SKIPPER Ross Oulton admitted Stratford Town’s lack of experience was all too evident as they suffered a 6-0 thumping at Peterborough Sports.
The newly-assembled Town were swept aside after conceding five goals in a second half display which caretaker boss Paul Davis described as a capitulation.
Town will look to bounce back on Saturday when they entertain high-flying Coalville Town at the Arden Garages Stadium in Southern League Premier Central.
Midfielder Oulton, who was one of the few players to come out of last week’s thrashing at the Bee Arena with any credit, has no doubts the players will learn quickly from the experience.
Town have used 41 different players so far this campaign and Oulton says they need to adjust to the level and become a team.
“We’ve got young players and they’ve just got to learn from it,” Oulton told the Stratford Town Independent Supporters Association. “I don’t think any of them have suffered a 6-0 before, but we’re lacking experience at the moment.
“It’s a new team and it’s still gelling. It will come but it takes time. We’re not bad players but we just need to get together in training to put it right.”
Peterborough had struck first through Josh Moreman’s 13th-minute goal after he was left unmarked at the far post.
Mark Jones added a second in the 51st minute and Dion Sembie-Ferris made it 3-0 three minutes later.
Jones added his second for 4-0 on 68 minutes and Josh McCammon completed the scoring in stoppage time.
“I’m disgusted,” said Davis. “To concede four goals in 20 minutes as we did in the second half was not what we planned at half-time.
“With their high line I always felt we would get in and score eventually and that it would be an even game, but every time they attacked they looked like scoring.
“Peterborough are not as good as Hednesford but they are a team that keep turning you around and making you defend all the time and we just capitulated.”
He added: “I said to the players in the dressing room after the game that I can’t change all of you. That’s not feasible but next game some of you will have to sit out and someone else will come in.”
Meanwhile, Town have snapped up former Birmingham City U23s striker Kyle McFarlane on loan from York City ahead of the clash with Coalville.
McFarlane was freed by Blues in the summer, having progressed through the age groups, and the 22-year-old joined National League North side York.
He has found his opportunities limited with Steve Watson’s table-toppers and has now joined Town for a month.
CHAIRMAN Jed McCrory and director Andy Chilton will be special guests when the Stratford Town Independent Supporters Association holds its AGM on Monday at the clubhouse.
After the AGM business is completed, McCrory and Chilton will be on hand to outline the board’s vision of the future and answer questions from association members. The meeting starts at 8pm.
