Match Report: Angel & Crown AWAY

Angel & Crown 5 - 3 Stratford Athletic

Sunday, 13 January 2013 - KO 10:30 - Mabley Green, Hackney

Squad: Deacon; Gallie, Jones (C), Wall, Wachowski; P. Stanley, Greening, Reynolds, Kelly; Bocking; F. Stanley

Stratford Athletic fell to a crushing 5-3 defeat to Angel & Crown FC, at Mabley Green on Sunday. Elliot Greening (2) and Alex Bocking scored the goals for the Reds.

Stratford were without Ryan Bishop, who informed the gaffer that he'd be absent from the match a few minutes before kick-off. This forced manager Mike Earll to adjust his side with Bocking filling the gap left by Bishop. With the home team in red, Athletic were in their white away strip.

Greening got his side off to the best possible start. A superb free-kick from Josh Jones found the Welshman in the box and he powered a header into the top corner. Then Fred Stanley missed a chance.

The home side fought back, using their long-ball game to get behind the back four. The equaliser came from a run down the left flank, a cut inside and a smash across the six-yard box. Chris Deacon got his foot to the cross but it rebounded back into the net off the unlucky Matt Wall. Then Fred Stanley missed a chance.

The second home goal was down to one loss of concentration. Tim Reynolds, who worked hard all game, tried to return a pass from Mark Gallie at right-back but it was too strong and looped over the back four. The Angel forward brought the ball across the box an unleashed a powerful effort at goal. With Josh Jones in front of Deacon he couldn't see the ball until it was too late. 2-2. Then Fred Stanley missed a chance.

The second Stratford goal came from a neat turn by Bocking. On the edge of the box he cut on to his right foot and struck a shot neatly into the top corner. Then Fred Stanley missed a chance.

At half time the teams were level, with every hope of stealing the game in the second 45 minutes.

Greening came up trumps once again, scoring in the opening moments of the second half. As the ball was pulled back across the box from the right, Greening took aim and placed it into the far left corner.

Angel & Crown's third goal was almost too easy. The ball was sent long over the top, Deacon had stayed back in the hope his defenders would win the header. Up against a big centre-forward, the back four were doomed. He knocked it on for a teammate and immediately Deacon knew his naïvety had cost him dearly. By not closing the gap to his back four he had allowed the room for a second runner. He rounded Deacon, knocked it home and Josh Jones couldn't quite stop it on the line.

The fourth goal was scored from a corner. Angel's midfielder bundled the ball home after the ball had evaded both Tom Wachowski's jump and Deacon's attempted punch.

The fifth was inevitable. With the energy levels dropping rapidly, Stratford were exposed more and more at the back. A ball through to the right winger had enough pace on it to see him through on goal, and he easily finished it across the goalkeeper.

There was a late scuffle between a few players and several chance went begging for Angel before the end. Deacon saved a few but many were blasted wide or over. At full time Stratford were a thoroughly worn and beaten team. 5-3.

Quick Q&A: Olly Kelly

Sometimes you come across a player with so much skill and presence on a football field that he'll make the game look easy. Sometimes he'll make it look so easy that it's actually hard. Sometimes he'll look so good, he'll appear to be playing crap. Olly Kelly notched his first goal for Stratford Athletic last weekend, a real poacher's effort from about a yard away from the goalline. These are his thoughts following that performance:

How did it feel to get your first Stratford goal?

I think the whole squad has felt this one coming since my first pre-season goal and it was a dream come true to see one of my hard-worked efforts hit the back of the net for the team I've been a lifelong fan of.

What were you thinking as the ball came towards you?

Well, as Elliot recovered the ball, I was thinking "come on, welsh wonder, give it Kells!" He considered it, before deciding that he'd have a go himself. Shockingly the goal machine ploughed the ball into the keeper. Before I knew it, my head was screaming "F***, Big K Fizzle, Don't cock it up!" But it was then that the spirit of my great footballing ancestor, Poacher O'Goals rose up inside me, helping me to bang in the header.

