Match Preview | Stratford Town (H)
Halesowen host Stratford in the FA Cup with both sides in need of a win
Head to Head
The Yeltz have won just one of the last six league meetings with the Bards, but this is a cup game. In the most recent ‘cup’ game, we were victorious 4-1 at The Grove in the FA Cup, back when we were playing at step 4 in 2019. The most recent game between the two was in January at The Arden Garages Stadium. The Yeltz came away with a 2-0 defeat over a tough new year period, with the hosts goals coming through Owen James and Kevin Joshua.
Russ Penn’s Thoughts
“I want a cup run this season. The league for me is not always the priority, and it always has been that way throughout my time at Kiddie and here. I never put a team out to lose, in any competition. We wanted a cup run last season, but failed in the FA Cup at Redditch, and Trophy in the last minute at the second stage. I know that a cup run can help catapult you in the league with the confidence and joy that it brings a team. It is a tough draw against Stratford, a side in our league at step 3, but we are at home, and want a reaction from Monday.”
Oppostition Preview
In goal for Stratford, Jacob Weaver remains the first choice in goal from last season. The goalkeeper featured 32 times last season in the league, and has played in all five league games so far this campaign. New arrival Alex Collard, like Weaver has started every game and conceded a whopping 12 goals. The centre half who arrived from St Ives where he made 39 league appearances last season, has started alongside two centre halves, new arrival from Redditch United Brad Burton who has started four games this season and Essa Janneh, a 25 year old who arrived from Farsley Celtic and has started once. But now with ex Yeltz captain Paul McCone rejoining the Bards, their strongest partnership is likely to be him and Collard. In the full back spots, the versatile Fin Brennan has featured all in their league games this season with four starts, having appeared 41 times for the Bards last term in the league. At right back new arrival from Hednesford Kory Roberts has started three of their league games, while new arrival from Banbury United Harry Reilly has started the other two. In the middle of the park, ex Yeltz man Josh Hawker has started all five league games this season, while Dan Lafferty and new arrival from Stourbridge Jourdain Masidi have been his most common midfield partners so far. New striker to replace the outgoing Callum Ebanks, Stratford’s top scorer last season, Ty Deacon has started all five league games after scoring seven goals at the end of last season for step 4 Thame United, but has so far failed to net for his new club. Outwide Lewis Ison who scored 10 goals last season for the Bards has scored once this term and started every game, while new arrival from Leamington Henry Landers has started four times, also scoring the once. AJ George, Owen James, Cyrus Bruce, and ex Yeltz man Jamie Molyneux has all featured in the attack this campaign, but none of them have started more than two games too date.
Statistical Insight
Halesowen
- Only AFC Telford United (41), Spalding United (35), and Bromsgrove Sporting (32) scored more first half goals last season than the Yeltz’s 30.
- Only Stratford Town (21), Banbury United (22), and Alvechurch (23) conceded fewer second half goals last season than the Yeltz’s 24.
- Only Spalding United (19) and AFC Telford United (17) scored more goals in the 15 minute period before half-time in the league last season than the Yeltz’s 15.
- Only AFC Telford United (23), Spalding United (21), and Bedford Town (19) won more points from losing positions in the league last season than the Yeltz’s 18.
Stratford
- Only Royston Town (47) and Bury Town (58) have led in games for fewer minutes in the Southern Premier Central this season than Stratford’s 68 minutes.
- Stratford are one of five Southern Premier Central clubs this season alongside us, Bromsgrove Sporting, AFC Sudbury, Royston Town and Stamford, who are yet to keep a clean sheet.
- Stratford have scored the joint fewest second half goals this season in the Southern Premier Central, with just the one goal alongside AFC Sudbury and Real Bedford.
- Alongside Bromsgrove Sporting, Stratford have had the fewest players in the Southern Premier Central to have featured in every game this season, with eight.