FC STRATFORD 3-4 FC STRATFORD UNITED: THE LIGHTHEARTED, INDEPENDENT MATCH REPORT... GUARANTEED TO WORK AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO SLEEPING PILLS...

 Useful Workout For The FC Stratford Squads At Their New Venue…

FC Stratford 3-4 FC Stratford United

A miserable and rainy day at the Home Guard Ground at Tiddington in Stratford was brightened up by this competitive practice match, won 3-4 by the younger team, for whom Robbie Sone scored with a sublime free-kick. (I have to describe it like that, so that his mum serves me a gratis slice of lemon meringue the next time I’m at Tisanes in Broadway…) In fact, Sone netted a brace and his colleague Harry Dunn, who was outstanding at times, lifted a fine goal from downtown over FC ‘keeper Jack Hartopp. The strong and experienced United defender Tom Fishwick, who was outstanding along with the left-booted Louis MacDonald, offered not a lot to the FC forwards and Fishwick struck the winner from an isolated position at the far post. Although replacement Tyrike Richards certainly added pace to the Blues’ attack and scored a well struck goal to even the match at 3-3, there were some glum faces at the end for the more established players.

PREPARING FOR A SQUAD PIC...

Remarkably, FC fielded four replacements after half an hour, freshening up a rather languid midfield section and immediately Tez ‘Check Out My Hair, Man’ Morton added bite for his team. He scored the first period equaliser just prior to the recess, following up Callum Monaghan’s save from FC skipper Jamie Hatfield’s looping header. United had only one substitute available and in truth, considering the weather conditions, plus FC’s vast experience and their use of four available men to refresh the system, really ought to have worn the younger lads down but it simply didn’t happen.

Sone had headed United into the lead from a corner but after his free-kick and Dunn’s lob had handed United a 1-3 lead, it took a more influential period by Freddy Murphy and Richards’ liveliness to drag FC back into contention but United held on and they were no doubt relieved when Monaghan caught a difficult cross in traffic as time expired.

KICK-OFF...

It was noisy on the balcony. There was a lot of beer consumed and some of the chaps there were more concerned with watching and bellowing at the conclusion of the Championship season on the bar’s TV than being interested in the live game before them. I noticed one rather worse for wear drinker setting off in his car after the match, which raised the eyebrows of both myself and a player who was chatting to me… 

JAMIE HATFIELD TAKES A BREAK...

And there was Jack Hartopp. He raced from goal in the opening minutes but Sone beat him to the ball some 23 yards out and lobbed him. Hartopp leapt and stopped the effort with his gloves. A free-kick was awarded. Clever by the ‘keeper, for perhaps he was aware that in a game like this, the referee wouldn’t dismiss him. But he denied United a goal… My camera lens was so embarrassed by the incident that it went out of focus and the footage was not useable… Just as well really.   

HATFIELD ADMIRES AN OPPONENT'S BOOTS...

So, United had deserved their lead at the break when Sone jumped above Dean Poulson and he told me afterwards that the ball had hit his head and gone in. So it was a goal then. I’m surprised that ‘Robbie The Unselfish’ didn’t claim that Poulson deserved the credit instead… 

0-1: ROBBIE SONE FOR UNITED...

The impressive United skipper Max Thomas, seemingly always available to team-mates both in defence and attack, fired a free-kick from distance which Hartopp smothered past the foot of his right stick, before an error by the goalie saw Matt Nutt scramble the ball from his own goal-line as Henry Kroner threatened and Kroner was soon freed on the right by Sone’s astute pass but his fine centre flew across the face of goal untouched. Jensen Gaye turned well and lifted a near post effort too high, as the younger outfit continued to look lively. 

JACK HARTOPP IS ABOUT TO GIVE THE BALL A GOOD KICKING...

FC had seen Ash Wilkes, later to pull up with an injury, fire dangerously across the 6 yard box, where MacDonald hacked the ball clear for a corner, Dan Atkins glanced a header well wide from another flag-kick, Peter Tonchev saw a close range shot superbly blocked by Fishwick and then a 25 yard free-kick caught by Monaghan. Poulson sliced well wide but the equaliser stemmed from a deep free-kick on the right, which Hatfield won with a looping header but Monaghan managed to stretch and nudge the ball against the underside of the crossbar which led to the lurking Morton stroking home with his left foot at the right post with ease. 

