Stratford pace too much for Inglewood

McDonald Stratford AFC:

After licking their wounds from last week's loss, McDonald Stratford AFC came against Inglewood Masters with a determination to prove that they were capable of scoring goals.

Admittedly this was going to be a completely different game with Inglewood's average player age in the mid-forties and the youngest aged 30, while Stratford on the other hand was a very youthful team with a couple of old hands guiding the reins.

The expectation was that Stratford would use their fast pace and boundless energy to overcome skill and tenacity.

The first twenty minutes of the game saw Inglewood holding out very effectively with a strong back line and fairly intuitive midfield. But an impressive ninety meter run by Brad Townsend, who dribbled the ball around nearly every Inglewood player before slotting it into the back of the net saw the start of Stratford's goal tally.

This was followed a short time later by one from Bevan Lehrke who had been working very hard on the left wing and was finally rewarded. The first half ended with a third goal scored from Dylan Blair leaving it 3:0.

By mid way through the second half the pace of the Inglewood game had dropped significantly but they were still holding Stratford out, showing that age can still make a difference over youth.

However Stratford were realising that the best way to break through was by putting the plays together and some very skilful ball work in the midfield enabled them to get close but the old bugbear of finishing kept rising its head, though Blair was able to provide in the end scoring a further two to get his hat-trick.

Final score was 5:0 to Stratford.

The team has a bye next week which is timely as they go into a Federation Cup round two match against Port hills in Palmerston North on the 30th, and they will be using the intervening time preparing for the crucial game.

U18 youth team:

The U18 youth team were held to a nil all draw against Opunake in a match that could have gone both ways.

Stratford's attacking saw some unlucky misses by Jamie Chapman and William Wakefield who were being fed some good ball from an impressive midfield including Joel Heine and Jordan Savage who were working hard and displaying top ball skills.

The defensive line was again crucial in holding out Opunake and what did get through was covered by keeper Andrew Buckley.

U13 junior team:

The U13 junior team had it a bit harder up against Waitara.

Stratford were up to the task and put together some good early plays but when Waitara scored first they were a little knocked back. However a brilliant goal by Ethan McGarth saw their spirits lifted.

But it wasn't long before more Waitara goals followed and they were on the back foot.

By the last part of the second half they had pulled themselves together and were starting to fight back with good striking play from Ben Dodunski and Ben Lowe but it wasn't enough.

Final score 7:1 to Waitara