A LATE own goal helped Stratford Town to a 1-0 win against Redditch United as the Bards recorded a record-breaking sixth successive victory.
Teenager Omari Brown put through his own net with nine minutes left to play at the Arden Garages Stadium.
Stratford have now won six consecutive games in the Southern League for the first time since joining the division back in 2013.
And the result means Stratford sit seventh in the Southern League Premier Central table, one point outside of the play-off places.
Stratford created the game’s first chance as Dan Lafferty raced onto a flick-on only to shoot tamely straight at Tyrese Warmington from the edge of the penalty area.
The Reds went close soon after when Tyler Bruck superbly controlled Harrison Mole’s pass only to see his shot saved by Jake Weaver.
The ball deflected into the path of Alex Cameron who also saw his goalbound shot bravely blocked by Kory Roberts who threw his body in the path of the strike.
Stratford felt Matty Warburton should have received a second yellow card before the break after he made a late challenge on a home player.
However, the referee only awarded the Bards a free-kick and booked Owen James for his protestations.
The Reds looked to break early in the second half as Liam Loughlan burst into the box only for Fin Brennan to produce an inch-perfect challenge in the box.
However, the Bards broke the deadlock on 81 minutes when Brown could only head Brennan’s corner from the right into his own net inside his own six-yard box.
The home side almost sealed the points moments later as Tyrese Warmington superbly diverted Max Lott’s close-range effort onto the post with his foot.
Stratford are next in action against Needham Market on Saturday, January 17 with kick-off at 3pm at Bloomfields.
