A MUCH-CHANGED Stratford Town side bowed out of the Birmingham Senior Cup following a 2-1 defeat away at Bedworth United.
Bards midfielder Charlie Williams scored a late goal to set up a nervy finish after Kyle Burke and Mayemba Star struck either side of the break for Bedworth at The Oval.
However, Stratford were unable to find an equaliser in the remaining minutes as Northern Premier League Midlands opponents Bedworth advanced to the next round.
Bards boss Gavin Hurren opted to rest a host of first team stars including Liam O’Brien, Paul McCone, Lewis Ludford-Ison, Chris Hussey, Callum Ebanks, Dan Lafferty and Jack Storer.
That meant Finn Harvey, Devonn O’Sullivan, Zach McKenzie and Jaylan Wildbore all came into the starting XI while Louis Beresford deputised between the sticks.
Bedworth started the better of the two teams, forcing several early corners, before Beresford made an excellent save to deny home striker Star when one-on-one.
At the other end, Wildbore headed over from Williams’ cross before McKenzie and O’Sullivan combined well which ended with a shot clipping the crossbar.
And Stratford then went close through Williams who saw his fierce shot turned behind for a corner by Bedworth goalkeeper Sam Lomax.
However, Bedworth took the lead against the run of play on 36 minutes when Burke forced the ball home from close range at the back post after the Bards failed to deal with Will Grocott’s corner.
The Bards looked to respond after the break as Lomax made a smart save low down to his left to keep out Williams’ free-kick.
And Lomax then tipped O’Sullivan’s header over the bar before Williams shot narrowly wide as the visitors continued to search for an equaliser.
However, Bedworth all but sealed their place in the next round on 75 minutes as Star broke free to double the home side’s lead.
Williams produced a stunning free-kick on 86 minutes to reduce the deficit, finding the left corner of the goal from distance, as the Bards suffered a second round exit.
