Weekend football round-up

Stratford looked in control as Bideford struggled to create any real chances but they struck with five minutes left. It had a touch of luck when Richard Groves shot was deflected to Ben Wood and his pass left sub Sean Downing with the chance to beat keeper Andy Kemp.

Town will have a free midweek have tomorrow’s home match with Kettering Town in the Red Insure Cup was postponed. The Poppies have an FA Cup replay so the Red Insure clash has been arranged for Tuesday, 27 October.

In the Midland League Premier Division, Studley had supersub Tim Bradley to thank as they recorded a much-needed 3-0 win at basement side Bolehall Swifts.

It was goalless at half-time but Bradley fired home the opening goal on 70 minutes before having a hand in two more goals.

His pass allowed Dan Stokes to go for goal until he was felled and the penalty was fired home by Dan Byford.

Bradley then headed a cross into the danger area and Jarrell Hylton made it 3-0.

Littleton continued their push towards the top with a 1-0 win at home to Racing Club Warwick. The only goal came on 20 minutes but the Racers felt they should have had at least a point as efforts from Laight and Morton were cleared off the line.

The teams face each other again tomorrow night in the Polymac Packaging League Cup at Townsend Meadow.

Earlswood Town claimed their first point in Division Two after a 1-1 draw at Austrey Rangers. Earls had lost seven games in a row.

In Division Two, Alcester Town were given a lesson in finishing as they were walloped 8-1 at home by table-toppers Smitshwood Firs. “I’m embarrassed’ was the verdict from Alcester boss James Robbins.

There was cup disappointment for Shipston Excelsior, FC Stratford and Southam United.

Shipston gave higher league Droitwich Spa a real test in the Warwickshire side’s first match in the Les James Challenge Cup but went down 2-1 at home. It was 1-1 at half-time before the Saltmen grabbed the winner in the final stages through Burgess.

FC Stratford had been warned to expect a tough test in their Coventry Charity Cup tie against Coventry Alliance table-toppers Folly Lane and so it proved as the visitors won 4-0 at the DCS.

Southam United, last season’s beaten Charity Cup finalists, were also on the receiving end of a 4-0 defeat at Coventry side Triumph Athletic. They trailed 3-0 at half-time after goals from Curtis Cutts and Jordan Carruthers (2) before Callum Ward netted a fourth on 70 minutes.

More details in this week’s Herald.