Williams hits hat-trick to keep hopes alive

STRATFORD Town kept their play-off hopes alive with a 3-1 victory over Alvechurch tonight (Thursday) after the initial meeting between the sides on bank holiday Monday was abandoned with the Bards leading 3-0.

Nothing short of a win would do for Paul Davis’ side who must now produce a repeat performance in their final match of the season at St Ives Town on Saturday and hope play-off rivals Harborough Town and Stamford slip up.

The Bards created a host of first half chances but were unable to find a way past visiting keeper Ronnie Hollingshead. In contrast, Church scored with their only effort of the opening period, a thunderbolt of a shot from Joe Willis on the half-hour.

Stratford’s best chances came early on, a 15th minute deflected Owen James effort that prompted an excellent save at the foot of the post and then, from the resulting corner, Josh Hawker chipped the ball to the far side of the area where Dan Lafferty was unmarked but his header hit the inside of the far post and bounced back into Hollingshead’s arms.

Having missed a multitude of chances in the opening 45 minutes, they took less than 30 seconds to finally put one away in the second half. Cyrus Bruce, a half-time substitute, won the ball wide on the right and then picked out Charlie Williams in the centre who steered a shot just inside the post from 18 yards.

The diminutive winger doubled his tally on 63 minutes, rounding off some excellent approach play from Bruce and Owen James, and then completed his hat-trick ten minutes later from the penalty spot after Bruce had been bundled over.

There was almost a fourth late on but Hollingshead again did well to keep out a close-range Lewis Ison header.