What did you make of the club's first big win?

The first big win was a real morale boost for the club, and it was a rare game when everyone played to a high standard. The team have really given me a home, and it was amazing to be a part of the first convincing win of the season.

Can we expect more goals from Olly Kelly this season?

I reckon so, with quality delivery coming from the squad, everyone is in with a place on the goal tally. I've just got to get myself the ball and let my instincts do the rest.

Cheers Olly.

Match Report: Delta Athletic HOME

Stratford Athletic 5 - 1 Delta Athletic

Sunday, 6 January 2013 - KO 10:30 - South Marsh, Hackney

Squad: Deacon; Gallie, Jones, Wall, Wachowski; P. Stanley, Reynolds, Greening, Kelly; Bishop; F. Stanley

Stratford Athletic cruised to a convincing 5-1 victory over Delta Athletic on Sunday.

Goals from Elliot Greening (2), Ryan Bishop (2) and Olly Kelly - yes, Oliver Kelly - were enough to see off their Division 3 neighbours.

On an overcast day in East London Stratford were down to a skeletal squad as manager Mike Earll set out a 4-4-1-1.

Pete Stanley and Olly Kelly were pushed into midfield as Josh Jones returned to captain the side in the back four. Ryan Bishop swapped his usual job on the left wing to sit behind Fred Stanley in attack.

Both clubs started well, with the Reds looking most likely to grab an opener through Greening. The Welshman scuffed his early chance though, and Delta were let off.

Chris Deacon in the home goal was able to deny the opposition on two close occasions in the first half, and the visitors also clipped the post.

But with a better system of passing in place, and a lack of squabbling saw the Stratford boys create chance after chance.

It soon paid off, as a throw on the left from Tom Wachowski bounced through to Ryan Bishop in front of goal and the little man did the rest. He pulled off a neat first time finish and slid the ball under the keeper.

The crowd were on their feet for Mr Kelly for most if the afternoon, who was wowing his audience with sublime footwork down the left. He could've opened the scoring himself after bamboozling his defender with a quick drop of the shoulder but couldn't find space for a shot.

Fred Stanley was released a few times in the first 45 minutes and really should have done better with his weak effort at the goalkeeper. A goalkeeper who, it must be said, was in fine form. He pulled off one or two stunning stops to keep Stratford's score low.

But the pressure continued to mount and five minutes from the break the Reds had a second. Elliot Greening hammered home a volley from 25 yards that creeped inside the left post. It was a speculative effort, but one typical of his class this season. Credit must go to Mark Gallie, who had cleared his lines well when the ball looped up off a defender for Greening to hit.

With half time looming the stripes had one last chance to pull a goal back. A rocket unleashed from the right wing that was heading right for the top corner was acrobatically turned away by Deacon.

Manager Earll was really pleased with his side as they returned to the dressing rooms. He encouraged his players to press on and make this game one to remember. The message obviously hit the right spot, as Stratford flew out of the blocks after the restart.

Chance after chance fell their way. Terrific efforts from Mark Gallie kept the left winger at bay. While Matt Wall and Josh Jones were bravely putting themselves about.
Tom Wachowski was allowed so much room on the left that he could join the attack.

As the partnership between Greening and Tim Reynolds flourished in the centre of the park, Fred Stanley was played in countless times. Still the striker couldn't find the net.

His brother Pete, club legend, was having a similarly frustrating day in midfield. Wound up by countless wrong decisions and some late tackles Pete squared up to his marker, forcing the referee to lecture him and Jones.

The third goal was Bishop's second. Another fine finish from the Luton lad, brought about by some brilliance on the right by Fred Stanley. He beat his man for pace then cut inside and flicked the ball back to Bishop under pressure. As the ball came back to him on the edge of the box, he put his head down and drove the ball sweetly into the bottom left corner, away from the stranded keeper.

