Stratford Town head to Grantham with depleted squad

STRATFORD Town manager Carl Adams will be without several of his first-team squad for tonight's FA Trophy first qualifying round replay at Grantham.

Late goals from Jamie Sheldon and Richard Gregory earned Town a second bite of the cherry as they hit back to claim an unlikely 2-2 draw at the DCS on Saturday.

Stratford will hope to finish the job tonight, but if they are to progress to the second qualifying round they will have to do it the hard way.

Defender Jean Kalenda will miss out after twisting his knee in the first game, while Town will also be without injured full-backs Keiren Westwood and Dan Summerfield.

Midfielder Barry Fitzharris is suspended and youngster Donnell Benjamin, on loan from Solihull Moors, is ineligible.

Simeon Tulloch was another player to leave the field early on Saturday after taking a knock, but he is expected to recover in time to face the Gingerbreads.

"If the lads show the same degree of spirit and endeavour in Grantham as they did on Saturday, we'll give ourselves a great chance," said Town boss, Carl Adams.

"We weren't great on Saturday and we were second best for large parts of the game, but we hung in there and showed great passion and desire in clawing our way back."

The winners of the tie will host Matlock Town in the second qualifying round on Saturday, 12th November.