Ebanks penalty wraps up victory
Stratford Town 1,
Bishops Stortford 0
CARETAKER boss Paul Davis oversaw a second successive 1-0 win for Stratford Town as a first half Callum Ebanks penalty accounted for a Bishops Stortford side who had won their three games leading into their trip to the Arden Garages Stadium.
The head coach kept faith with the 3-4-2-1 formation successful at Hitchin Town the previous week with the only change being the selection of Will Bapaga on the right for his full debut in place of Harry Leeson, and the former Coventry City youngster put in an impressive display.
The Bards squandered a good chance to open the scoring after just ten minutes when Tom Solanke sent Ebanks through on goal, but his lob over the keeper also sailed wide of the target.
Four minutes later a low ball in from Bapaga just eluded the Stratford striker but he was to get his name on the scoresheet – the first time in six games – when he thundered a penalty straight down the middle of the goal after Dan Lafferty had been bundled over on 19 minutes.
It was no more than the home side deserved after dominating the opening stages but after Ebanks put another effort wide, the visitors had their best spell of the game just before the half-hour.
A fierce shot from James Collins was blocked by the excellent Josh Hawker and then, a minute later, Jack Roberts was left unguarded at the far post and his header forced a save from Jake Weaver at the foot of his post.
The Bards rallied towards the end of the half though and were unlucky not to double their advantage.
Firstly, some good build-up play saw Bapaga feed Fin Brennan but his shot was blocked by keeper Elliot Krasniqi and then, in the closing seconds of the half, Ebanks teed up Lafferty but his shot was cleared off the line.
Stratford’s central midfield pair of Hawker and Solanke were excellent throughout but it was the former’s defensive qualities that came to the fore in the second period along with another rock solid display from skipper and central defender Paul McCone as the visitors looked to claw their way back into the contest.
Rashawn Scott was causing problems down the left flank but the Hertfordshire outfit were unable to produce an effort of any note until deep into added time when the ball broke to substitute Charlie Castle who lashed a shot high over Weaver’s goal.
With Stortford seeing more of the ball, the Bards were reliant on catching their opponents on the break and Ebanks looked to have doubled his tally on the hour when he ran onto Lafferty’s through ball and lobbed the keeper only for the effort to be chalked out for offside.
There was one final opportunity for the forward when McCone lofted a ball over the visitors’ backline but Ebanks dallied and was beaten to the ball by keeper Krasniqi.
Stratford: Weaver, Vann, Brennan, Hawker, McCone, Solanke, Ison, Ebanks (Wilson 86), Lafferty, Bapaga (Storer 72), Hussey. Subs (not used): Clutterbuck, Williams, James
Bishop’s Stortford: Krasniqi, Dasilva, Warner-Eley, Oluwati-milehin (Evans 65), Thompson, Haines, Russell, Roberts (Ogwuazor 65), Akinbulumo (Amu 80), Scott, Collins (Castle 65). Sub (not used): Moutawafiq
Referee: Michael Pattison
Attendance: 567
Bards Star Man: Paul McCone
Opposition Star Man: Rashawn Scott
The Bards are back at the Arden Garages Stadium on Saturday when they play St Ives Town (ko 3pm) and then host West Bromwich Albion in the Birmingham Senior Cup on Tuesday (ko 7.45pm).
