FC STRATFORD have snapped up Alex Andrews and Joe Taylor from Coventry Copsewood to prepare for what will be an increasingly busy finale to the season.
FC boss Dave Poulson said he was indebted to the Midland League Division One side and manager Darren Dickson for waiving the usual seven-day cooling-off period ahead of the Division Three clash away to Boldmere Sports & Social Falcons.
Left-sided Taylor has previously play at FC Stratford, scoring nine times in 36 appearances, and has also played for Coventry Sphinx and Feckenham.
Striker Andrews’ CV includes clubs across the country, including Scottish side East Fife. After spells with Stalybridge Celtic, Heybridge Swifts and Maldon & Tiptree, he moved to the Midlands and played for Southam, Long Buckby, Daventry and then Copsewood.
The duo’s arrival follows last week’s signing of Chris Brown from Bustleholme.
The Falcons’ clash will, weather permitting, be Stratford’s second league match since Christmas and they face having to squeeze in two-thirds of the season into the final three months.
Happily, however, Poulson’s men ended a month-long lay-off last weekend to earn a 4-2 win at Bartestree in the Les James Challenge Cup. They will now be at home to Division Two leaders NKF Burbage in the quarter-finals on Saturday, February 24.
Stratford will also be in Challenge Vase action on Tuesday night, with a trip to current Division Three title favourites GNP Sports, who have yet to lose in the league this season.
James Gifford (2), Tom Parnaby and Ashley Wilkes were the goalscorers in last weekend’s victory at Hereford side Bartestree.
Gifford gave Stratford an early lead, heading home a Daniel Kirby cross, and Parnaby added a second following a back-heel from Jay Tilbury to lead 2-0 at half time.
Austin Thomas replied for Bartestree with a curling volley but Stratford regained their two-goal lead when Wilkes slotted home a penalty following a foul on Gifford.
Thomas again cut the gap, with a header from a corner, but Gifford settled the contest with a cool finish from Joe Knight’s through ball.
