FC STRATFORD 1-2 CHELTENHAM SARACENS: THE MOWDOG'S INDEPENDENT REPORT & SCREENSHOTS OF THE GOALS...

 Late Push Hands Saracens Victory Over Bards…

FC Stratford 1-2 Cheltenham Saracens

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

It proved to be a strange evening in Stratford and much of the encounter was played in the kind of silence expected in a graveyard. That it ended more dramatically was a blessing for the spectators who had stood in a cool wind to witness the lacklustre Bards tackle the stubborn Saracens, which in truth are two rather unusual footballing nicknames. Cheltenham played in teal, a colour I see regularly these days but their shirt numbers weren’t that clear under the floodlights to be fair, for the font and size of the numerals were sometimes tough to distinguish at a glance…

However, the visitors managed the game rather well, looking on course for a hard fought point until a late left-flank corner led to their surprise winning goal by robust defender Ben Tunnicliff, although home ‘keeper Ethan Pheasey will doubtless point to the fact that Tunnicliff shoved him as he reached to catch the flag-kick.

MAYBE A PUSH?

The contrast in styles between the teams was often glaring, for FC passed the ball patiently, whilst Cheltenham usually played quicker counter-attacking passes which clearly worried the Bards’ defence on a number of occasions.

Home skipper Kian Hamer and fellow defenders Sacha Everard and Ben Cook had so many touches of the ball during the match but with the Saracens dropping off deeper to guard in front of central defenders Tom Hoskins and Tunnicliff, too often it seemed that penetration was becoming frustratingly unlikely for Stratford. Only late on did the hosts force the game more but by then it really was too late and subsequently, their guests threatened a couple of times on the break. 

Clinical Saracens…

Apart from their two goals and a very few wayward shots from downtown, Saracens caused home goalie Pheasey relatively few problems. When the skilful home playmaker Collins Tanor had a pass intercepted on the Cheltenham right, winger Stuart Midwinter, aptly named, made a typical forward rush, as FC’s players struggled to retreat. Midwinter then fed a smart pass forward for Jamie Goodwin to fasten onto and he beat the advancing Pheasey’s dive from an angle at inside-right. 

MIDWINTER'S PASS...

...GOODWIN'S STRIKE...

FC were shocked by the reverse but still laboured in possession despite the flashes of skill emanating from Tanor, and Goodwin soon drove another effort wide of the left upright before the interval. After half-time, Goodwin volleyed too high at the near post from a right-flank corner but really, until Tunnicliff’s winning strike, their industry kept them well in the contest, despite Toby Nicoll’s equaliser for FC.

A left-wing corner wasn’t dealt with at the near post by the hosts but as Pheasey attempted to deal with the ball it appeared that Tunnicliff shoved him and thus the gloveman missed the ball which I believe bounced into the net off the delighted Tunnicliff…

TUNNICLIFF CHALLENGES PHEASEY...

...& THE BALL ENDS UP IN THE HOME NET...

As FC finally pushed on with substitute Robbie Sone bolstering the left side of the offense, too many final passes went astray and indeed, Saracen Zach Hodges forced a desperate save from Pheasey, as the visitors raced clear following the ‘keeper’s own miscued kicked clearance.

The Bards’ offensive struggles…

It really wasn’t a good night for the hosts in all honesty, despite an early angled drive by Joe Sykes which Saracens’ goalie Ronnie Newberry turned aside smartly. Newberry fumbled away a low Nicoll effort, then caught another long shot by Sykes, before saving one of effective midfielder Dan Atkins’ shots from distance. 

Nicoll fired an angled shot wide of the right stick and Oyanda drove a left footer just wide of the same vertical and the recess was whistled with the Bards a goal adrift. 

Fewer actual chances were created after the first 45, partly perhaps because Tanor’s influence was stifled better by the visitors and some of his passes were intercepted, although he was by no means the only home player who lacked some accuracy, despite dominating the majority of possession. 

Finally though, after a low Atkins shot had been pushed aside by Newberry and Oyanda had shot straight at the goalminder, replacement Sam Rodber’s low right-flank centre was stabbed home at the near post by Nicoll to regain parity but the Bards were doomed to be unable to capitalise further. 

RODBER DELIVERS...

...NICOLL SCORES...

Another Atkins effort was shoved away by Newberry, as was a long shot by Rodber but in actuality, that was all the home offense was able to muster.

The final words…

Certainly Saracens did a job on FC, weathering the midfield turbulence and supporting the rearguard with some real success, as Stratford failed to gain enough momentum to cause Tunnicliff and Hoskins too much in the way of harassment.

Saracens’ skipperPaul Holmes was hurt just prior to FC’s equaliser but all of the replacements for the guests performed with quickness and stubbornness, thereby earning what their manager might claim was a deserved success.

Disappointment will reign at Stratford and of course, the legality of the winning goal will be debated for a while.

Home wide player Dan Chaundy showed pace at times and Oyanda was regularly prominent, albeit unable to threaten Newberry, whilst Nicoll’s energy probably deserved him his consolation goal.

Midwinter’s performance was memorable for Saracens, left-back Kian Burrows was lithe and pacy, whilst Hodges looked lively on a few occasions, wide left…

Many thanks to the FC staff for their kind welcome and it was a joy to cover the match from a great viewing position…