Team Sheets Having only started my groundhopping adventure seriously around six months ago, there are still many grounds that are yet for me to tick off in my local area (bonus points if a game is played between two teams I’ve not seen before either). So as Storm Brian battered much of the country I made the trip down the A46 to the Moodchimp Stadium just outside Stratford upon Avon, and to the Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division tie between Stratford Town and Royston Town. This relatively modern stadium has plenty of options for spectators, with a modern looking stand and side building facing the pitch and a smaller shelter nestled between the two dugouts. Two further standing shelters sat behind one goal and provided an excellent view of the action. Normally I would watch from nearer the half way line, but it was an interesting change of perspective watching between goalpost and corner flag.
Stratford Town started brightly, with some immediate pressure resulting in the opening goal after only two minutes: Stratford’s number seven Ben Stephens with an excellent looping shot over the diving Royston Town goalkeeper to give the home side the lead. However, rather than let Stratford build on their early advantage, Royston responded and took control of the game, immediately pushing for an equaliser with Corcoran shooting narrowly over after seven minutes.
The even start continued as Stratford’s Jazz Luckie forced a fine save from Joe Welch in the away goal but the home side were wasteful from the resulting corner and then allowing Royston to press forward with some excellent probing play, but could not take advantage and two more corners came and went without result. A twenty-third minute free kick provided another opportunity for Royston to draw level, but despite Frendo and Marriott getting their heads to the ball Stratford were able to weather the storm and get the ball away.
The visitors finally did get the ball into the Stratford net on twenty five minutes, only to be foiled by the linesman’s flag: Frendo squared the ball to allow Marriott to tap into an empty net but was judged to have done so from an offside position. Not to be deterred, two minutes later the Royston number ten James Potton charged through the centre and a powerful shot from twenty yards was deflected out for a corner, but again Royston could not capitalise and Stratford maintained their lead.
Royston had yet another chance on thirty two minutes with a fierce shot from Marriott forcing a fine save from Stratford keeper Louis Connor. A few minutes later a failed clearance allowed Stratford a rare chance as Stephens played in Jazz Luckie but he fired over from close range. As the half wound down captain Scott Bridges was played in but his cross was knocked out for another Royston corner. After the initial clearance an overhead kick from Potton was tipped over the bar for another corner, before Connor punched away and the danger was cleared.
HT: Stratford Town 1-0 Royston Town
Stratford Town started brightly, with some immediate pressure resulting in the opening goal after only two minutes: Stratford’s number seven Ben Stephens with an excellent looping shot over the diving Royston Town goalkeeper to give the home side the lead. However, rather than let Stratford build on their early advantage, Royston responded and took control of the game, immediately pushing for an equaliser with Corcoran shooting narrowly over after seven minutes.
The even start continued as Stratford’s Jazz Luckie forced a fine save from Joe Welch in the away goal but the home side were wasteful from the resulting corner and then allowing Royston to press forward with some excellent probing play, but could not take advantage and two more corners came and went without result. A twenty-third minute free kick provided another opportunity for Royston to draw level, but despite Frendo and Marriott getting their heads to the ball Stratford were able to weather the storm and get the ball away.
The visitors finally did get the ball into the Stratford net on twenty five minutes, only to be foiled by the linesman’s flag: Frendo squared the ball to allow Marriott to tap into an empty net but was judged to have done so from an offside position. Not to be deterred, two minutes later the Royston number ten James Potton charged through the centre and a powerful shot from twenty yards was deflected out for a corner, but again Royston could not capitalise and Stratford maintained their lead.
Royston had yet another chance on thirty two minutes with a fierce shot from Marriott forcing a fine save from Stratford keeper Louis Connor. A few minutes later a failed clearance allowed Stratford a rare chance as Stephens played in Jazz Luckie but he fired over from close range. As the half wound down captain Scott Bridges was played in but his cross was knocked out for another Royston corner. After the initial clearance an overhead kick from Potton was tipped over the bar for another corner, before Connor punched away and the danger was cleared.
HT: Stratford Town 1-0 Royston Town
Somewhere over the rainbow The away side started the second half much as they had ended the first, with Adam Murray’s long range effort flying over the bar following a run from the centre circle. Stratford however began to do more with the ball and earned a corner after some good play by Ahenkorah by the corner flag to get a cross in, but they were wasteful and the attack was cleared by keeper Welch. Royston went back on the attack, and finally scored a well-deserved equaliser on sixty three minutes – a smart backheel from Frendo allowed Cocoran to fire home through a crowd of bodies from twenty yards.
Now on the attack for a winning goal Royston kept up the pressure and defender Lee Chappell fired over a free kick from twenty yards just four minutes later. Stratford weren’t out of the game though, continuing to repel Royston attacks and having another chance of their own on seventy five minutes, with substitute Mike Taylor pouncing on a fluffed clearance from Gus Scott-Morris to force another good save from Welch.
Royston continued to push for a late winner, and thought they had got the winner at the death, with the ball floating over for Potton to coolly slot past Connor. However, Royston were again frustrated by the offside flag, but this time in much more controversial fashion, with Frendo judged by the linesman to have touched the ball in an offside position before Marriott scored. Royston fans, players and staff were incensed by the referee’s decision to rule what would have been the winner out, but substitute Josh Osinyan was nearly the hero by getting on to the end of a long goal kick and forcing Connor to tip the ball around the post. It was not to be though, and a thoroughly entertaining game ended all square.
I really enjoyed my first visit to the Moodchimp Stadium – an excellent facility and two very evenly matched teams, though Stratford Town will feel very lucky to have escaped with a point as they weathered the storm from a very game Royston Town.
Stratford Town 1-1 Royston Town
Attendance: 236
Entrance: £10.00
Programme: £2.00
Stratford Town: Connor, Evans (Recci 69’), Thomas, Gallinagh, Summerfield, Francis, Stephens, Fry, Luckie (Bako 69’), Grocott, Ahenkorah (Taylor 60’)
Royston Town: Welch, Asufu-Adjaye, Chappell, Bridges, Murray, Scott-Morris (Ingrey 76’), Castiglione (Oyinsan 76’), Corcoran, Frendo, Potton, Marriott (Thomas 76’)
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