Cup derby has added spice - The Stratford Observer

Cup derby has added spice

Stratford Editorial 14th Sep, 2017   0

STRATFORD Town will be looking to match history – and prove a point – when they welcome Redditch United to the MoodChimp Stadium for an FA Cup derby on Saturday.

Town will be looking to equal their best ever run in the world’s greatest knockout competition by reaching the third qualifying round. They have only achieved the feat twice before – in 2006 and 2011.

It will be no easy task as Redditch lie third in the Southern Premier table, two points off top spot and having lost just once all season.

The sides shared a goalless draw at the MoodChimp on August Bank Holiday Monday but Town boss Carl Adams felt his team deserved the win.




“We created the better chances and should have had the three points,” he said. “It will be a tough game but that performance showed we shouldn’t have anything to fear.”

Stratford’s own unbeaten start to the season came crashing to a halt with a 4-1 defeat at King’s Lynn Town on Saturday before Tuesday’s trip to another likely promotion contender – Hereford – ended in 5-2 defeat.


Midfielder Ben Stephens, back after suspension, was on target for Town with a penalty at the Linnets and netted again at Edgar Street, with Jazz Luckie also scoring.

“It’s been a very tough few days. It’s probably like going to Manchester United on Saturday and then going to Manchester City on Tuesday,” said the manager.

“It’s a really tough fixture list but I still massively believe in this team. I still think we will do very well.”

The Hereford game proved to be a proverbial game of two halves as the Bulls led 4-0 at half time before an interval rollicking livened up the Stratford display.

“They totally dominated us in the first half – we never turned up,” said Adams.

“In the second half after I had a few choice words with them we were a hundred times better.”

Reader Travel

Check out all of the latest reader travel offers to get your hands on some free gifts.

Public Notices

View and download all of the public notices in the Stratford Observer.

Advertising

Advertise with the Stratford Observer to reach your audience

Buy Photos

Buy photos online from the Stratford Observer newspaper.