Match Reports

Saturday 29th November 2008 FTL FUTBOL West Midlands (Regional) League Division One Blackheath Town 3 Stafford Town 3 It was a case of after the Lord Mayors Show as Town struggled against next to bottom side Blackheath in the freezing, foggy conditions. The visitors got off to a shaky start but settled and the outstanding Josh Anderson shot straight at Carmichael in the home goal after 4 minutes, a minute later Sam Hollinsworth had a chance but shot just past the far post. Simon Allison headed the ball onto Mark Dockerty after 19 minutes but his shot was straight at the keeper. The home side took a shock lead on 23 minutes when a poor defensive clearance fell to Jamie Siviter on the edge of the penalty area who blasted it past Amrit Kler making his debut in goal for Town, 3 minutes later it was 2-0 when Stuart Hensman spotted Kler off his line and chipped the ball over his head. Right on half time Town scored a vital goal to haul themselves back into the game when defender Ben Henderson glanced a Matt Buckham corner into the net. 7 minutes into the 2nd half Town were level when Sam Hollinsworth ran at the home defence and netted with a low shot into the far corner of the net. The visitors put the home side under pressure throughout the match but the home side again took the lead after 70 minutes when Siviter netted from close range, Town continued to press and got a deserved equaliser from Mark Dockerty 7 minutes from time, As they continued to press Buckham hit the inside of the post 3 minutes into injury time and 2 minutes later Anderson had a goal ruled out for offside. Town will look at this result as 2 points dropped but they showed great character to fight back from 2-0 and 3-2 down, and it brings to an end their run of 5 successive victories but they move up to 6th position in the League Table. Tuesday 25th November 2008 J.W.Hunt Cup 2nd Round Stafford Town 4 Wednesfield 2 aet Premier Division side Wednesfield were knocked out of the Cup which they won last May at Molineux by a Town side full of confidence. The visitors opened the match brightly and put the home side under pressure straight from the kick off, after just 2 minutes Ben Henderson headed off his own goal line and in a scramble keeper Paul Burn injured his back which had troubled him earlier in the season. Burn produced a fine save to keep his goal intact but the visitors took the lead after 8 minutes and Burn had to leave the field being replaced in goal by substitute striker Mick Fox after just 12 minutes. Prospects for Town looked bleak but they battled to get back into the game and Craig Hulme forced a save from Mark Vaughan in the visitors goal. After 19 minutes Town were level when Sam Hollinsworth turned the ball into the net for his 4th goal of the season. Wednesfield hit back and Fox had to be alert to tip a long range shot over the bar. With Town growing in confidence and Fox looking secure in goal the Reds took the lead on 24 minutes when a Matt Buckham shot was deflected past Vaughan. The holders were now in disarray as they struggled with Towns pace in attack and Town had chances to go further ahead but Buckham had a shot cleared off the line. 5 minutes before half time Fox was finally beaten, after producing a good save the ball fell at the feet of a forward who netted. It was Towns turn to look shaky and Hollinsworth cleared of the line just before half time to leave the score 2-2 at the interval. The 2nd 45 minutes failed to produce a winner although Wednesfield had a goal disallowed for offside when Fox made his only mistake of the night after 81 minutes; both sides were fully committed and produced an entertaining match full of attacking football. The match went into 30 minutes extra time and Town made the vital breakthrough in the 105th minute when they won a penalty, defender Matt Rutter was red carded by the referee and Ashley Sheridan kept his cool to blast the ball into the roof of the net past Vaughan, as Wednesfield pushed forward in search of an equaliser Town caught them time and time again on the break and finally clinched their passage into the Quarter Finals when Mark Dockerty netted 7 minutes from time. This was Towns 3rd cup victory of the season all against teams from higher up the non league pyramid. Saturday 22nd November 2008 FTL FUTBOL West Midlands (Regional) League Division One Stafford Town 8 Shenstone Pathfinder 1 The Reds carried on where they left off the previous week with another attacking display which bottom side Shenstone found too hot to handle. Town surged forward from the kick off and Matt Buckham ran at the visiting defence and as they hesitated, drilled the ball into the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area. 60 seconds later a Mark Johnson free kick into