Play-off hopes shattered for tired Bards

STRATFORD Town’s season is over after they finished four points shy of the Southern league Premier Central play-offs.

The Bards needed to beat St Ives Town in Cambridgeshire on Saturday and hope other results went their way but a 2-2 draw along with Harborough Town’s 5-1 defeat of AFC Sudbury quashed their play-off dreams.

The omens looked bleak from the start with Harborough cruising into a two-goal lead before the in-form Charlie Williams handed Stratford the advantage at St Ives.

Another Harborough goal ensured the outcome in Cambridgeshire hardly mattered although there was a second goal for Williams from the penalty spot to take his tally to five in two games.

Legs began to tire following a run of four games in eights days and St Ives took full advantage, scoring twice in the final stages to ensure the points were shared.

Elsewhere, Alcester Town’s final league game ended in a 1-1 draw with Kington Town with Chris Dyson scoring for the Romans.

The result means the Herefordshire Premier Division champions are still unbeaten with one result pending concerning their match at Ledbury that was abandoned with Alcester leading 5-2.

Shipston Excelsior won their latest Oxfordshire Senior League match at home to bottom club Long Crendon 4-0, the goals coming from George Redshaw, William Gorski and two from Jamie Wyatt.