Britton pep talk inspires Town (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Britton pep talk inspires Town

Stratford Tn 2, Mickleover Spts 1

IAN Britton worked his half-time magic to help inspire Town to an FA Cup win when a repeat of Saturday's visitors FA Vase win at Masons Road four years ago appeared on the cards, writes Mervyn Collins.

Britton and fellow assistant manager Ricky Smith held the reins while boss Lennie Derby attended a wedding and the perfect match it certainly wasn't for 45 minutes as revived Stratford huffed and puffed without making any significant inroads into the Northern Counties East Premier Division outfit's defence.

However, after missing an easy chance a minute after the restart, Dennis Bailey connected perfectly with a flick on from Paul Nicholls to guide Phil Mortimer's 53rd minute free-kick into the Mickleover net.

After substitute Tom Leaver had gone close to giving Town the lead with a 68th minute volley that Mark Lawson turned for a corner, Paddy Connelly cracked in the winner 15 minutes later with a sweet angled half-volley from 20 yards after Nicky Heath's corner had only been partially cleared.

The hosts were grateful to goalkeeper Wayne Starkey seconds later as he tipped over a close-range header before the Town goal escaped unscathed after a couple of late corners threatened to set up a midweek replay.

Stratford would have been grateful for such a result after putting together an ineffective first half display that saw them fall behind two minutes before the break.

A cross from the right found Jamie Barnes and Connelly napping and Jay Thompson's volley flew past Starkey and just inside his right-hand upright.

The hosts had suffered a huge blow as early as the tenth minute when skipper Nigel Niblett's dodgy calf again gave way and Leaver was quickly off the bench with Ashley Pringle taking up position in a central defensive role with Barnes at right wing back.

Paul Nicholls twice went close and Bailey twice headed wide either side of a thundering drive from Sports skipper Corin Holness that flew a yard over the top.

There was precious little action in either goalmouth until Thompson's strike and Bailey's weak effort early in a second half that saw the hosts produce some fine football as a third straight win booked them a trip to Southern League Sutton Coldfield Town on Saturday, September 18.