the penalty area was headed against the cross bar by Ashley Sheridan who was first to react as the ball came back to him and he tapped the loose ball into the net. After 6 minutes the game was over as a contest when a Matt Dockerty cross was turned into his own net by defender Rich Cattell as the visitors were in total disarray. A 9th minute corner by Sheridan was headed onto the bar by Buckham as Town continued to attack the visitors from all directions. In the visitors 1st attack after 20 minutes Paul Burn saved with his legs from Chris Caddy, but the home side netted number 4 just 2 minutes later when a Buckham shot was turned onto the bar by Peter Kidd but the rebound fell to Sheridan who was left with another simple tap in. After 24 minutes Buckham fired at Kidd who lost the ball which came back again to Buckham who netted number 5. The visitors pulled a goal back on 33 minutes when Caddy set up Michael Mayo who netted past Burn. This set back just fired up Town and Matt Buckham completed his 3rd hat trick of the season 2 minutes later when he was set up by Sheridan, 60 seconds later Mark Dockerty netted number 7 to leave the half time score 7-1. Shenstone regrouped and battled hard in the second half and managed to contain Town as the home side eased up the pressure but continued to pass the ball around well, the final goal was scored by defender Simon Allison who rose above the visitors defence to power a header into the far corner from a 68th minute Sheridan free kick for his 1st goal for Town. Substitute Rhys Baker had a couple of late chances to add to the score line but credit must go to the visitors who worked hard in the 2nd half but the damage had been done in the 1st 45 minutes. Saturday 15th November 2008 FTL FUTBOL West Midlands (Regional) League Division One Stafford Town 5 Riverway 0 The Reds gained full revenge for their earlier 5-4 defeat at Riverway with a brilliant display of attacking football. As early as the 2nd minute leading scorer Matt Buckham ran at the visiting defence and drove the ball low into the net past Sean Healey to open the scoring. Within a minute Riverway had a chance to equalise but Tom Duffy blasted his shot over the bar when put clear of the home defence. Craig Hulme had a chance to extend Towns advantage but his shot after 5 minutes was saved by Healeys legs the home side did score again on 9 minutes when defender Tom Betts ran onto a lose ball on the edge of the Riverway penalty area and smashed the ball into the net for his first goal of the season, 2 minutes later with the visitors defence standing appealing for offside Sam Hollinsworth ran through to make it 3-0 with his 3rd goal of the season. After 14 minutes a dangerous cross by Riverways Chris Owen hit the top of Towns cross bar and out for a goal kick. As Riverway tried to get back into the game a 25th minute corner by Duffy was hit over the bar by Dave Wilcock. Just after the half hour mark Buckham teed up Ashley Sheridan but his shot was just wide of Riverways goal. Buckham scored his 2nd goal of the game after 35 minutes when his shot took a deflection on its way into the net. The visitors were in disarray and 6 minutes before half time a Buckham cross was turned just wide of his own goal by Rob Tomlinson. Earl Grant had a headed goal ruled out for offside and Town went in for a well earned half time break ahead by 4-0. Just 3 minutes into the 2nd half a Buckham cross found Sheridan unmarked in front of goal but his 1st shot was well saved by Healey and when the ball rebounded back to him his 2nd shot hit the foot of the post. Towns 5th goal arrived after 53 minutes when a goal keeping mistake left the ball at Hulmes feet and he had an easy tap in. The home side eased up with the points in the bag but Hulme still forced a great save from Healey after 68 minutes, and Riverway had another goal ruled out for a hand ball offence 20 minutes from time. In the last minute Hulme but substitute Mick Fox through on goal but his shot went just wide. This was another fine performance by Town who had to reorganize their defence due to injuries, holidays and work commitments, they move above their local rivals in the League Table into 9th position after 5 wins in their last 7 League games. Manager Steve Dockerty will also be pleased with only their 2nd clean sheet of the season considering the defensive changes which were forced on his. Both Betts and James Gilmour played well to keep out the visitors attack. Saturday 8th November 2008 Staffordshire F.A. Vase 2nd Round Stafford Town 3 Leek C.S.O.B. 2 The Reds started cautiously against their North West Counties league opponents and Paul Burn had to be alert to kick away 2 through ball in the opening few minutes. The home side then settled and began to pass the ball around