Olton IV 3 Stratford IV 4
 
A young Olton team had Stratford on the rack from the start. The defense was at 6's and 7's and within 20 minutes Straford found themselves 2-0 down and looked as if it could be a cricket score. Damage limitation allowed Stratford to reach half time at 2-0.
A rousing motivational half time team talk by Nigel Wood meant Stratford started the 2nd half a different team. Ed Hogg burried a penalty stroke and the experienced Peter Havers tucked away the equaliser. Impressive defensive displays by Simon Cossey, Trevor Handcock, Giles Stagg and Mike Bruns gave Straford a solid platform and David Dunnett made several good saves. Ed Hogg completed his brace with a slapshot from the top of the circle and then the revelation and "Man of the Match" Peter Gunnell stepped up. First a goal line clearance kept Olton at bay and then he surged up the pitch to score the 4th with a superb drag flickfrom the edge of the circle almost bursting the roof of the net. Olton did get one back and Stratford had a very nervous final 5 minutes.
A great victory which at one stage seemed an impossibilty.

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Stratford II 2 Telford II 2
 
Mark Reynolds took over the captaincy from Matt Twitely in this relegation battle. For the first 10 minutes Stratford were on the ropes with a succession of short corners. Mark Dudley in the goalkeeping role was up to the task and kept Telford at bay and went on to put in a fine performance.
Stratford then got into gear David Dribble, Rob Bowen and John Blackwallproduced a sound base for the midfield to create chances. Will Schofield had a great opportunity but his reverse stick was a little disappointing. A real interchange of passes from a short corner lead to a neat little flick from Patrick Forrester to please his watching grandmother. Stratford held on until half time.
A measured half time team talk from coach Andy Hodges kept the momentum going, Straford doubled their lead a timely interception saw Rob Bowen surge up the field, slipped it to Patrick Forrester who fed Richard Warwick with as reverse pass who beat the defender and neatly lifted it over the diving goalkeeper.
Stratford then took their foot off the pedal and allowed Telford back into the game. A deliberate back stick saw John Blackwall concede a penalty stroke which was converted and also led to a yellow card. This heralded the arrival of Nigel Wood to bolster the flagging Stratford defense and he was soon into action with a goal line clearance to maintain Stratfords lead.
Stratford continued to create chances and both Mark Reynolds and David Black had one on one situations with the goal at their mercy but failed to convert. John Blackwall again used the wrong side of his stick to earn a red card, he also gave away a short corner from which Telford equalised to clinch a point in a game that Stratford should have made safe earlier.

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Stratford IV 7 Solihull Blossomfield 3
 
Following last weeks reverse Stratford knew they needed a good performance to keep captain Giles Stud satisfied.
Released from his defensive duties a rejuvenated Nigel Wood played up front spearheading Stratfords attack. He scored the first two goals with neat conversions from crosses, first from Phil Davey and then from the marauding Peter Havers on the right wing. Overconfidence let Bloss pull one backshortly before half time.
In the second half Stratford continued to dominate. Mike Bruns making the round trip from Aberystwyth was sublime in midfield and thoroughly deserved the accolade "Man of the Match". Goalkeeper Dave Dunnett ran the length of the pitch to convert a penalty stroke and goals came from Ed Hogg, Ian Bettison and Phil Davey, it was fitting that the "Old Maestro" Nigel Wood completed his hat-trick with a nonchalantly struck short corner. A fitting end to an excellent team performance.
 

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Hockey Stratford 3rd XI match report 13 Feb

Stratford 3^rd Vs Telford on 13 feb 2010

Result: 0-4

 

Stratford 3^rd XI played host to a buoyant Telford this weekend. Telford took the lead after some even play whereupon both sides looked to be evenly matched. Telford extended their lead with another before half time to leave Stratford questioning what could be done to improve their performance. The second half saw some good possession play by Stratford, but they were unable to convert this possession into anything dangerous enough to threaten Telford's goal.  Telford scored another two goals to finish the game 4-0. Stratford captain McBride said after the match "This was always going to be a tough match. With a few players returning from injury we were slow to start and lacked power in attack. The positive I will take from the game is the discovery of our two new youth players, Henry Whetstone and Pepe Townsin who stepped up and played very well indeed." Stratford will play Warwick next weekend in what is sure to be a boisterous local derby clash.

