Stratford-upon-Avon’s football fans were treated to a pre-Christmas cracker this weekend as Stratford Town FC delivered a sensational 6-1 victory over St Ives Town at the Arden Garages Stadium.
The Bards, who have been pushing for consistency in the Southern League Premier Division Central, put on a dominant display that will have the rest of the league taking notice. The emphatic win moves them up to 8th place in the table, keeping their play-off hopes alive as we head into the festive period.
A Goal-Scoring Masterclass
The match began with early intensity, and it didn’t take long for the home side to make their mark. Lewis Ludford-Ison opened the scoring in the 14th minute, setting the tone for what would become a rout.
Although St Ives briefly threatened to spoil the party with an equalizer from Jordan Williams in the 27th minute, the Bards regrouped at halftime and came out firing in the second half. What followed was a blitz of attacking football that left the visitors shell-shocked.
Dan Lafferty was instrumental, restoring the lead with a penalty in the 61st minute before adding a second goal from open play just three minutes later. The floodgates then opened:
- Henry Landers grabbed a brace (68′, 90′), sealing the victory with clinical finishing.
- Ty Deacon added his name to the scoresheet in the 82nd minute, ensuring a comprehensive scoreline.
Looking Ahead to the Derby
This morale-boosting performance comes at the perfect time. The Bards now face a short turnaround before a massive local derby against Banbury United on Saturday, December 20th.
With 363 fans witnessing the goal-fest on Saturday, the club will be hoping for a strong travelling support to carry this momentum into the next fixture. For now, though, Stratford can bask in the glow of one of their best performances of the season.
Match Stats
- Score: Stratford Town 6 – 1 St Ives Town
- Attendance: 363
- Man of the Match: A solid team effort with standout braces from Landers and Lafferty.
For tickets to upcoming matches, visit the Stratford Town FC website.