without creating any clear cut chances. In the 12th minute the visitors took the lead when Burn pulled off a tremendous save and the loose ball fell to Mark Holland who, while attempting to clear the ball, inadvertently turned the ball into his own net. The home side were knocked out of their rhythm and Adam Brindley had a 35 yard shot tipped over the bar by Burn after 19 minutes. The visitors strong tackling back line were restricting Towns forwards possession but Town hit back and Craig Hulme teed up Mark Johnson whose cross was blasted over the bar by Matt Buckham after 24 minutes. The Reds were level on 32 minutes when good work by Hulme in the penalty area enabled him to cross the ball to Ashley Sheridan who headed into the bottom corner of the net for his 9th goal of the season. A minute later Sheridan attempted to chip the ball over Gavin Deaville in the visitors goal but the ball just cleared his cross bar. Burn was called into action just before half time, saving with his legs at the expense of a corner and then saving at the feet of Jamie Pointon when the striker was clean through on goal. The 2nd half began in dramatic fashion when, in the 1st minute, Buckham picked up the ball in midfield, looked up and blasted the ball into the top corner of the net from fully 40 yards! Within 60 seconds he repeated the feat but this time from only 30 yards as the defenders backed off. Buckham has now scored 13 goals in the last 8 matches. The strong wind was now behind Town and they put the visitors under intense pressure with shots raining in on the Leek goal, Hulme Sheridan and Buckham all had chances to kill off the visitors but the chances were missed and with 10 minutes to play Leek pulled a goal back when substitute Ashley Flood headed a cross into the corner of the net. Towns defenders battled hard and restricted the visitors to very few chances with Simon Allison and Mark Johnson again in great form. 2 minutes from time Sheridan set up Buckham but his shot flew just wide of the goal, then Sheridan had a shot deflected for a corner, before he took the ball round the keeper in injury time but Deaville recovered to save. When the final whistle went the Reds had won a famous victory and reached the 3rd Round of a Cup they have previously won in 1985 and 1993. Saturday 1st November 2008 FTL FUTBOL West Midlands (Regional) League Division One Sporting Khalsa 2 Stafford Town 4 The Reds recovered from conceding a goal in the opening 2 minutes to move up to 10th position in the League Table with their 4th League win in the last 6 games. The home side took the lead within the 1st 2 minutes when Paul Burn was caught off his line and a shot from 60 yards found the Town net. The visitors were stunned into action and enjoyed most of the early possession after 8 minutes Adam Price laid the ball off to Ashley Sheridan whose shot was deflected for a corner. Matt Buckham also set up Sheridan after 22 minutes but his shot was into the side netting. Town equalized on 28 minutes when Josh Andersons cross found Sheridan, although his shot was saved by Jaswander Singh, Buckham was on hand to smash the lose ball into the roof of the net. Town were almost caught out from the restart when Burn saved well from Damian Jackson after his run and shot at the Town goal. Just before half time the visitors took the lead when Buckham turned on the edge of the penalty area and drove a low shot into the net. Town started the 2nd half in control and Craig Hulme dragged a right wing shot wide of the far post in the opening minute before Sheridan took the ball round the home keeper and set up Buckham but he shot over the open net in the 53rd minute. The hosts stunned Town with an equalizer when a dangerous cross into the penalty area by Jatinder Singh was headed home by Leon Brown in the 55th minute. Town were roused into action and hit back with a 3rd goal 7 minutes later when a Sheridan free kick from 25 yards hit the post and Buckham was on hand to net his 3rd goal of the game and 11th of the season. Hulme had a 30 yard shot well saved after 65 minutes before Town wrapped up the points when Sheridan netted a penalty 2 minutes later after a foul on Anderson. Town then comfortably preserved their lead and played out time to complete a fine win over their hard working opponents. Saturday 25th October 2008 FTL FUTBOL West Midlands (Regional) League Division One Bilbrook 1 Stafford Town 0 After Towns recent good run of form and goals they forgot their shooting boots and lost for the 2nd time this season to Bilbrook. After an even start to the game Town took control and put their hosts under early pressure, Rhys Baker, starting his 1st game for Town had a shot blocked after 15 minutes. In a rare home attack Paul Burn did well to block a shot by