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