Stratford sweep aside Leamington to progress in League Cup
STRATFORD Town cruised into the third round of the Southern League Cup with a comprehensive 4-0 victory over local rivals Leamington at a soggy DCS on Tuesday night.
The returning Mike Taylor got Stratford up and running in the 19th minute before two goals in as many minutes from midfielder Will Grocott put the tie out of Leamington’s reach.
Substitute Richard Gregory added Town’s fourth from the penalty spot early in the second half to cap an excellent night for Carl Adams’ men against a side currently topping the Southern League Premier Division.
Both managers included a sprinkling of reserve and youth in their line-ups, with Adams including Charlie Evans in the starting XI and naming four other youth team graduates on the bench.
Kieren Westwood made a welcome return after missing the last three games through injury, while the return of Taylor promised to add something different to the Town attack.
Leamington shaded the opening 15 minutes, but neither side carved up a decent chance until the 19th minute when Town went in front.
Ahenkorah fed Taylor and the big striker turned sharply on the edge of the area before unleashing a right-footed shot.
Town’s new signing didn’t get the contact he would have liked, but the ball still somehow squirmed under Tony Breeden and into the Brakes’ net.
Leamington responded immediately and Courtney Baker-Richardson’s great effort was deflected behind.
The intervention proved crucial too, as the following three minutes all but ended the game as a contest.
Taylor and Donnell Benjamin combined well before Taylor put Grocott into space.
The former Kettering Town man went around Breeden and coolly slotted home Stratford’s second.
Town's supporters had barely paused for a breath and Grocott was at it again.
The industrious Taylor was involved again and his shot was stopped by Breeden, but the ball spilled out to Grocott, who fired it into the empty net from 18 yards.
It was hard to see a way back for the Brakes and their task looked near impossible when top scorer Ryan Rowe limped off just before half-time.
Those faint hopes were completely extinguished within three minutes of the restart.
Ahenkorah went clear down the left and he was upended by Richard Taundry in the area. Gregory, who had only just come on to the field after replacing Taylor at half-time, thumped home the resulting penalty to make it 4-0.
Leamington’s goal efforts continued to be few and far between, mainly thanks to a couple of towering performances from Town centre-backs Liam Francis and James Fry.
Stratford went close to adding a fifth in the 65th minute when Ahenkorah’s shot across goal saw Gregory get the slightest of touches, but it wasn’t enough and the ball struck the post before it was cleared away by Taundry.
With the game already won, Adams had the luxury of bringing on youngsters Callum Ingram and Ben Ellicott for some valuable game time as Town saw the tie out with the minimum of fuss.
“It was a good performance,” said manager Adams afterwards.
“We played a weakened team, they played a weakened team, but I think in the end they finished with more first-team players on the pitch than we did.
“It’s great to beat our local rivals for the first time since I’ve been here, but we must not get carried away with this result.”
Stratford Town: Niall Cooper, Simeon Tulloch, Kieren Westwood, James Fry (c), Liam Francis, Donnell Benjamin, Charlie Evans (Ben Ellicott 70), Trey Brathwaite, Mike Taylor (Richard Gregory 46), Will Grocott (Callum Ingram 62), Edwin Ahenkorah. Subs not used: Kyle Jaynes, Rob Ormston
Leamington: Tony Breeden (c), Richard Taundry, Tom James, Ben George, Joe Magunda, James Mace, Nathan Olukanmi, Callum Gitings, Ryan Rowe (Connor Gudger 43), Courtney Baker-Richardson (Ahmed Obeng 57), Ryan Quinn (Jack Edwards 46). Subs not used: Rob Thompson-Brown, Darren Pond.
