Battling Bards boosted by Boxing Day bonus
Alvechurch 1, Stratford Town 2
DAYLIGHT robbery was how the stadium announcer summed up Stratford’s smash and grab raid at Lye Meadow and, while enjoying a return to winning ways, it would be hard for the travelling fans to disagree.
The Bards led at the break courtesy of an Owen James goal but lived a charmed life at times and it was little surprise when the home side, managed by former Town manager Tim Flowers, levelled early in the second period.
The game continued to be played out in Stratford’s half with their opponents having an effort cleared off the line and a penalty saved before the Bards scored with a penalty of their own in the 12th minute of added time.
The first half was an even affair with Bards’ caretaker boss Paul Davis opting for a back-four and Owen James as the sole striker with support from the attacking trio of Charlie Williams, Dan Lafferty and Jack Storer.
And they should have been ahead inside 90 seconds when a Fin Brennan corner found Lewis Ison unmarked at the far post only for him to head over the bar.
Their goal came on 19 minutes with Storer whipping in a ball from the left which James steered goalwards, making sure it had crossed the line after his initial effort had hit the post.
Bards keeper Jake Weaver was called on to make a decent save on 25 minutes to keep out a well-struck Callum Sullivan effort and he produced another fine stop ten minutes later to deny Krystian Pearce after Brad Stretton had hit the bar.
As half-time beckoned, Church had two more glorious chances. First Omari Sterling-Jones lifted the ball over Weaver only for Ison to provide the cover and clear and then, in added time, a Sterling-James free-kick cannoned off the woodwork.
The home side continued to dominate after the break with the lively Stretton weaving past three players only for his shot to be partially blocked by Ison with the ball then bobbling through to the keeper.
It was all-square on 52 minutes and Stretton was again involved with a low shot that could only be parried by Weaver and Shay Willock was on hand to turn in the rebound.
The Bards were struggling to get out of their own half but with Paul McCone and Ison impressing in the centre of defence and Josh Hawker outstanding in midfield, the home side were unable to turn their possession into chances.
That was until the 85th minute when a goalmouth scramble saw David Solademi beat Weaver with his shot only for the ball to be cleared off the line.
There was another let-off for the Bards in the sixth added minute when Willock was upended inside the area to earn Church a penalty. Joe Willis took it but the kick lacked power and Weaver, having dived the right way, was able to save.
Having been under the cosh for the entire second half, the Bards would have taken a draw but with 99 minutes on the clock, a high ball into the area had Church keeper Ronnie Hollingshead and his defence at sixes and sevens and when the ball broke for Owen James, he was hauled back by the shotstopper.
Referee Jamie Conde pointed to the spot, sent Hollingshead off and Town substitute Ash Sammons rifled in the resulting penalty on 112 minutes past stand-in keeper, defender David Solademi, to secure an unlikely victory.
Alvechurch (4-1-4-1): Hollingshead; Sephton, Pearce, Solademi, Crowther (Dyer 70); Perry; Stretton (Allen-Hadley 65), Sullivan (Richards 68), Willis, Sterling-James; Willock. Subs (not used): Wakefield, Barnett
Stratford (4-2-3-1): Weaver; Vann, Ison, McCone, Brennan; Hawker, Solanke (Sammons 68); Storer (Wilson 58), Lafferty, Williams (Bapanga 87); James. Subs (not used): Leeson, Clutterbuck
Referee: Jamie Conde
Attendance: 480
Opposition Star Man: David Solademi
Bards Star Man: Josh Hawker
