Early goals propel Town to victory over Dunstable
TWO goals in the opening 19 minutes saw Stratford Town claim a deserved 2-0 win over Dunstable Town at the DCS Stadium on Saturday.
Simeon Tulloch fired Town in front with a spectacular volley in the eighth minute and Jamie Sheldon doubled the home side's advantage with a penalty 11 minutes later.
The victory was Town's fourth of the season and moves them up to 12th in the Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division table.
Town enjoyed a bright start to the game and were rewarded by Tulloch's early strike. Sheldon's whipped-in cross from the right was met by the midfielder, who showed great technique to volley home from 12 yards.
Just over ten minutes later and Town were 2-0 up from the penalty spot. The busy Tulloch chased down a long ball into the area, before being taken down by David Longe-King.
Referee Philip Staynings had no hesitation in awarding the penalty, which Sheldon coolly slotted home.
Dunstable enjoyed plenty of possession, but their opportunities at goal were at a premium and it took them 38 minutes to register their first attempt on target.
Skipper Zack Reynolds' cross was met by Adam Moussi, whose header was comfortably dealt with by Stratford keeper Niall Cooper.
The visitors came out fired up at the restart and they dominated much of the territory, but Town managed to restrict them to mainly long-range efforts, many of which were off target.
Stratford continued to look the more threatening in front of goal and they were desperately unlucky not to score a third in the 71st minute.
Tulloch had an effort blocked by Smith, with the ball rebounding to substitute Dior Angus, whose goal-bound shot was blocked by a Dunstable defender on the edge of the six-yard box.
Town players and supporters appealed for a penalty as the ball appeared to strike the Dunstable defender's arm, but the referee was having none of it.
That chance seemed to spur Town into action and three minutes later Will Grocott's cross from the left was met by Angus, whose diving header was brilliantly pushed over by Smith.
In the closing stages, good work from Kieren Westwood down the left created a chance for Grocott, but his effort was beaten away to safety by Smith.
Stratford Town: Niall Cooper, Daniel Summerfield, Kieren Westwood, James Fry (c), Liam Francis, Jordan Cullinane-Liburd, Barry Fitzharris (Warren Brooks 80), Will Grocott, Edwin Ahenkorah (Dior Angus 66), Jamie Sheldon (Jean Kalenda 60), Simeon Tulloch. Subs not used: Donnell Benjamin, Guy Clark.
Dunstable Town: Jack Smith, Zack Reynolds (c), Gedeon Okita, Danny Talbot, David Longe-King, John Sonuga, Adam Moussi, Danny Green (Fabian Brown 68), Alex Cathline (Andrew Phillips 62), Kevin Bossman, Jack Hutchinson. Subs not used: Jordon Odofin, Jamie Head.
Full match report and reaction in next week's Herald.
