TOM MILWARD FROM THE FC STRATFORD COACHING STAFF REPORTS ON HIS TEAM'S 3-3 DRAW AT BOLDMERE FALCONS ON SATURDAY...

"The game for me, is summed up by the fact we're frustrated to come away from Boldmere with only one point. Not many teams would say that whilst 2 - 1 down and a man down but those are the standards we have set at FC Stratford.

First-half I believe we controlled the game, we could see the frustration of the Boldmere bench and we could tell that Rich Heath wasn't happy. Rich, by the way is a very good manager but for us, our lads were implementing what had been asked of them so well that Boldmere simply couldn't get a foothold in the game.

Therein, however, lies a problem in that we have only gone in 1 - 0 ahead at half-time. The game should have been out of sight; we lacked quality in the final third when it came to playing the final ball to create goalscoring opportunities, allowing Boldmere to still be in the game. It's not the first time this season that we've allowed a side to stay in the game and this is something that needs to be addressed. We need to be ruthless...

The frustration for us comes after half-time; we warned the lads of how Boldmere would come out, for Rich sets high standards just like ourselves. We knew we'd need to ride the wave and for large parts we were doing just that but a mistake from Jack Hartopp changed the momentum of the game. Jack doesn't need telling, he's a good 'keeper but these are crucial points in a game where we have to do better.

Before we know it, we're 2 - 1 down and down to ten men; from controlling a game of football we are now looking for characters for the third game in a row!

A quick change of shape and a third change with Dean Poulson coming on and we looked dangerous again. Making Boldmere's play predictable, we showed patience without the ball until the time was right to nick it and from there we continued to create chances. Daccus' goal came at a good time for us, perhaps fortunate with how the ball fell to him but there were numerous times where the ball didn't quite sit right for us, so we were owed that one.

Hartopp then makes a big save down to his left at 2 - 2 in the only chance I can recall Boldmere creating whilst having the one man advantage; apologies if I'm wrong with that!

When Matty Nutt heads home in the last minute, you can't help but feel you've got what I thought we deserved on the balance of 90 minutes of football. Their third goal is what it is, it has to be dealt with better and Beach, like Jack, knows that. Take nothing away from the penalty: a great finish. Rich mentioned he'd missed one a couple of weeks before but that was a very good penalty.

We have to learn our lessons and very quickly if we're to achieve what we have all spoken about before the first game of the season. The positive is that we are unbeaten in the first three games and that includes a trip to Lane Head and Boldmere, two tough places to go. That however isn't the target that we set and conceding seven in three games is not what we've come to expect.

Rich's Boldmere side will improve, absolutely no doubt about that, for Rich puts too much into his side for it not to work. We'll look forward to welcoming them to the Arden Garages Stadium later on in the season.

As for us, on Saturday we travel to a much changed Bolehall Swifts and we have to return with three points and a performance that warrants them."

Tom Milward, FC Stratford coaching staff...