Gregory's last-gasp goal earns Town a replay

RICHARD Gregory struck a stoppage-time equaliser as Stratford Town came from two goals down at the DCS to force an FA Trophy replay with Grantham.

The visitors dominated the first half and goals from Felipe Barcelos and Lee Shaw saw them lead 2-0 at break.

It was much of the same in the second half, with Grantham looking the most likely side to score again.

But Town kept plugging away and a brilliant 25-yard strike from Jamie Sheldon gave Carl Adams’ side hope with ten minutes to go, and they stunned Grantham when Gregory scrambled the ball home following an Edwin Ahenkorah free-kick.

“I’m just frustrated,” said Town boss, Carl Adams.

“On Monday night (against Stourbridge) we fought, we battled and played really well. And five days later we were rubbish.

“In the first half we were out-fought, out-battled, out-ran, out-worked.

“The plan today was to out-football them, but credit to them, they never gave us a second on the ball.

“But I also have to give our lads credit for the last 15 or 20 minutes of the game. Now we have another bite of the cherry.”

Town will head to Grantham on Tuesday with a threadbare squad.

Jean Kalenda and Simeon Tulloch both left the field early on Saturday after picking up injuries, while defensive duo Kieren Westwood and Dan Summerfield remain sidelined.

Barry Fitzharris also misses out as he serves the second of his three-match suspension.

Full report in next week's Herald.