LUDLOW TOWN 1-1 FC STRATFORD: THE INDEPENDENT MATCH REPORT + SCREENSHOTS WITH CAPTIONS...

 Ludlow Grab Point, As Bears Misfire…

Ludlow Town 1-1 FC Stratford

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

FC Stratford were dominant during the opening half of this encounter but despite netting a smart goal early on, they failed to add to their tally. Only four attempts at goal were created by the Bears before the break, despite having so much possession and being able to utilise both attacking full-backs, who were often afforded too much space by Town.

Credit must be given to the Ludlow defenders, who battled hard to limit their visitors to so few clear chances. Certainly FC felt desperately hard done by when the referee awarded Town a second period penalty, which was converted by lively replacement Ryan Clarke. As another Ludlow substitute Harley Morris was presented with a headed chance, his downward effort was blocked by Dan Chaundy as he covered in front of goalkeeper Ethan Pheasey and the left-back smacked the ball away.

THE INCIDENT...

Thus it was a real surprise that the referee pointed to the penalty-spot and even Morris failed to appeal for handball and he was really close to the incident.

There was a delay, as Stratford appealed in desperation and the referee even went to chat to his assistant but there was to be no change of mind and Clarke netted the equaliser.

Ludlow improved considerably after the recess and indeed might have won the match, had it not been for two smart Pheasey saves and a couple of wild shots. FC struggled at times during the second-half but subsequently failed to score from a crazy melee and then Dan Atkins drove wide of the near post, when the game was in its final moments.

ABOVE & BELOW: THE MELEE...

ATKINS HAS FIRED WIDE IN THE CLOSING MOMENTS...

The early opening goal and the Bears’ offensive efforts…

After a glancing header by Jake Williams had been cleared from the Town goal-line by Josh Bull, Robbie Sone’s left-flank centre was shovelled back across goal by right-back Cian Hodson right onto the head of striker Toby Nicoll, whose glanced effort flew high into the left corner of the net.  

WILLIAMS' NEAR POST HEADER...

...IS CLEARED FROM THE GOAL-LINE BY BULL...

HODSON'S ASSIST...

...NICOLL'S HEADER...

...& 0-1 TO STRATFORD...

However, with the pitch a little uneven in places, passing was often difficult in respect of accuracy and several times possession was squandered carelessly by both teams. Despite the amount of possession gained by the guests, little came of it and home goalie Zach Venables wasn’t called into action at all really, for he only had to collect a low Atkins effort and watch the same Bear rise at the offensive left post but head wide.

ATKINS HEADS WIDE...

A couple of efforts by Sone from downtown were off target and in truth, the FC forward was largely on the fringes of the action. He was dispossessed a few times too but immediately after he was replaced during the second-half, his team was awarded a 20 yard free-kick, which he would surely have taken. Budd stuck his set-piece shot into the defensive wall…

However, the only real efforts at goal by the guests after the interval came when Jake Williams nodded a dangerous centre over the crossbar under pressure from a yard out and later in a goalmouth scramble. The melee caused in the Town 6-yard box stemmed from a decent assist by Hodson but in a pin-ball situation, somehow Atkins couldn’t get the ball over the goal-line as bodies and boots flew about like dead leaves in a strong wind.

Finally, Atkins went clear at inside-right but his sliced effort flew by the right stick as he overbalanced and that was in the closing moments.

The Ludlow improvement…

After managing just a shot wide from distance by Jamie Richards during the first 45, Clarke rapped his low penalty into the left side of goal, before busy FC midfielder Joe Sykes lost possession and that allowed home replacement George Crump to set up Clarke at inside-left, only for the advancing Pheasey to block the ensuing shot at goal.

HARRY JONES' FREE-KICK...

...IS BLOCKED BY THE HEAD OF WATERFIELD...

CLARKE SCORES WITH HIS SPOT-KICK...

...FOR 1-1...

PHEASEY SAVES FROM CLARKE...

Pheasey then parried an acute drive from Clarke again, after an assist by Morris and finally, Crump drove too high from an angle after he had fastened onto a stray defensive header by FC’s Joe Waterfield.

Certainly Ludlow were steadier during the second-half and looked more dangerous with Clarke in attack. 

The final words…

Much of the contest was untidy and to be honest, although FC tried to keep possession as much as possible, the tactic often lacked a little pace and happened without the result of penetration.

In the home defence, Morgan Millard partnered Reece Williams effectively and Kieran Dovey really attempted to push his team into offensive situations. Striker Ryan Lewis was offered little service in fairness but his work rate was rife.

Sykes and Josh Going were industrious for FC in midfield, whilst Atkins was often involved in the better stuff offered by the visitors.

Several official decisions appeared to be affected by the bellowing of players and coaches alike, which was embarrassing to witness but this match is likely to be remembered for a very controversial penalty decision…    

Thanks to the staff at Ludlow Town for a kind welcome!