Baggies scupper Town’s remaining cup hopes

Stratford Town 2, West Bromwich Albion 4

THERE will be no cup runs for the Bards this season after they crashed out of their last remaining competition - the Birmingham Senior Cup - at the hands of a young West Brom side.

Head coach Paul Davis began with an experimental line-up that saw Callum Ebanks left on the bench and Jack Storer as the sole striker. And there were also changes at the back with Lewis Wilson and Harry Leeson partnering Dan Van in a back three while defensive regulars Paul McCone and Chris Hussey were among the substitutes.

The visitors included a number of first team squad members in their starting line-up and it was one of these, Harry Whitwell, who opened the scoring after ten minutes, latching onto a loose Will Bapaga pass before rounding keeper Jake Weaver and firing into the empty net.

Storer drilled an effort wide at the other end before the Baggies doubled their lead midway through the half when Eseosa Sule out-paced last man Wilson before once again calmly taking the ball past Weaver to slot home.

The scoreline was harsh on the Bards who carried a threat going forward only to be let down by some sloppy passing and poor defending.

The lead was halved on 32 minutes when the visitors proved to be just as wayward with the ball allowing Lewis Ison to break and pull the ball back for Dan Lafferty to fire home.

Albion’s response was instant though with Sule again getting the better of Wilson and this time lashing his shot high into the roof of the net.

There were ample more chances as both teams struggled to defend. Whitwell had an effort pushed over the bar by Weaver while defender Josh Shaw put a header wide. As for the Bards, Owen James whipped in a cross that eluded his teammates before Tom Solanke scored his first of the season on 43 minutes with a fine curling effort following good work from Bapaga.

Davis made changes at the break with Storer making way for Ebanks while Leeson and Bapaga were replaced by Hussey and McCone who slotted into the back line alongside Vann. But while this certainly shored up the defence, chances dried up at the other end.

Lafferty played Ebanks in on goal just after the hour only for the striker to direct his effort straight into the body of keeper Joe Wallis. It was Ebanks who had Stratford’s only other chance of the half deep in added time following a scramble in the wake of a well-placed Hussey corner.

The Baggies used their full quota of substitutes and two of these caused problems in the closing stages. Miller McDonald forced a good save from Weaver on 84 minutes, moments before Akeel Higgins drilled an effort over the bar.

And it was Higgins who finally wrapped things up on 86 minutes, steering an effort home after being picked out by fellow replacement Adriel Walker.

Stratford (3-2-4-1): Weaver; Leeson (McCone 46), Vann, Wilson; Solanke, Hawker; Bapaga (Hussey 46), Ison (Brennan 79), Lafferty, Owen; Storer (Ebanks 46). Subs (not used): Clutterbuck

West Brom (4-1-2-3): Wallis; Nelson (Walker 79), Hall, Shaw; Mfuamba (Richards 45 (McDonald 68)), Stewart (Higgins 68); Williams, Whitwell (Kirton 79), Humphries; Sule.

Referee: Lewis Smith

Attendance: 187

Bards Star Man: Tom Solanke

Opposition Star Man: Deago Nelson