Bryan Flavell after he had run 30 yards with the ball. On 25 minutes Matt Buckham shot just wide of the goal, just before half time Burn again saved from Flavell. The start to the 2nd half was scrappy with both sides struggling to pass the ball around. The home defence were playing well and tackling Towns players before they had a chance to turn with the ball, and blocking several shots. A dangerous cross into Towns penalty area was cleared by Mat Dockerty on the hour mark and 2 minutes later Buckham hit the inside of the post but the ball went out for a goal kick after spinning across the face of the goal. Noel Smith had a chance for the home side on 68 minutes but shot straight at Burn. Substitute Josh Anderson laid the ball into the path of Buckham but he shot over the bar after 75 minutes as Towns pressure on the Bilbrook goal mounted. 2 minutes later a 30 yard run by Craig Hulme ended with another shot just over the bar. 8 minutes from time Anderson set up Hulme but his shot was blocked by the legs of Mark Evans in the home goal. 5 minutes from time the inevitable happened and a dangerous cross into Towns penalty area found the unmarked Ben Thorne who side footed past the helpless Burn to put the home side ahead. In the last minute substitute Ashley Sheridan had Towns last chance saved by Evans and the visitors were left to rue the host of missed chances. Saturday 18th October 2008 FTL FUTBOL West Midlands (Regional) League Division One Stafford Town 3 Dudley United 1 After losing their first 5 matches and scoring just 2 goals, Town have won 4 out of the next 5 and scored 25 goals in the process! The visitors were full of confidence having ended League leaders Wellingtons 100% start to the season in their previous match and began the game brightly with both sides passing the ball around quickly. After 5 minutes Sam Hollinsworth laid the ball off to Craig Hulme but he shot just wide of the goal, 3 minutes later a corner was headed back across goal by Adam Price but Mark Dockerty hooked the ball just wide of the far post. Dudley striker James Marsh blasted a good chance wide in the 21st minute before Town regained control, in the 37th minute Hulme challenged the keeper and the ball fell to Hollinsworth who shot just over the bar, just before half time Matt Buckhams shot was blocked. The visitors defended well in the 1st half and the interval was reached with the game goalless. The Reds broke the deadlock just 2 minutes into the 2nd half when Buckham beat a defender on the left hand edge of the penalty area before scoring with a low shot into the far corner of the net. Town were almost caught out from the rest start with Paul Burn saving well from the dangerous March, 6 minutes later Town doubled their advantage after a scramble in the Dudley penalty area Buckham blasted home the lose ball from 12 yards. The visitors confidence drained away and Town were now on the rampage, pushing forward at every opportunity and creating a host of chances; Mark Johnson was unlucky to have a goal disallowed in the 61st minute and then 3 minutes later saw his shot come back of the post and run along the goal line into the keepers hands. Hulme ran powerfully down the right wing in the 72nd minute but his shot went just wide of the far post, and 2 minutes his 40 yard shot cannoned off the post. Substitute Rhys Baker turned a pass from fellow sub Josh Anderson just wide 10 minutes from time and 60 seconds later Hulme again shot wide when clean through on goal. In a rare Dudley attack Burn saved from Marsh but the loose ball was turned into the net to give the visitors some hope of a comeback with 8 minutes to play. The points were wrapped up 2 minutes from time when Buckham completed his hat trick from the edge of the penalty area. 15th October 2008 J.W.Hunt Cup 1st Round Continental Star 1 Stafford Town 9 Town destroyed their Midland Combination opponents with an outstanding all round team display. As early as the 6th minute a home defender sliced a clearance against his own post, Towns neat passing style had their opponents chasing shadows for most of the evening, in a rare home attack they shot just wide in the 18th minute and had a shot blocked in the 24th minute before Town struck a minute later when Matt Buckham cut in from the left wing and fired a low shot into the far corner of the net. Mark Dockerty missed a chance shooting inches wide of the target. Town doubled their lead right on half time when Buckham scored following a neat passing move by the visitors. The visitors killed off the tie 3 minutes into the 2nd half when Mark Dockerty cut into the penalty area and scored with a low shot into the far corner. Town were now exploiting the full width of the pitch and Buckham crossed to the far post for Mark Dockerty to