Rivals pounce on error to end their dismal run
Stratford Town 0 Redditch United 1
MISSED chances and a defensive howler combined to consign Stratford Town to defeat at home to their promotion rivals – a result that now puts their play-off place back in the balance.
Redditch arrived on a run of six defeats and had failed to find the net in those half-dozen games but they started at a pace, creating a string of decent opportunities inside the opening eight minutes.
The first fell to skipper Reece Flanagan who, spotting Bards keeper Callum Smith off his line, let fly with a wind-assisted 40-yard effort that bounced up and struck the crossbar much to the shotstopper’s relief.
On seven minutes, a jinking run by Brad Burton took him past two defenders before he picked out Jordan Cranston in the area and his diving header had to be pushed over the bar by Smith. Then, from the resulting corner, Musa Ceesay was left unmarked but headed wastefully over.
Stratford’s only real effort of the half came two minutes later when a mazy run out of defence from Chris Hussey ended with a pass to Tyrell Hamilton on the right. His cross found Dan Lafferty and his low shot was cleared off the line.
That aside, the rest of the half saw the visitors dominate the ball. Cranston had a 25-yard effort saved by Smith before sending a free-kick over the bar moments after Zidan Sutherland had stabbed an effort wide.
The second half saw the Bards playing with the wind at their backs against a Redditch side who decided to change formation and go with a back three.
Whether these had a say on the proceedings, or it was down to some stern words in the home dressing room, but Stratford totally dominated the second period and were only let down by a mistake that allowed the visitors to score what proved to be the deciding goal.
On 50 minutes Hamilton’s pass sent Andre Landell in on goal but, seemingly caught in two minds, his hesitation allowed keeper Adam Harrison to snaffle the ball at his feet.
Substitute Jack Storer joined the proceedings just before the hour and immediately sent two efforts fizzing over the target before Redditch took the lead on 68 minutes when defenders Hussey and Paul McCone along with their keeper failed to deal with a ball into the area. Danny King took advantage and picked out Alex Cameron in the centre who finished at the second attempt.
The Bards looked to an instant response with Storer drilling a shot into the side-netting before Lewis Ison headed just wide. Liam Daly was sent on for the final stages as a makeshift target man and duly thumped a shot into the hoardings before Harrison pulled off a vital save in the final minute of added time, clawing an Alex Worley effort away with Landell poised to tap in an equaliser.
Stratford: Smith, Vann (Daly 82), Worley, Hussey, McCone, Coyle, Hamilton (Storer 58), Hawker (Williams 72), Landell, Ison, Lafferty. Subs (not used): Clutterbuck, Wilson.
Redditch: Harrison, Burton, Cranston, Ceesay, C Flanagan, Wollacott, R Flanagan, Soleman, Sutherland (Owen 74), Fulloway (King 46), Cameron. Subs (not used): Mussa, George, Concannon.
Referee: Dale Wootton
Attendance: 1,148
Stratford Star Man: Chris Hussey
Opposition Star Man: Jordan Cranston
