to have the better of the early exchanges Terry Carpenter beat Town keeper Mark Sheils to a long pass only for the ball to run out of play and then Ryan Howell - also ex-Town - hit his shot straight at Sheils from close in.
Both Rory May and Lawrence Rawlings had chances for Town, but the game was already developing into a scrappy affair with passes going astray and neither side playing with any fluency. Gareth Plant was gifted a good chance in the 21st minute after a misunderstanding between Kirk Miller and Richard Munday in dealing with a long clearance from Racers keeper Paul Dipple but put his shot past the post, while for Town Jerome Grandison hooked an effort just over five minutes later when the Racers defence struggled to clear a corner.
Considering that going into this game Town were the highest scores in the MFA this season and the Racers had the worst defence Town were making extremely heavy weather of it, and it was not until the 36th minute that they created their first really clear cut chance. Adam Overton capitalized on some sloppy play by left back Lee Hunt to send over a long cross from the right only for May to head over from barely six yards out - a tame effort which would not have impressed the watching Cambridge United scout.
The nearest that either side came to a goal as an eminently forgettable first half drew to a close came in the 41st minute when the Town defence had difficulty in clearing a cross from Plant and the loose ball fell to Hunt who hit his shot into the side netting.
Half Time - Stratford Town 0 Racing Club Warwick 0
It was not hard to imagine the content of Micky Moore’s half time talk and certainly Town looked shaper on the restart. May had a first time effort from distance go wide, persistence by Overton down the right earned a corner which Dipple was happy to palm behind for another corner, and when Martin Hutchcox fouled Jack Byrne 10 yards outside the penalty area Gareth Alborough hit his free kick straight at the wall and Rawlings’ effort from the rebound was charged down.
However it was not all Town. Howell beat Sheils to another long ball into the penalty area only for it to go wide and as the hour mark approached Matt Blair - son of Andy and the Racers Youth team captain last season - showed neat ball control when dribbling across the edge of the area and laying the ball off to Plant whose effort was comfortably held by Sheils.
With the game now entering its final 30 minutes Micky Moore decided to ring the changes and on came Jae Martin and Will Grigg for Overton and Rawlings. Town were now looking the stronger side and May wasted another good heading chance from a Munday cross in the 65th minute before Grandison put a curling effort from the edge of the area past the post shortly after.
Eventually a goal had to come and when it arrived in the 71st minute it was created by two of the youngest players on the park. Byrne hit a long pass from midfield out to the left where Grigg jinked inside full back Neil Austin and crossed to May lurking at the far post. The Big Man’s first touch was not the greatest but Dipple hesitated and May’s second touch forced the ball over the line.
The Racers tried to respond immediately and Town were fortunate when a low shot from the impressive Blair was deflected away with the defence in some disarray after a corner, and then with 10 minutes to go Blair had an opportunity from a Plant cross but put his header straight at a relieved Sheils.
With time ticking away May could have settled the game in the 88th minute when Martin picked him out with a superb cross from the left but he went for placement rather than power and his shot was pushed away by Dipple’s outstretched foot.
Instead it was 16 year old Grigg who wrapped it up for Town as stoppage time loomed. Grandison threaded a pass through to him down the inside right channel and with the offside flag staying down Grigg ran on into the penalty area and coolly slipped the ball across Dipple into the far corner as the keeper came out to challenge.
So Town got the result that the League table said that they should have got, but it was a real struggle and probably the only positive thing to come out of the game was that Town picked another three points. At the end of the season that will be all that really matters.
TOWN : Sheils, Miller, Ruck, Overton (Martin 63), Munday (Wood 90), Alborough, Grandison,, Faulds, May, Byrne, Rawlings (Grigg 63). Subs Not Used - Pringle and Johnson (GK)
R C WARWICK : Dipple, Austin (Eastall 79), Hunt (Robbins 87) , Hutchcox, Bailey, Hicks, Plant, Holtom, Howell, Carpenter, Blair. Subs Not Used - Gardiner, Taylor and Stacey.
Town Yellow Cards - None
R C Warwick Yellow Cards - None
Attendance - 157
Town Man of Match - Gareth Alborough - not many Town players showed their true form in a disjointed effort but Alborough was an exception giving his normal solid and dependable display in the centre of the Town defence..
Match Stats :
Town - GA 14 OT 8 HW 0 CW 9 FC 8 OS 4 YC0 RC 0
R C Warwick - GA 12 OT 5 HW 0 CW 3 FC 10 OS 6 YC 0 RC