score with a header on 53 minutes. Sam Hollinsworth scored his second goal in successive games after 65 minutes before Mark Dockerty completed his hat trick with a shot which went through the keepers hands to make the score 6-0. Substitute Rhys Baker scored his first goal for Town after 80 minutes. Craig Hulme chipped the keeper in the 82nd and 88th minute to cap a superb display before the home side grabbed a consolation in the final minute. Town will be at home in the 2nd Round to either holders Wednesfield or Dudley Town in a match to be played by the end of November. Saturday 11th October 2008 FTL FUTBOL West Midlands (Regional) League Division One Stafford Town 6 Wolverhampton United 2 Town finally moved off the bottom of the League with a hard fought victory over United. The visitors started well and had a 25 yard shot fly just wide of the goal after 5 minutes before they took the lead 2 minutes later when Jack Randell blasted a long range free kick into the far corner of Towns goal. The home sides confidence fell once again and they struggled to get back into the match, the fit again Paul Burn saved well after 14 minutes as the visitors threatened a 2nd goal. Matt Buckham shot across the face of the visitors goal as Town started to put some passing moves together, after 24 minutes Burn again tipped a header over the bar before Adam Price had a shot saved by Adam Barnett, Burn saved a point blank shot from Jack Randell on 31 minutes before Town equalised on 38 minutes when Sam Hollinsworth scored his first goal for Town with a neat finish. The home side were now playing well and Ashley Sheridan had a shot blocked and Buckhams shot was deflected wide of the goal. Just before half time Buckham set up Sheridan who scored to put Town 2-1 ahead at half time. The next goal was vital but unfortunately the visitors equalized 2 minutes into the second half when Jack Randell scored his second after a scramble in the home defence, Towns confidence drained away again and the struggled for a period to play their best football. The home side pushed forward in search of another goal and visiting captain Mark Westwood sliced a cross just over his own crossbar after 53 minutes before Craig Hulme shot just wide 2 minutes later, Sheridan had a header deflected over the bar following a Buckham free kick and Hulme had a shot saved as the home side were in total control of the match. Hulmes runs at pace towards the visitors goal had the visitors in difficulties, Hulme had another shot saved after 58 minutes and a cross deflected for a corner before Barnett pulled off a fantastic save on 72 minutes turning a Hulme shot onto the post and out for yet another corner. In a rare attack Burn had to be alert to tip a free kick from Jack Randell over the bar on 75 minutes. 2 minutes later Buckham had another shot saved as it looked as though the visitors would escape with a point, before the breakthrough finally came 10 minutes from time when Buckham scored to put Town back in the lead, 4 minutes later the points were safe when Matt Dockerty followed up to net when the keeper could not hold onto the ball following a fierce shot. The visitors wilted under the pressure and Sheridan scored a 5th with a jink on the edge of the penalty area and a sweet shot into the far corner of the net, in the last minute he completed his hat trick with a low shot which went under the diving goalkeeper as Town finally ran riot. Town played some superb football throughout the game attacking with pace through the midfields quick passing moves which left the visitors chasing shadows for much of the 2nd half. Town now need to put a run of performances together to move up the table. Saturday 4th October 2008 FTL FUTBOL West Midlands (Regional) League Division One Riverway 5 Stafford Town 4 It was back to square one after another defeat in a game which Town should have won. It would have been an entertaining game for neutrals, but there are no neutrals in a local derby with one side going home happy and the other having a spoilt weekend! Playing into the strong wind in the first half Town dominated the opening period and took the lead in the 6th minute when defender Ben Henderson who rejoined Town this season netted from the edge of the six yard box when the ball fell to him from a corner. After Tom Duffy had a shot saved by Towns keeper Craig Reillys legs, Town doubled their advantage when Matt Buckham was tripped in the penalty area and he got to his feet to blast the penalty into the left hand corner of the net after 19 minutes. Town were in total control but the home side hit back three minutes later when a corner by James Bullmore appeared to go straight into the far corner of the net as the visitors defence were caught out by the swirling wind. After 25 minutes another Bullmore corner was headed home by Earl Grant to level the scores. Town were now struggling and in a rare attack Andy Rhoades headed just wide of the goal after an Ashley Sheridan corner. On the half hour mark Riverway went ahead when Andy Kirkbride netted and Rob Webb almost scored again just before half time. With the wind at their backs in the 2nd half Town pressed forward and a Mark Johnson corner was headed off the home goal line as the wind blew the ball goalwards in the 48th minute. Town equalized 10 minutes into the half when a right wing cross by Matt Dockerty was headed into the net by Sheridan with the home defence static. 