STRATFORD Town suffered a late defeat at home to Kings Langley on an emotional afternoon as the club paid tribute to Cody Fisher in their first game since the defender’s tragic death.
The Bards led at half time through Josh Hawker’s goal only for Kings Langley to score twice in the final 11 minutes in front of 973 spectators at the Arden Garages Stadium to extend Stratford’s winless run to 10 matches.
And the result means Stratford sit 20th in the Southern League Premier Central table, seven points from safety with games in hand on all but one of the teams above them.
Prior to kick-off, an impeccable minute’s silence was held and the game was stopped in the 23rd minute for a minute’s applause with the club’s number 23 shirt retired in memory of Fisher.
On the pitch, the Bards took to the field for the first time this year and started brightly as Andre Wright sent a free-kick over the crossbar.
And Stratford broke the deadlock on the stroke of half time when Hawker’s speculative cross from distance was caught by the wind and sailed over the head of Kings’ goalkeeper Jack Berman and into the net.
The home side almost doubled their lead in first-half injury time only for Mikey Taylor’s fierce effort to slam against the crossbar and over the top whilst the visitors were yet to register a shot on target.
Stratford looked to extend their lead in the second period and spurned a golden chance when Jesse Akubuine’s powerful shot was beaten away by Berman when one-on-one.
And Kings made Stratford pay for that missed chance when Andronicos Georgiou equalised on 79 minutes when he turned the ball home from close range at the second attempt.
The visitors snatched the points on 87 minutes when Kennedy Feyi collected a loose ball in the box and smashed an effort past Liam O’Brien.
Stratford are next in action away at Royston Town on Saturday, January 14 with kick-off at 3pm at Garden Walk.
