Misfiring striker must do better says Bards boss
STRIKER Callum Ebanks’ haul of just 11 goals is not good enough according to Stratford Town boss Paul Davis.
Last season’s top scorer netted just his second goal of the year in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Southern League Premier Central strugglers Redditch United - a results which saw the Bards slip to seventh in the table.
In contrast, the league’s top three sides all have strikers who have at least doubled Ebanks’ tally. Telford’s Matt Stenson leads the way with 26, Bedford Town’s Leon Lobjoit has 24 and Kieren Donnelly of Halesowen Town has 22.
“The players in the dressing room are relying on him as our main man to score us goals,” a frustrated Davis said. “Every team above us has got a player that is scoring. Callum's got 11 but that ain't enough. It’s not enough if you want to finish up there.”
His goal on Saturday came after just 25 seconds but neither he nor the Bards could build on that perfect start with Redditch equalising on the hour after Town had missed a hatful of chances to wrap up the win..
Davis added: “I don't think anyone in the ground could say that Stratford didn't deserve to win the game. I thought we were by far the better team.
“Redditch had a spell for 20 minutes in the middle of the game where we had to weather and they scored, but ultimately, if you don't take chances, you don't win games in football.
“Their goal was a worldly strike but by that time, we should be at least three-up. One of Callum's chances is still playing in the back of my head, I don't know how it's not gone in.
“When you are as important as Callum is to us, you have to play through bad form. He has to concentrate more in front of goal. It's not acceptable. He's got to carry that pressure, he's not a young lad anymore.
“He did really, really well last year and clubs were talking about him. But for people to keep talking about him, he needs to score in every game between now and the end of the season. We can't really do much else apart from keep pushing him, keep giving him those opportunities.”
The Bards boss did add that Ebanks’ general play had been impressive as was his link-up play with Jack Storer who continually terrorised the Redditch defence.
“He bullied their back three or back four and for that I thought he was brilliant. He's just got to put the ball in the back of the net. That's why I didn't take him off.”
Stratford have four games remaining starting with a home match with Stamford on Saturday, a side two points and two places better off than Davis’ side.
He added: “We're on 62 points now and 74 points will get you in the play-offs. We have to beat Stamford. Games are running out now.”
