Defeat puts an end to Bards’ title hopes

STRATFORD Town remain on course for the play-offs according to head coach Paul Davis following Saturday’s disappointing defeat at struggling Barwell.

But he has conceded that the Southern League Premier Central title now looks beyond them with Kettering Town in line for the honours.

“I think it’s probably been Kettering’s title since October,” Davis said. “I know they have had a blip in form but then all teams do. I just think they score too many goals to not win it. It is tight and there are probably eight teams competing for the play-offs with Kettering winning it.

“They have more firepower than some of the National League clubs.

“We still have some big games left starting with our trip to Bishops Stortord on Saturday and if we achieve the points total we’ve set then we will be in the play-offs.

“If I had said before the Halesowen game that we would win six out of seven, I think everyone would have taken that. The opportunity now is to get back on the train and prepare for our next game. If we win two and lose one all the way to the end of the season then we will probably finish with enough points to be in the play-offs. We have a points total in mind and it doesn’t matter how we get there.”

The Bards went into their match at Barwell in search of a third straight win but goals at the start of each half wrapped up a 2-1 victory for the home side with Lewis Ison scoring what proved to be a consolation goal for Stratford.

Davis said: “Call me superstitious but I look at things other than league positions. When a team has lost seven on the bounce like Barwell had and we are on a good run having won nine out of 13, then the odds are stacked in your favour – which means it is probably going to go against you.

“Then when you throw into the mix that Stratford have hardly ever won at Barwell then it adds up to being one of those days.

“In terms of the performance, I didn’t think we were quite at it and sometimes I think you have to take your medicine. I’ve watched the game back and we had some glorious chances but it was just one of those days.

“There were a couple of changes to the 11 with Jake Weaver injured and Alex Williams going back [to WBA] and we changed the shape – but that was no excuse because we have been changing shape all season.

“They got an early goal and we missed quite a few chances. The confidence was draining from us and we got in at half-time and had a chat. We felt we were still in the game but they then go and score three minutes later. When we scored there was a belief that we could get something from the game but it wasn’t to be.

“I said to the players afterwards that I felt that was the hardest game left of the season because of all the stats stacked against us. It doesn’t change where we need to get to, we just have one less game to reach our target.”

On-loan Walsall keeper Jenson Kilroy made his debut at Barwell and will continue in goal on Saturday with Weaver still out following a head injury.