12 minutes later in an identical goal, Sheridan headed home from a Craig Hulme cross to put Town back in front. It now looked as if the visitors would claim the points as a Dockerty shot was well held by Sean Healey in the home goal and Webb fired a free kick high and wide. Riverway equalized with their 1st shot on target in the 2nd half when Ben Bloor was given too much space on the edge of the penalty and he drove an unstoppable shot into the corner of the net on 75 minutes. A Hulme cross hit the Riverway crossbar and a Buckham shot was deflected wide of the goal as the visitors tried to regain the lead but 6 minutes from time Mark Holland was adjudged to have held Tom Duffy in the penalty area although the forward appeared to be backing into the defender, Duffy converted the spot kick to clinch the points for the home side and leave the visitors rooted to the bottom of the Table. Saturday 27th September 2008 FTL FUTBOL West Midlands (Regional) League Division One Malvern Town Reserves 0 Stafford Town 3 The Reds finally got their season going with a superb win at Malvern after their longest trip of the season. As they have done in every match this season Town opened the game well and pressed the home side back right from the kick off. New signing Craig Reilly making his debut in goal hardly had a touch of the ball the visitors were so much in control of the game. After 6 minutes a cross by Craig Hulme was turned towards the goal by Ashley Sheridan but the home goalkeeper, Nial Hacking saved the shot. Matt Buckham had a miss hit shot go just wide from a Mat Dockerty cross on 9 minutes. 7 minutes later Malverns James Argent hooked a shot just wide of Towns goal in their first real attack. Matt Buckham shot wide on 22 minutes and Hacking saved well from Sheridan as the goal would just not come for Stafford. Town finally took the lead after 26 minutes, just after he had a shot saved Craig Hulme raced onto the through ball which was missed by the home defenders, ran 20 yards and slipped the ball past Hacking and into the net. This was the first time Town had taken the lead this season and confidence flowed through the side. 5 minutes later the lead was doubled when a cross by Sheridan was missed by the home defenders and Buckham was on hand to score his first goal of the season. Just before half time a Hulme cross was headed goalwards by Sheridan but Hacking saved again. After a double substitution at half time the home ride raised their game in the opening period and Mark Holland twice cleared off the line to preserve the clean sheet. Towns keeper Reilly made a couple of saves as he was called into action, before man of the match Hulme set up Sheridan who turned on the edge of the penalty area before blasting a shot towards goal which Hacking got a hand to but the shot was too hot to keep out and Town had the points wrapped up. This was a good all-round team performance and just the morale booster before the local derby this weekend, scoring the 1st goal made such a difference to the team and if this belief can be maintained Town will soon climb up the League Table. This Saturday (4th) Town are Away to local rivals Riverway in a League Fixture. The game at Long Lane kicks off at 3pm. Saturday 20th September 2008 FTL FUTBOL West Midlands (Regional) League Division One Stafford Town 1 Wellington Amateurs 6 The Reds suffered their 5th consecutive defeat, their worst start since 2003 when they were in the Midland Alliance League. The Home side started brightly and should have taken the lead before the visitors had mounted an attack after just 3 minutes Matt Buckham set up Ashley Sheridan who fired just wide of the far post. 3 minutes later Sheridan fired over the bar when a corner was only partially cleared to him at the edge of the penalty area. 60 seconds later Craig Hulme laid the ball through to Sheridan who shot straight at Steven Bray in the visitors goal. The first warning sign for the home side came after 8 minutes when Craig Hulme headed a corner off the line in the visitors first meaningful attack. Ryan Gallagher, making his debut in goal for Town, saved from Daniel Hickling after 11 minutes as the visitors got into their stride, on 18 minutes he saved a Steven Clifford free kick tipping the shot over the bar. The visitors took the lead a minute later when Gallagher could only turn a shot onto the post leaving a simple tap in for visiting forward Chris Branlow. 