FC Stratford warned to take nothing for granted at basement side
FOOTBALL
DAVE Poulson stressed FC Stratford must guard against any complacency as they look to extend their winning start to the season to nine matches when they visit basement side Castle Vale Town this weekend.
After producing back-to-back cup upsets against teams two levels higher, Stratford return to Midland League Division Three action on Saturday with a trip to winless Castle Vale.
Stratford have already beaten Castle Vale in the Challenge Vase – but only by a single goal last month– and manager Poulson warned they cannot be underestimated.
“We’ve got to be wary,” said Poulson. “People will say Castle Vale are bottom of the table and it’s a guaranteed three points but football’s not that simple.
“We know it’s going to be difficult – they stopped us playing when we met in the cup and that’s another part of football. We have to adapt and work out how to win.”
Poulson admits he has plenty of options after making five changes to the line-up for last weekend’s Birmingham Vase win against Gornal Athletic and being impressed with how they responded to falling goal behind to win 6-1.
But with Stratford also having a midweek game next Tuesday – Bewdley Town, of the West Midlands Premier, visit the MoodChimp for a Smedley Crooke Memorial Cup clash – Poulson will again utilise all his options from within the squad.
Striker Dylan Parker, rested last weekend after his goal exploits with record-breaking Stratford Town youth, will be back in contention on Saturday.
Parker netted seven for the Town Under-18s in their biggest ever win in the Midland Floodlit Youth League, crushing Redditch United 14-0 last Thursday, and the teenage hot-shot had bagged 25 goals in 13 appearances for FC Stratford and Town youth.