Three out for Bards ahead of vital games
STRATFORD Town manager Gavin Hurren wants to see a reaction from his players as they embark on two games in four days which could decide whether they are true play-off contenders.
The Bards head to an in-form St Ives Town on Saturday and then league leaders Needham Market on Tuesday still smarting from a 3-0 defeat at the hands of promotion rivals AFC Telford United at the weekend.
“Every game is massive now until the end of the season but for me, it’s important that we see a massive reaction from the players,” Hurren explained. “They are going to be two difficult away games.
“I think the race for the play-offs will go down to the wire though with everyone playing each other. There are a lot of points to play for and we have to keep believing because there are going to be twists and turns and plenty of ups and downs. I set up to try and win every game and the lads believe they can beat anyone.”
Stratford head to St Ives without injured pair Charlie Williams (quad strain) and Tom Solanke (broken foot) and will also have to do without influential playmaker Jack Storer who starts a three-match ban after clocking up 15 bookings.
It is understood that striker Kieron Berry is due to train with the Bards tonight (Thursday) following his release from Bromsgrove Sporting and that the club is also in talks with a Football League side over a potential loan signing.
Speaking about Storer’s suspension, Hurren added: “It’s annoying for me as the manager but also for his teammates and the club because he is such a good player. The reality is that he is not a young lad anymore and he has to control his emotions.
“Some of the bookings have been harsh with some of the refs being a bit quick to show him the card but he needs to realise that he will be targeted. It is hard because he scored a great goal a couple of weeks ago and you get some momentum and now, he is sitting on the side for three games.
“I don’t agree with all the shouting from the opposition to get him booked but it’s a tactic that teams are using and he will need to be focused when he comes back to try and see out the remaining games and get us into the play-offs.
“Jack is fantastic around the club, a really nice guy and he’s well liked within the dressing room. But when he crosses that white line, he has a different mindset and only Jack knows whether he can change – it’s not the first time he has been suspended.”
And reflecting on the defeat to Telford, Hurren said: “We got out the game what we deserved – nothing. You can break the game down and digest it and point to a couple of good chances but collectively over the 95 minutes or whatever we played, we just weren’t good enough.”
