Late pressure fails to reward Stratford

Needham Market 1 Stratford Town 0

STRATFORD Town returned from league leaders Needham Market empty-handed but the Suffolk side were grateful for the final whistle as the Bards looked to build on Saturday’s win at St Ives Town, reports Steve Wood.

There were starts for Dylan Barkers and Lewis Wilson as the names of Dan Vann, Chris Hussey and Jamie Molyneux were added to the ever-increasing list of players unavailable.

And as if a midweek trip to East Anglia against a side with a near perfect home record was not a tough enough task, traffic chaos en route meant kick-off had to be delayed to allow the visitors to prepare following their arduous five-hour journey.

The Marketmen predictably dominated possession in the opening stages and knocked the ball wide to Jacob Lay at every occasion with the winger switched flanks on a regular basis.

The game’s only goal arrived on 20 minutes when a mistake from the experienced Liam Daly provided an easy chance for Jimmy McGrath who obliged with a shot from just inside the box.

Five minutes later, keeper Callum Smith pushed the ball on to the crossbar from a corner and in a bizarre incident, the ball ran along the woodwork before falling back into his arms.

Ebanks forged a loan battle up front and Stratford’s best chances involved Callum Coyle, Dan Lafferty and their lone striker but their efforts drifted wide.

The Marketmen played with confidence and moved the ball effectively in front off the Bards defence but with no real penetration. Smith’s only save in the second half was from distance.

The game changed on 62 minutes when Mackenzie Lamb came on for his debut, replacing the hard-working Hawker who had battled gallantly for more than an hour.

Almost immediately Lafferty found space and released Ebanks who forced his way past the defenders and drove in on goal and there looked only one outcome from the dependable forward but as he went to strike the ball just inside the box the ball hit a rut and the ball went high over the bar.

From then on the changes made by Hurren brought more chances for the Bards.

Worley who was forging down the left whipped in great cross and Daly who had now moved to centre forward alongside Ebanks headed just over.

The last five minutes the home side were hanging on and the home support was getting the jitters. Daly was involved in most of the action and his cross with two minutes remaining just eluded Ebanks at the far post.

The Marketmen were glad to hear the final whistle but they are an efficient and effective side under Horlock and with such an unenviable record at home they will be hard to shake off for the title.

Needham Market: Garnham, Dye, T Smith, Hammond, K Morphew, D Morphew, Ingram, Williams (Fraser 85), Lay (Caroll-Chambers 63), Alien, McGarth. Subs (not used): Brothers, Okunowo

Stratford Town: C Smith, Wilson, Worley, Daly, McCone, Coyle (Hewlett 71), Barkers (O’Sullivan 81), Hawker (Lamb 62), Ebanks, Ludford-Ison, Lafferty. Subs (not used): Vaughan, Clutterbuck.

Referee: Thomas Harvey

Bards Star Man: Paul McCone

Opposition Star Man: Jacob Lay