Connor sent off as Stratford Town suffer derby defeat

TEN-man Stratford Town slipped to their sixth defeat in their last seven games as they suffered a 4-0 derby defeat at Banbury United on Thursday night, writes Rod Abrahams.

Town goalkeeper Louis Connor was sent off after 15 minutes in a dismal night for Town, whose hopes of improving on than last season's 14th-place finish are now looking remote with four games to go.

The only change from the Slough game was Dan Summerfield, who replaced James Fry in defence.

The early exchanges were fairly even, Edwin Ahenkorah had a good shot blocked and Amer Awoh shot over after a Charlie Wise effort was also blocked for Banbury.

But in the 15th minute it was all change, when Connor was shown the red card for preventing a goal-scoring opportunity.

The keeper failed to deal with a routine long ball into the Town half, headed on by Nicky Johnson.

He could have cleared the ball, but waited until it was in the area, but he dropped it twice and on the second occasion Elliot Amer Awadh won it before being hauled down by Connor before he could put the ball into the empty net.

Charlie Evans was then sacrificed, with James Fry who took over in goal as Town had no recognised keeper on the bench.

It was Elliot Sandy who stepped up to take the resulting penalty, tucking it away with the minimum of fuss to put Banbury ahead.

Despite going down to ten men, it was Town who had the best two chances in the remainder of the half.

In the 25th minute, Mike Taylor won the ball in midfield and set up a great chance for Ahenkorah, his strike had beaten the advancing Puritans keeper Jack Harding, but hit the post.

It was Taylor who had the next chance as he picked up a pass from Eli Bako, muscled his way into the box, but his goal-bound shot was well blocked by Harding as he came off his line to prevent a Town equaliser.

The home side's response, was in the last five minutes of the half when Leam Howards shot over and Sandy planted a header wide from a George Nash cross.

However, the Puritans doubled their lead in the second minute of added time when Elliot Sandy crossed from the left and Nicky Johnson was allowed a free header to beat Fry from six yards.

It was all Banbury in the second half, and within two minutes of the restart they were 3-0 up.

A Jordy Ngathe cross from the left was headed back across goal by Johnson and Leam Howards scored with a close range header at the far post.

The second half was dominated by the Puritans as they took control with the man advantage.

Sandy, Johnson and Awadh all had efforts easily saved by caretaker keeper Fry, but he was beaten again in the 75th minute as Amer Awadh scored Banbury's fourth.

He picked up the ball in his own half went past a couple of Town players, then out-paced the defence to fire a low strike inside the far post to put the result beyond doubt.

Stratford's only effort of the half came in the 87th minute, when substitute Jazz Luckie had a close-range effort cleared off the line by a Banbury defender from a Lee Thomas free-kick.

It was not a good night for the Town faithful, having to suffer another defeat, but although being down to ten men, the Town players still tried to play some football.

It now appears to be a case of seeing out the rest of the season for Stratford, with four games left - one at home and three away.

Stratford Town: Connor, Summerfield, Thomas, Hancocks, Francis, Gallinagh, Bako, Marsden, Ahenkorah, (Luckie 61), Taylor, Evans, (Fry 14). Subs not used: Stephens, Recci.