Stratford Town Youth celebrate as they win League Cup for first time

STRATFORD Town Youth lifted the Midland Floodlit Youth League Cup for the first time in their history at Bromsgrove Sporting's Victoria Ground on Wednesday night, writes Bryan Hale.

Having clinched second spot in MFYL Premier Division South a week earlier, Town went one better with a 2-0 victory in a closely-fought final with Oadby Town.

George Seeley fired them ahead from the penalty spot halfway through the first half, and man-of-the-match Kyle Jaynes’ perfectly executed lob sealed the victory in the second of six added minutes, immediately after Oadby had squandered a gilt-edged chance of a late equaliser.

Town had faced a worry in the build-up to the game with regular keeper Scott Martin ruled out with a serious ankle injury which meant that outfielder Spencer Dixon had to take over in goal, but he did all that was asked of him and successfully kept a clean sheet.

Town looked sharp straight from the kick-off, and were unlucky not to take the lead in only the third minute when Francis Bolter’s header from Nathan Corry’s left wing corner cannoned against the post with Oadby keeper Josh Hallam well beaten.

Soon after, the opposite post rescued Oadby again when Hallam couldn’t hold a fierce drive from Corry and the ball rolled against before the upright before the keeper recovered to grab it at the second attempt.

Town were well on top with Oadby struggling to cope with the pace of Charlie Faulkner - resplendent in a pair of orange boots acquired from Emmit Delfouneso when with the first team squad - the persistence of Jaynes and the trickery of Corry and it was no more than they deserved when they took the lead in the 25th minute.

Faulkner surged into the penalty area where he was brought down by a desperate lunge from Richard Black, and Seeley confidently slotted the spot-kick past Hallam with the minimum of fuss.

Oadby responded with Lewis Halford having a well-struck shot safely held by Dixon and Carter Gill blazing over before Town ended the first half back on the attack with Corry firing narrowly wide and Hallam saving a useful effort from Seeley.

It was Oadby who made the brighter start to the second half putting Town under pressure for the first time in the game but with the Town backline in determined mood they struggled to create a clearcut opening, and from the hour mark Town were looking more comfortable again.

Bolter headed narrowly over, Jaynes had a shot blocked at point-blank range by Hallam after latching on to a slide-rule pass from Ben Ellicott and Dylan Parker fired into the side netting before the tension increased as the game headed into added time.

A mix-up in the Town defence led to Oadby substitute Jordan Connor being presented with an open goal but from ten yards out, he contrived to drag his shot wide and with Oadby still in shock, Town went up the other end to settle the game.

Dixon’s goal kick was flicked on and Jaynes reacted the quickest to calmly lift the ball over the advancing Hallam into the empty net.

Seconds earlier it could easily have been 1-1 but now it was 2-0 and Town knew they had it won. Shortly after, the final whistle blew and the celebrations could begin.

“That was a thoroughly merited success,” beamed Town’s ecstatic youth team manager Clive Seeley.

“It’s been a magnificent season, and they are a great bunch of lads who battle hard for each other and never give up and they got their reward this evening.”

TOWN: Spencer Dixon, Sam Kirby, Yahiya Todd, Jamie Ford, Rob Ormston, Sam Bott, George Seeley, Francis Bolter, Kyle Jaynes, Charlie Faulkner, Nathan Corry. Subs Used - John Palmer, Ben Ellicott & Dylan Parker. Subs Unused - Ellis Layfield & Jacob Parris-Jones