Match Report: Florist Arms AWAY

Florist Arms 1 - 3 Stratford Athletic

Sunday, 24 February 2013 - KO 10:30 - Victoria Park, Tower Hamlets

Squad: Deacon; Wachowski, Wall, Jones (C), Gallie (Giles); Kelly, Greening (Harris), Reynolds, Venus; Bishop; F. Stanley

Stratford Athletic picked up their sixth win of the season away to Florist Arms on Sunday; goals from Ryan Bishop, Fred Stanley and Oliver "Poacher O'Goals" Kelly were the difference.

A cagey start to the match presented each side with early half-chances but they offered up very little trouble to either keeper. Relieved Athletic No.1 Chris Deacon only just made kick-off after missing the team bus earlier that morning. He was thankful that Olly Kelly was alert when a close-range indirect free-kick clipped the sturdy winger on its way over the crossbar.

Stratford were a much more cohesive team from the start, making it easy for them to pass to one another with increased accuracy. The squad seemed to gel more effectively and soon enough had their first real opportunity. It fell to Elliot Greening, who darted in to connect with a corner, but the in-form striker headed the ball narrowly wide.

With their confidence building, and a solid foundation of passing from Connor Venus and Tim Reynolds in the middle, Stratford pushed on. And it wasn't long before Ryan Bishop had struck them into a first half lead. Captain Josh Jones knocked a long free-kick into the box, Greening headed it back across goal and there was Bishop to tuck home his fifth goal this season.

At half time manager Mike Earll was pleased to go in a goal ahead, with his lads fighting for every ball and courageously putting their bodies into tackles. Unfortunately he had to replace Greening, who picked up an ankle injury in the opening 45 minutes, with debutant Andrew Harris.

When the second half started both sides immediately knew which way the game was headed. A string of physical challenges went in from both teams, piling pressure on the referee. He took action by awarding several yellow cards as the match went on, clearly afraid to man manage the game too much.

It was the away team who took advantage of the ref's sudden strictness, earning a stonewall penalty when Fred Stanley was tackled as he went to shoot inside the area. Despite the nature of the call, the referee still consulted with his assistants before finally pointing to the spot. Full credit must go to Stanley for stepping up to convert the penalty; after a run of bad form it takes bravery to volunteer from 12 yards. He coolly slotted it into the bottom left corner for 2-0.

Then it was the home team's turn from the spot. After an unlucky hand-ball decision went against Stratford it was Deacon's turn to impress the Reds' travelling fans. He dropped to his left to palm the spot-kick wide. He wasn't done there though; moments later he tipped a wild high cross-turned-shot over the crossbar and punched the resulting corner away to safety.

However, barely five minutes passed before the referee was pointing to the spot again. This time Tom Wachowski was adjudged to have brought down the opposition's frontman. The Polish defender was booked for dissent following the decision. The same taker stepped up for the second kick. Deacon guessed correctly once again and flung himself to his right, but the ball dipped wildly and he didn't get enough of a touch on it to keep it out. He was furious at himself for conceding a penalty that he nearly reached.

With their goal, Florist Arms picked up their game but so did Stratford, and the intensity of the match had tempers flaring all over the park. Brilliantly, Matt Wall and Josh Jones remained calm throughout; dealing with everything they had thrown at them with ease.

There were one or two scares but both goalkeeper and defenders protected the lead solidly. This set the stage for an unlikely winner from the poacher of goals himself; Olly Kelly. After some neat play on the edge of the box the ball found its way into Kelly and he smashed home from a few yards out.

It was a deserved win for a team that have had a reasonable start to 2013. Solid defensive work from every member of the back four, a cohesive midfield and a reliable attack made the difference this week.

Speaking after the game, gaffer Mike Earll said: "That was a great win, we held our heads high right to the end and deserved the points. I think everyone did their jobs out there. We can all be proud of that display.

"I was pleased with the two new boys; Gilesy and Harrisy. They came on and added something to the game, which I'm really happy about."

Next for Athletic is Regents Park Rovers, who picked up a 2-2 draw on their own turf at the start of the season. They arrive on the South Marshes on the back of a 1-1 draw with the Fire Penguins, and sit seven points behind Stratford in Division Three.