Town edged out despite spirited second-half showing
IN spite of a spirited second-half showing, Stratford Town slipped to their sixth defeat in their last seven league outings, going down 2-1 at King's Lynn, writes Bryan Hale.
Stratford’s starting line-up lacked some familiar faces - Andy Kemp was at his charity auction, Kieren Westwood was out injured after limping off in midweek, while both Michael McGrath and Jamie Sheldon were on the substitutes' bench.
But on the positive side it was a 150th Town appearance for the popular wide man Simeon Tulloch.
The Linnets were soon having the better of the possession and went ahead in the 19th minute.
Deputising for Kemp, goalkeeper James Cutts was unable to deal with a lofted pass into the penalty area and John Sands pounced to hook the loose ball into the empty net.
Soon after, Michael Clunan was not far away from 25 yards out followed by the lively Sands hitting a low drive inches wide.
Stratford had to wait until five minutes before the break for their first real opportunity when Tyrone Fagan fired over from 15 yards out.
McGrath came on for the second half as Stratford enjoyed a decent little spell with Dior Angus having an on-target effort deflected wide.
But the Linnets were soon back in control and they doubled their lead on 63 minutes when Jacek Zielonka’s deep cross from the left was headed in at the far post by Sands for his second of the game.
Sheldon came on for Angus and he gave Stratford hope in the 69th minute when his cross from the left was volleyed in by Richard Gregory for his 11th goal of the season.
From then on, Town pressed for an equaliser with Gregory twice having fierce efforts blocked and Linnets keeper Alex Street saving well from Sheldon low to his left.
Frustratingly, the goal wouldn’t come and they will be now be hoping to end the campaign on a winning note when Cambridge City visit the DCS on Tuesday.
TOWN: James Cutts, Aaron Moses-Garvey, Aaron Stringfellow, Marcel Simpson, Liam Francis (c), Jack Roberts, Simeon Tulloch, Mark Magee (Michael McGrath 46), Tyrone Fagan, Richard Gregory, Dior Angus (Jamie Sheldon 66)
