STRATFORD Town were punished for an error-strewn display as the Bards slipped to a 3-0 defeat at Spalding United.
The visitors struggled on a difficult surface as goals from Joseph Nyahwema, Darnell Johnson and Mani Sano-Sani condemned the Bards to defeat at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field.
And the result means Stratford sit third in the Southern League Premier Central play-off places.
Spalding broke the deadlock on 22 minutes when Nyahwema capitalised on uncertainty in the Stratford defence to curl a shot past Jake Weaver.
And the home side doubled their lead on 35 minutes as Johnson poked the ball into the net following a melee in the box.
The Bards made a couple of changes at the break with Charlie Williams and Cyrus Bruce on in place of Alex Williams and Tom Solanke.
Stratford had a chance to reduce the deficit as Dan Lafferty saw his shot from the edge of the penalty area drift over the crossbar.
However, Spalding took the game out of Stratford’s reach on 55 minutes when Sano-Sani’s shot hit the underside of the crossbar and the assistant referee belatedly flagged to confirm the ball had crossed the line.
The Bards searched for a way back into the game as Fin Brennan hit the bar at a corner and Josh Hawker struck the post from a free-kick after the goalkeeper handled the ball outside the penalty area.
Stratford are next in action against Halesowen Town on Saturday, January 25 with kick-off at 3pm at the Arden Garages Stadium.
