CARL ADAMS has challenged Stratford Town to use a frantic month of fixtures to kick-start a positive momentum to climb the table.
Town began a run of nine games through November with an out-of-sorts display to lose 3-0 at Frome Town on Wednesday in the Southern Premier.
Tomorrow (Saturday), they return to the MoodChimp Stadium to tackle Bishop’s Stortford, who lie one place above 19th place Town in the table.
Then attention turns to Stratford’s two remaining cup competitions. On Tuesday they visit neighbours Redditch United in the second round of the Bigfreebet.com Challenge Cup before heading north next Saturday to face Northern Premier top-ten side Lancaster City in the second qualifying round of the FA Trophy.
Stratford have midweek games right through until Saturday, December 9 and manager Adams says it’s about time they got rid of their win one, lose one tendency.
“We seem to be in this cycle of win one, lose one, draw one and I’m frustrated that we can’t get out of that rut,” said Adams.
“The players know my feelings. We seem to be on the verge of becoming a good team but we have been nowhere near consistent enough. That’s got to change.”
Adams admitted he was hugely disappointed by the midweek display, even with the starting XI being without injured strikers Edwin Akenkorah and Mike Taylor and defender Andy Gallinagh.
They remain doubtful to face Bishop’s Stortford.
On Wednesday, though, Frome were comfortable winners.
The Somerset side opened the scoring in the 25th minute when a cross from Jon Davies led to the ball looping for Kris Miller to score.
Though Stratford played their part with some dangerous counter-attacks, the hosts added a second on 58 minutes when Ryan Bath nodded home Davies’ cross. Frome continued to threaten and they secured the win with a third goal 16 minutes from time through Ollie Knight, who tucked home after keeper Louis Connor had parried Darren Jeffries’ effort.
Stratford had booked their place in the Trophy second qualifying round for the second time in their history last weekend after defeating Bedworth United at the MoodChimp.
Goals from Taylor and Will Grocott sealed a 2-1 win before Luke Keen replied in the first seconds.
Taylor smashed home the opening goal in the 26th minute after the Greenbacks defence failed to clear a James Hancocks cross.
It became 2-0 three minutes into the second period when Ben Stephens collected Dan Summerfield’s cross and set up Grocott for a slick finish.
“It’s always good to win” said Adams. “It wasn’t the greatest of games but we did what we needed to do and stuck at it.”
