Late Williams strike secures Bards win
Stratford Town 3, Alvechurch 2
A LATE Charlie Williams goal handed Stratford Town victory against a dogged Alvechurch side who will feel hard done by to leave the Arden Garages Stadium with nothing.
It looked as though the points would be shared but on 88 minutes, Town substitutes Josh Hawker and Williams combined with the latter cutting in off the left wing before rifling a shot past keeper Brad Foster.
Church, managed by former Bards favourite Jimmy Fry, had started the better and missed a glorious chance to take the lead on 25 minutes when another ex-Stratford man Jaanai Gordon was left unmarked from a free-kick but directed his header wide of the target.
The breakthrough came four minutes later though when a woefully under hit back-pass from Chris Hussey was pounced on by Nick Clayton-Phillips who took the ball around keeper Liam O’Brien before rolling it into the empty net.
The goal finally sparked Stratford into action and they finished the half strongly to take a 2-1 lead into the break. Callum Ebanks, booked when his attempted overhead kick saw him connect with Church defender Ethan Patterson more than the ball, hauled the Bards level on 39 minutes when he ran on to a weak defensive header before thumping the ball past Foster.
Ebanks also played a key role in Stratford’s second deep in added time when he pulled a ball back from the right for Jack Storer who powered a low shot home from 25 yards.
Church looked for an equaliser early in the second period with Clayton-Phillips whipping a ball across the face of goal on the hour before the visitors were incensed when key Bards defender Hussey only saw yellow when, as the last man, he took out Ben Cassidy as the midfielder darted through.
Fry, who was booked for his protests, did see his side level from the resulting free-kick when dangerman Clayton-Phillips drilled in from 22 yards and it was the visitors who then looked the more likely to grab a winner with skipper Josh Dugmore having an effort blocked.
The introduction of Hawker for his second spell with the Bards, gave Stratford fresh impetus and it was his threaded pass – and perfectly timed run from Storer to divert a defender – that created the opportunity for Williams to net his late winner.
A nerve-jangling nine minutes of added time had the home crowd on tenterhooks but the Bards saw out the game to make it six wins and a draw from the last eight league games ahead of their festive double-header – at Leiston on Saturday and at home to Leamington on Boxing Day.
Stratford: O’Brien, Lafferty, Vann, Hussey, McCone, Solanke, Molyneux (Williams 56), Barkers (Hawker 73), Ebanks, Ison, Storer (Worley 90+5). Subs (not used): John, Daly
Alvechurch: Foster, Dugmore, Dyer, Hallahan (Taylor 89), Ofusu, Patterson, Cassidy, Dawkins, Gordon, Clayton-Phillips (Rowe 84), Brown (Concannon 74). Subs (not used): Dias, Alabi
Referee: David Nicholson
Attendance: 414
Bards Star Man: Callum Ebanks
Opposition Star Man: Nick Clayton-Phillips