RE: 1st X1 Match Report Mens Hockey

> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 21:32:01 +0000
> Subject: 1st X1 Match Report
>

>
>
> Old Wulfs 3 v Stratford 7
>
>
>
> Stratford sent out a strong message to their promotion rivals, of the BodyKraft West Midlands Premier, on Saturday as they produced a strong display to pick up a valuable three points, away, against Old Wulfrunians.
>
>
>
> It was a big weekend for the top four in the division as Stratford who are third, played fourth whilst Finchfield who are top lost to Wolverhampton, who are second, leaving Stratford still one point behind Wolverhampton with a game in hand and the only
> unbeaten side in the league.
>
>
>
> Stratford where dealt a blow in the warm up as they lost the experienced striker Mark Leary, due to injury, but this didn't stop them from getting into their stride early on and take a deserved lead. Stratford where patient in their build up which led
> to Matt Hyatt finding Captain Stuart Guise in space and with time to pick out James Brookes to sweep the ball into the goal. At this point in the game Stratford where in control but a rare attack from the home side brought them back into the game with a well
> taken goal.
>
>
>
> This asked Stratford questions and initially they reverted back to trying to force the game and turning over possession, as in previous weeks. But taking the lead just before half time, with Brookes doubling his tally after some good work from Ed Grigg
> and Craig McKee, Stratford looked settled again.
>
>
>
> Knowing that they were playing well Stratford where keen to push on with their advantage in the second half and they put themselves within a great position after ten minutes of the re-start with Savage and McKee extending their lead to three goals. Stratford
> didn't stop here as they where opening up the home side with every attack and could of easily scored another three goals but where guilty of not finishing the game off and this nearly came back to haunt them as Old Wulfs scored two quick goals to get them back
> into the game for the second time.
>
>
>
> But Stratford's attacking prowess didn't stop there as they continued to create chances and deservedly regained their lead through Captain Guise and then Greg Ricketts regained Stratford's three goal advantage before Savage scored his second and Stratford's
> seventh to finish the game off once and for all.
>
>
>
>
> Captain Guise couldn't hide his delight of their win 'We
> all came of the pitch extremely happy with the performance and result. Conceding three goals was slightly disappointing
> but this can not overshadow an excellent team result. Prior to the game we asked for everyone to increase
> their individual performances and they certainly responded
> positively.'
>
>

_________________________________________________________________

FW: match report for Ladies 1st

Saturday 6^th FEB

Stratford Ladies 1^st team played Birmingham University 4^th’s on Saturday. On a fast, bouncy pitch against a strong opposition Stratford started the first half positively. With great communication and short passes up the pitch Stratford fought hard for the ball giving Birmingham Uni a harder challenge than what they expected, Emma Davies and Rachel Kent held the middle of the pitch well supporting Stratford on the attack. The fast pace and skills of Birmingham University were evenly matched by the strong defence with Hayley Nicholls (captain) commanding the defence to keep the score at 0-0 at half time. The second half started with a goal by Birmingham University closely followed by an equaliser by Gemma Foster which was a break through made by Rosie Logan who won the ball through there midfield then created the pass to Gemma to scoremaking it 1-1. Following this were constant breaks by both teams with Hannah Campbell and Jet Heyworth taking the ball wide using the left and the right hand sides of the pitch and sending the ball through to Rosie and Holly. Birmingham Uni were fighting hard to try and get the winning goal but with several good saves by Michelle supported by Vicky & Hayley covering the corners the score remained equal. Mel, Emma and Louisa worked well switching the ball round the pitch and distributing the ball to the midfield. With the final score still 1-1 Stratford played positively and confidentially, a good result against a strong team.

Thanks

Hayley Nicholls

Stratford Ladies 1’s

Hockey Stratford 3rd XI 6 Feb Match report

Hockey Stratford 3rd XI 6 Feb Match report

Away vs Solihull Blossumfield

Stratford lost 3-2.

 

 

After recent losses against the two top teams in their league, Stratford's third team were looking to consolidate their mid table position against Solihull Blossomfield, who are bottom of the league. Their confidence was misplaced.  In fact it was more than misplaced – it went AWOL, along with the opportunity of a good victory.  Solihull won 3-2 and even managed to score both of Stratford's goals by twice deflecting the ball into their own net.    
 
Stratford played with a lack of self belief and drive and were unable to take advantage of a lot of space in the midfield.  Too many attacks just petered out without getting a shot on goal and often led to a break that put the Stratford defence under pressure.  Without a valiant performance from Tim Purser, in goal, the game would have been lost much earlier.  Whilst there was no doubt about the work the whole team put in, no one seemed able to play an anchor role or put in a decisive performance.  Stand in captain David Coache did his best to rouse the team but they failed to respond.  With a couple of tough matches coming up, the team has to find their missing confidence.

Hockey: Stratford 3rd XI 30 Jan

Stratford 3^rd XI Vs Harbourne

Score 0-6 to Harbourne.

 

Stratford lost their second match in a row this Saturday, loosing 0-6 to Harbourne. The away team were well practised and their slick passing and clever movement off the ball was to be Stratford's down fall. Also a lack of fitness showed as Stratford could not keep up with the younger Harbourne side. Harbourne did not let up, after winning the first half by four goals, put another two away in the second half. If it wasn't for Stratford's keeper Purser putting in a great performance the score line could have been worse. Stratford's captain McBride said after the match "Our last two losses did not come out of the blue, playing the two teams on top of the table, and with major players injured. However, I expect our performance's to improve from now on and Stratford to regain the solid form we showed in the first half of the season." Stratford travel to Solihull Bloss this Saturday, with high expectations of winning their first points after the mid-season break.