Rock bottom after fourth straight loss (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Rock bottom after fourth straight loss

Boldmere SM 2, Stratford Town 1

TUESDAY night's fourth straight league reverse leaves sorry Stratford firmly rooted at the foot of the Travel Factory Alliance table.

Not even the recruitment of former Nuneaton defender Terry Angus and return of Phil Mortimer could halt Town's unbelievable slide as another late winner left fans and officials just wondering where a first point is going to come from.

On current evidence, it's hardly likely to come on Saturday when undefeated Rushall arrive at Masons Road, while Monday afternoon opponents Causeway United defeated Alvechurch on Tuesday something Stratford had failed to do seven days earlier.

Two more matches without a win will really signal a crisis at Masons Road and cast a doubt over the future of manager Lennie Derby and assistants Ian Britton and Ricky Smith.

The trio must be tearing their hair out as it's the majority of players who did so well last term and won the League Cup last month who have failed to come up with the goods.

Neil Kitching, Michael Stephenson and Richard Evans were the latest to feel the wrath of the management team as they had to settle for a place on the bench.

Town were again boosted by a an early goal when Chris Packer netted after 21 minutes but, in a repeat of their weekend defeat, their opponents levelled before grabbing a late winner.

Town should really have been further in front when goalkeeper Craig Allen spilled a 51st minute cross and a grateful Steve Smith ran the loose ball into the empty net.

Great defending from Paddy Connelly saved Allen's blushes six minutes later after another mistake before shots from both sides failed to find their intended target.

Nigel Niblett was denied by a goalline clearance 16 minutes from time but the visitors weren't so lucky seven minutes from time when substitute Tom Wilmore planted a free header past Allen from six yards.

Late strikes from Mortimer and Packer failed to bring an equaliser and the sight of the dejected players trudging off at the final whistle adequately illustrated the feeling throughout the club.