Striker’s wonder goal secures all three points
Stratford Town 2, Coalville Town 1
ANYONE braving the freezing temperatures at the Arden Garages Stadium on Saturday was not only treated to a Stratford Town’s fifth win in six Southern League Premier Central matches but also a goal of the season contender from striker Callum Ebanks.
Substitute Jack Storer had already handed the Bards the lead early in the second half when Ebanks scored what proved to be the winner with an outrageous overhead kick before Kieran Cook responded for the visitors.
Having beaten the frost, freezing fog threatened to spoil the afternoon as it swept across the ground but it held off just enough for fans to see Stratford dominate the opening period and, with some sharper finishing in front of goal, the points could have been in the bag by the break.
Ebanks had a sixth minute effort saved by Coalville keeper Paul White and almost hit another star strike contender five minutes later with a powerful 25-yard effort that crashed against the crossbar with Jamie Molyneux directing the rebound straight at the keeper.
The visitors were limited to just a solitary shot in the opening 45 minutes – an Andi Thanoj free-kick with Liam O’Brien saved with ease – while the Bards had two more gilt-edged chances before the interval.
On 40 minutes, Paul McCone tee’d up Ebanks for what looked like a simple opportunity but the striker, unmarked and six yards out, managed to steer his header high and wide. Then, three minutes later, Dylan Barkers picked out Charlie Williams on the left and his shot bounced off the top of the bar.
A change of formation and no doubt some stirring words from manager Adam Stevens seemed to lift Coalville at the start of the second period while Stratford were forced into a change with Storer replacing the injured Tom Solanke.
Tim Berridge drilled an effort across the face of goal and had another blocked by a defender while Luke Shaw rattled the Bards crossbar with a powerful shot.
But the home side weathered the storm and finally broke the deadlock on 56 minutes. Dan Lafferty’s probing run down the right ended with a low ball inside which was left by Barkers and Storer let fly with a shot that gave keeper White no chance.
Molyneux should have done better with a header from a Williams cross soon after but the Bards did double their advantage on 73 minutes when Ebanks, with his back to goal, flicked the ball into the air and then sent his acrobatic effort past the stunned Coalville shotstopper.
Cook’s response, when he latched on to a Thanoj through ball, came just two minutes later but the Bards defence stood firm to secure the points, although O’Brien did have to push a deflected Tom McGlinchey effort over the bar in the closing stages.
Stratford: O’Brien, Laffery, Vann, Hussey, McCone, Solanke (Storer 46), Molyneux (O’Sullivan 80), Barkers, Ebanks, Ison, Williams (Daly 87). Subs (not used): John, Worley.
Coalville: White, Dean, Shaw (Pennant 67), Berridge, Chambers (Cook 73), T McGlinchey, Thanoj, York, Towers (R McGlinchey 73), Pepe-Ngoma, Carter. Sub (not used): Burkey
Referee: Elliott Haddrell
Att: 387
Bards Star Man: Callum Ebanks
Opposition Star Man: Tim Berridge
