STRATFORD Town made the perfect start to the New Year with a dominant 4-0 victory against high-flying AFC Telford United.
Braces from Lewis Ludford-Ison and Daniel Lafferty sealed a fine win for the home side at the Arden Garages Stadium.
And the result means Stratford sit second in the Southern League Premier Central table, four points behind leaders Kettering Town who have a game in-hand.
The game defied the elements to go ahead as planned with the Bards still led by the caretaker management team of Chris Hussey and Paul Davis.
Stratford broke the deadlock on 20 minutes when Ludford-Ison’s shot from the edge of the penalty area found the net through a crowd of bodies.
And the Bards doubled their lead on the half-hour mark as Lafferty produced a smart finish after good work from Owen James.
Telford piled on the pressure after the break only for the home side to extend their lead with 15 minutes left to play.
Ludford-Ison powered home a header at the back post from substitute Ashley Sammons’ free-kick to score his second of the game.
And Lafferty completed the scoring three minutes later with an emphatic finish to lift the Bards up to second in the table.
Stratford are next in action against Leiston on Saturday, January 4 with kick-off at 3pm at Victory Road.