Greening was the source of the fourth goal. Choosing to shoot on his left from the edge of the box, the ball ricocheted in amongst the bodies and popped up in front of Kelly. With a mighty leap (hop) he powered the ball (it came off his face) into the back of the net and ran to his teammates in celebration. The fans went mad, there was a slight pitch invasion, but the stewards sorted it out.

The final home goal was Greening's 10th of the season. Another superb ball over the top from Reynolds set the Welshman on his way down the middle. One-on-one with the keeper he shaped to shoot bottom right, and instead neatly placed it into the left corner.

The away team did manage a consolation to strip Deacon of his first league clean sheet. But replays revealed that the striker had been at least a yard offside and the official hadn't spotted it. He tucked home the goal after being clear of the back four, illegally.

They could've had an identical second as once again the official missed the striker lurking in an offside position. This time Deacon blocked the fierce shot at close range.

Victory was sealed by the full time whistle, music to the ears of Stratford fans around the ground. They start 2013 in superb style, notching up their biggest win of the season and hopping up the table in the process.

Be sure to tune into Absolute Ballsocks this week to hear more (and I mean loads more) about Olly Kelly's goal.

Interview: Happy New Year from the Gaffer

It's that time of year again. Christmas is over, festive celebrations have ceased for another 12 months and it's back to the training ground for Stratford Athletic. It's only right that the first interview of 2013 go to the gaffer himself, so here are his thoughts on tables, transfers and training.

New Year, same manager. What can we expect from Mike Earll in 2013?

Happy new year all! You can expect to see a new and improved Mike Earll in 2013. Looking back on the first half of the season there are things we could all improve on and I’m no different, 2012 made me learn a few things about management and my team. I feel I have grown as a manager since my appointment in the summer and I hope to continue building my legacy throughout 2013.

It's fair to say it wasn't the best ending to 2012, but the team could move up to fourth with a win on Sunday. How important would victory be?

Yes 2012 couldn’t have ended any worse for us but I see that game as a one off, getting a win would be nice to erase the memory of that 5-0 thrashing that was given to us just before Christmas. Victory is vital if we want to be challenging the top 4 rather than just sitting in the middle of the division. We need to win and start the year as we mean to go on!

As the transfer window opens again, will it be hard to hold onto Elliot 'Boyo' Greening after his goalscoring form in 2012?

I cannot wait till the transfer window is shut and all this speculation stops. Ellsy has been a key player for us in 2012 providing many stand out performances not only with his goals but his all round play, but as he’s top scorer of our division we have to accept there will be other clubs interested in him. Also it’ll be hard to keep other players like Fred Stanley. I heard that a div 4 team are interested but I think it’s important to keep a big squad so we need to keep our back up players like Fred.

This year could see the return of Will Winthrop between the sticks, if he's available would you consider rotation for the cup?

Will is a bottler, I can’t see him making a return to the first team fold. The latest news from talking to him the other day is that he’s too scared he might bruise his knee again. Also I want to keep a bit of continuity and our present keeper has been on a great run of form so I have no reason to rotate at the moment.

Club legend Paul Nicolaou has promised to make an appearance in the Director's box this year, would that be your proudest day in charge?

Welcoming a legend like Mr Nicolaou back will be a great honour for myself and the team, it's people like him that make this club special. I would be so proud if on that day I could deliver him a victory to make his appearance worthwhile and memorable for him. He was also a mentor to me in my early days at the club, I don’t think I would have got this team’s first victory without his influence.

There were rumours that double-header games would start soon, are you a fan of these ties?

I don’t think anybody is a fan of double headers, I would rather avoid this type of situation if I’m honest. If it does come down to this though we will be prepared. Hopefully we can have a large squad that day and we can do some rotation during the ties to get the best out of the team. This is why it’s important to keep my back up players like Fred in the club as I previously mentioned.

The fans are expecting big things from 2013, are you the right man for the job?

Yes.

Thanks boss.