Sheldon strikes to secure cup progress
A JAMIE Sheldon strike halfway through the second half propelled Stratford Town into the second round of the Birmingham Senior Cup at Stourbridge on Monday evening, writes Bryan Hale.
Carl Adams opted for an experienced line-up with the only concession to youth being James Cutts, who deputised in goal for the unfit Niall Cooper, with Charlie Faulkner and Kyle Janes on the substitutes' bench.
And Cutts was soon in action getting down well to hold a driven-in left cross from Drew Canavan as the Glassboys dominated the early exchanges.
Brandon Hague - who came through the ranks of Town’s Youth team a couple of seasons ago - was then not far away with a crisp shot on the turn followed by Leon Broadhurst having a fierce effort deflected behind off Liam Francis.
Town did not threaten until halfway through the half when Simeon Tulloch took advantage of a mistake by Lewis Probertt send over a deep cross from the right which was met by Jamie Sheldon with a well struck shot which flew inches over.
Stourbridge responded with Cutts saving well from Junior Smikle followed by Hague again going close, but the interval arrived with the game still goalless.
Town were far more lively after the restart with Will Grocott surprising the Glassboys keeper Matt Gould with a dipping attempt from 25 yards out which clipped the top of the bar on its way behind.
Gould then saved from Sheldon and after Canavan and Smikle had both missed decent chances for Stourbridge, it was Town who took the lead on 64 minutes when Grocott squared the ball across the penalty area and Sheldon drilled it beyond Gould into the bottom corner.
Stourbridge tried hard to force an equaliser but their earlier fizz had evaporated and with Town showing plenty of resilience at the back they held on for the win, with Cutts making sure with a crucial block from Luke Benbow as the game headed into added time.
TOWN: James Cutts, Warren Brooks, Guy Clark, Barry Fitzharris, Liam Francis, Jean Kalenda (James Fry 46), Simeon Tulloch, Will Grocott (Charlie Faulkner 76), Richard Gregory, Jamie Sheldon, Trey Brathwaite.
