STRATFORD Town continued their promotion charge with a comfortable 3-0 victory against Royston Town.
Quickfire goals from Lewis Ludford-Ison and Owen James after the break put the Bards in command before Charlie Williams completed the scoring late on at the Arden Garages Stadium.
And the victory was made even more impressive after Stratford skipper Paul McCone replaced Bards goalkeeper Jake Weaver in goal for the final hour of the game.
The result means Stratford sit second in the Southern League Premier Central table, one point behind league leaders Bedford Town with two games in-hand.
Stratford made a strong start as Jamie Head kept out Alex Williams’ thunderous drive with the game just five minutes old.
And Lafferty then headed Williams’ cross wide as the Bards went in search of the opening goal.
However, the game turned on 24 minutes when Weaver made a brave stop at the feet of Royston’s Eduard Toiny-Pendred which left the Stratford goalkeeper in a heap on the ground.
Following lengthy treatment, Weaver left the pitch and with no substitute goalkeeper available from the bench, Bards captain McCone took the gloves for the remainder of the match.
Royston eventually forced stand-in keeper McCone to make a save after the break as the home crowd celebrated his every action thereafter.
Stratford broke the deadlock on 52 minutes when Ludford-Ison swept the ball home after Williams played a short corner into the path of Lafferty.
And the Bards struck again four minutes later as Callum Ebanks flicked on Josh Hawker’s long ball and James raced clear to finish past Head.
Williams sealed the points in the final minute of regulation time as the substitute finished off a flowing team move.
Stratford are next in action against Barwell on Saturday, February 15 with kick-off at 3pm at Kirkby Road.