1-1: GOALSCORER TEZ MORTON, CENTRE...

Tiredness seemed likely to affect United after the interval but subsequently the lads kept up the pace they had settled into and immediately scored a couple of fine goals. Sone was fouled but terribly unselfishly (is that right?) took the free-kick from downtown himself, firing a really accurate and spectacular shot which curled into the top left side of the net. The player rarely speaks to me but as he left the field at the end he demanded: “Did you get it?” I so wanted to say that there had been a deflection…

2ND PERIOD...

1-2: SONE AGAIN...

Soon afterwards Thomas’ excellent pass released Dunn centrally but he spotted Hartopp racing from goal and planted a splendid, lifted, accurate effort over the gloveman and deep into the net.  1-3 and some surprise, even to one or two of the drinkers near the bar, who looked round for a second or two…  

1-3: HARRY DUNN...

Mike Boyd, who worked the left-flank for United, curled a decent shot wide of the right post and two FC players, Nick Cox and Nutt jumped together at the back vertical to head wide of their own goal to concede a corner. Well, I guess Sone had unselfishly left it to them… 

"WHAT'S DPF? IS IT SOMETHING TO DO WITH LINE OF DUTY?"

FC came into the game much more after half-time to be fair and after Ryan Palmer had a shot deflected wide, Richards’ overhead effort flew too high but then the losing side clawed their way back into the contest with a brace of well taken goals. First, midfielder Atkins took a Richards pass from the right and with a really smart and deft piece of footwork, switched the ball onto his left boot, from whence it flew low past Monaghan’s dive into the bottom right corner of the net from 15 yards.

2-3: DAN ATKINS FOR FC...

Richards then received a pass from Atkins at 19 yards, inside-left and made space for a powerful right-footer which flew waist high past the ‘keeper and sent rain spraying from the goal net.

3-3: TYRIKE RICHARDS (CENTRE) FOR FC...

Richards’ next 18 yard shot was wayward however, Murphy had a drive deflected for a corner, MacDonald cleared the ball from his goal-line after a left-side centre had eluded Monaghan, with Plamer hovering, then Poulson was denied by another MacDonald block. By then though, Thomas’ left-wing free-kick had been delivered over the stranded Hartopp and the totally and obscenely unmarked Fishwick had side-footed the ball so easily into the net at the right pole for 3-4.

3-4: TOM FISHWICK FOR UNITED...

As time ran out, Cox’s header bounced up for Matt Edwards to nod towards the left upright but in jumping and clearing at the post, Zach Evans was barged into and FC were penalised. It remained only for  Monaghan to make that vital last ditch grab of the ball and the end was signalled.

Morton was effective for FC, challenging and breaking up play as he always does but Richards and Murphy apart (at times) there was often a lack of lustre about FC’s play, despite the effort shown. It was a pity that Wilkes was hurt…

SQUAD BONDING AT THE END...

United were really well served by Fishwick and MacDonald, as mentioned already, Sone’s occasional clever passes and two goals were admirable, Thomas actually played a skipper’s game, but at times, Dunn was great to watch in possession. Nice goal, too… Others, like Boyd, Kroner, Gaye, Evans, plus James Pomeroy and Tom Carwardine all pulled their weight and the team itself might just be worth watching next season, wherever they should be playing…

SQUADS:

FC STRATFORD:

JACK HARTOPP, JAMES ROBBINS, ASH WILKES, NICK COX, JAMIE HATFIELD, MATT NUTT, DEAN POULSON (CAPT), DAN ATKINS, RYAN PALMER, PETAR TONCHEV, FREDDY MURPHY, BEN JOHNS, MATT EDWARDS, TEZ MORTON, TYRIKE RICHARDS.

FC STRATFORD UNITED:

CALLUM MONAGHAN, LOUIS MACDONALD, TOM FISHWICK, ROBBIE SONE, MAX THOMAS (CAPT), MIKE BOYD, HENRY KRONER, JENSEN GAYE, HARRY DUNN, ZACH EVANS, JAMES POMEROY, TOM CARWARDINE.