Stratford faces nine fixtures in November

Stratford Town face a punishing run of fixtures in November as Paul Davis’s side looks to bounce back from their disappointing FA Trophy exit.

The Bards face nine games in just 28 days as they look to put right the wrongs of their 4-0 FA Trophy defeat at Anstey Nomads on Saturday.

With eight of those matches in the Southern League Premier Central, the month could prove pivotal to Stratford’s campaign.

Boss Davis said: “By the end of November, we could be in a really good position or not such a great one.

“It’s a massive period for us.”

Davis will be hoping the week’s break before Saturday’s home clash with Real Bedford allows some of his injured players to recover.

Forward Henry Landers limped off early at Anstey, and his absence was keenly felt. “Henry’s not great, to be honest,” Davis admitted.

“We missed him, but we’ve got good players who can come in. With nine games this month, there’s a chance for people to get minutes and make a claim.”

Rotation will be key as the Bards battle through their congested calendar

“I hear Premier League managers moaning about fixture congestion,” Davis said.

“But nine games in November really is bonkers. That said, most teams in the league are in the same boat. We’ve got to get on with it, rotate sensibly, and make sure we get results.”

The Bards were well below their recent standards in Leicestershire, bringing a frustrating end to what had otherwise been an encouraging run of form.

For Davis, who has seen his team play five times in the space of two weeks, fatigue and injuries are beginning to tell.

“You wouldn’t have thought that result was coming after Tuesday’s performance,” Davis admitted.

“We’ve had a really busy schedule with five games in two weeks and for four of those we’ve been excellent.

"But when you pick the same team week after week, people start to look tired, and some are struggling with knocks.

"That’s not an excuse, though. Anstey were better than us and full credit to them.”

The defeat means Stratford’s FA Trophy journey ends earlier than hoped, denying them a potential route to Wembley.

On a difficult pitch and in blustery conditions, Davis’s men struggled to create clear-cut chances.

“We just weren’t at it,” the manager said.

“I think we had one shot on target all game. It looked like we gave up a bit at the end, and that’s the most disappointing thing. But when you ask the same lads to go again and again, it catches up with you.”

Despite the setback, Davis remains upbeat about Stratford’s progress in recent weeks.

“We’ve made real strides,” he added. “We’ve been really good in the last few games and didn’t see that performance coming.

"We’ll regroup and look to get back on track.”

The schedule ahead offers little respite.

November promises to be one of the most demanding months in Stratford’s season, with Needham Market visiting on Tuesday night and Stourbridge also at the Arden Garage's Stadium next weekend.

The Bards then face two away games in the space of three days at Ruyston Town and Barwell respectively before successive home fixures against Leiston and Halesowen Town.

They concluded a manic month with a trip to Bury Town.

Davis knows that how his side navigates November could go a long way to defining the club's season.