Honours even but lead maintained

STRATFORD Town maintained their 16-point lead at the top of the Baker Joiner Midland Alliance after a 1-1 draw at Rocester on Saturday.

Nearest rivals Stourport Swifts and Loughborough University were both held to a draw, with only Gornal Athletic of the chasing pack picking up three points in a 1-0 win at Alvechurch.

Town trailed 1-0 at half-time after Jack Langston converted a 38th minute penalty for the Romans who had the better of the first-half.

But after Town manager Carl Adams brought on second-half substitutes Mark Faulds and Aaron Forde his side produced a much better display and equalised on the hour-mark through striker Tyrone Fagan.

Stratford had further chances to go on and win the game but Adams was happy with the point. "It was a classic example of a game of two halves,” he said. 

“We couldn’t get going at all in the first-half, and there is no doubt that the half-time substitutions changed the game. In the second-half we were a lot more solid in the vital midfield area, and we had the chances to go on and win. 

"But Rocester is always a tough place to go to, so we’ll take the point."

On Tuesday, Town travel to Stourport in a top-of-the-table clash while Gornal host lowly Coleshill Town who held Loughborough to a 0-0 draw on Saturday.

Wednesday sees Loughborough travel to bottom club Ellesmere Rangers. All games kick off at 7.45pm.