Stratford Town's search for a new goalkeeper is over

STRATFORD Town have signed a new goalkeeper, although his identity remains a mystery.

Manager Darren Byfield has been searching for a new No 1 following the exit of Louis Connor, who joined local rivals Redditch United in June.

Byfield has run the rule over a number of triallists in recent weeks, including ex-Birmingham City stopper James Behan and Wales under-19 international Adam Przybek.

Behan started Town’s 3-2 win at Worcester on Saturday, while Przybek, who is currently at West Bromwich Albion, was named on the bench and appeared in the second half.

Whether Town’s new goalkeeper is Behan or Przybek remains to be seen, but it appears that Town have found their man, with assistant boss Steve Walker confirming the news to the Herald on Wednesday.

“We have sorted the goalkeeper situation out,” said Walker, who took charge of the team at Worcester in the absence of Byfield.

“I don’t want to mention names until they have physically signed the forms, but we are in the process of sorting it.”

Town had to come from behind at Worcester and an improved second half performance saw them claim a 3-2 win thanks to goals from Callum Powell, Nabil Shariff and Mike Taylor.

Stratford had to play the closing stages with ten men after Powell came off with a tight hamstring, but the winger is expected to have made a full recovery ahead of Thursday's final friendly against a Leicester City XI.

“It was a very competitive game and for a step five team, Worcester have put together a very good squad,” said Walker.

“In the first half, we didn’t play at the levels we wanted to play. But we had a good chat at half-time, tweaked what we needed to and we were much better.”