Poppies wilt as Stratford storm to victory
Stratford Town 2, Kettering Town 0
STRATFORD Town took a giant step towards securing a play-off place with their second Southern League Premier Central win of the weekend – this bank holiday Monday defeat of visitors Kettering Town.
First half goal from striker Callum Ebanks and skipper Paul McCone did the damage although the winning margin could easily have been more against a side who arrived at the Arden Garages Stadium on the back of five straight league victories.
The visiting Poppies only had themselves to blame for handing their hosts a third minute opener. Defender Harry Reilly inexplicably rolled the ball straight into the patch of Ebanks who calmly placed his shot past keeper Arlo Doherty.
Doe the next 20 minutes it was one-way traffic as the Bards pushed for a second. Andre Landell thought he had doubled the lead only to be denied by the referee’s whistle for an earlier foul and Callum Coyle had an effort blocked with Dan Lafferty thumping the rebound over the bar.
Coyle had been handed a rare start by manager Gavin Hurren and he continued to torment the Kettering defence, forcing a good save from Doherty moments after just failing to head enough on a Landell cross.
The visitors did create opportunities around the half-hour mark with the lively Michael Reindorf heading wide and Dan Jarvis forcing a save from Bards keeper Callum Smith but it was the home side who added to the tally four minutes before the break when Chris Hussey’s free-kick into the box was headed on by Ison and McCone was on hand to nudge the ball over the line.
It proved a similar tale in the second period with the Bards dominating the chances. Landell drilled an effort straight at the Kettering keeper, Ebanks turned another shot wide and then a delightful ball from substitute Jack Storer send Ebanks in on goal but Doherty stood his ground to keep him out.
That was to be the last involvement for the Bards striker who was carried off soon after with what was reported to be a swollen ankle.
As for Kettering, they had one final go at trying to break through the solid Stratford defence when, on 87 minutes, Reindorf went on a mazey run before laying the ball off for substitute Kobe Chong but his effort was diverted wide for a corner.
Stratford: Smith, Vann, Worley, Hussey, McCone, Coyle (Hamilton 61), Hawker, Ison, Ebanks (Wilson 78), Landell (Storer 65), Lafferty. Subs (not used): Daly, Barkers
Kettering: Doherty, Marzano, Reilly, Langmead, White, Sharpe, Dawson (Chong 65), Forsyth, Jarvis (Andrade 71), Reindorf, Yussuf. Subs (not used): Toseland, Jezeph, Scott
Referee: Martyn Mitchell
Attendance: 983
Bards Star Man: Lewis Ison
Opposition Star Man: Michael Reindorf