7 minutes later it was 2-0 when Branlow scored again, Towns heads dropped and Hickling hit the foot of the home sides post from 25 yards a minute later. After 32 minutes it was 3-0 when Branlow beat the offside trap and with the defenders stationery appealing for off side he rounded Gallagher to score again. As the home side attempted to fight back Craig Hulme chipped over the bar on 34 minutes and Josh Anderson had a shot deflected wide a minute later. The visitors wrapped up the points 4 minutes before half time when a punch from Gallagher fell to the feet of Branlow who volleyed into the empty net to leave the half time score 4-0 to the visitors. Town attempted to fight back early in the second half when Sheridan again shot wide when well places after 53 minutes, 5 minutes later he scored a simple tap in to give Town a glimmer of hope but the visitors hit back and netted a 5th 4 minutes later when Branlow set up Hickling for a simple tap in as Towns defence was all at sea. After Craig Hulme had a shot saved by Bray, Hickling wrapped up the scoring on 75 minutes volleying into the roof of the net when Towns defence had gone missing again. Wellington went top of the table on goal difference while Town remain rooted to the foot of the table, the only side without a win or a point this season. Saturday 13th September 2008 FTL FUTBOL West Midlands (Regional) League Division One AFC Wombourne United 1 Stafford Town 0 The Reds suffered their fourth successive defeat and remain bottom of the League with no points but they dominated possession in this match and were desperately unlucky not to gain at least a point. With three players making their debuts Town opened brightly and a series of corners and free kicks pinned the home side back in their own half for the opening 15 minutes without troubling the home goalkeeper. After 17 minutes a cross just missed the head of debutant Adam Price in front of goal. 3 minutes later after a disputed corner the home side took the lead when the ball fell to D. Smith who slipped the ball past Paul Burn in the Town goal. Burn later needed treatment on his back after collecting a long through ball. On 26 minutes Simon Allison headed over the bar from a corner, and 5 minutes before half time Price fired just over the bar. Just before half time an Ashley Sheridan deflected shot was Towns 1st on target in the 1st half. In a rare home attack Burn saved at the feet of Phillips on the hour mark before the referee was injured in a collision with two players (1 from each team) and had to be replaced by one of his assistants after a delay while he was treated by the physio. After 79 minutes a left wing corner was deflected against his own post by a Wombourne defender. Paul Burn was then substituted as he could not carry on with his back problems and defender Mat Dockerty went in goal. 3 minutes later Matt Buckham skipped past 2 defenders in the penalty area and was then felled by the third, the substitute referee put his whistle to his mouth but then to the astonishment of everyone waved play on and the home side cleared the ball. Despite further pressure Town failed to create any further clear cut chances and Wombourne hung on for the 3 points. Another disappointing result but a reasonable performance by Town but their creative players failed to create chances and until that changes they will struggle to add to their tally of 1 goal in 4 matches this season after hitting 106 last season. Saturday 9th August 2008 West Midlands (Regional) League Division 1 Stafford Town 0 4 Bilbrook Town kicked off the season with high expectations, and parading several new signings. With a strong breeze at their backs, Town were struggling to find their rhythm, and after 6 minutes they fell behind when a cross from the right was controlled by the Bilbrook No.8 and hammered past Paul Burn in the bottom corner. 3 minutes later Town almost got back in the game when Mick Fox turned his marker in the 6 yard box, but his lob was just wide of the post. 2 minutes later Ashley Sheridan, returning to the Club after a 2 year absence, had a header ruled out for a push on the defender. Town at this stage had started to play some good football, with Ashley Sheridan quite prominent up front with his clever ball control. With Town pushing forward they were again caught out by a break down the flanks, but from the resultant cross the ball was volleyed over. 4 minutes later yet another cross ball from the flanks saw the Bilbrook No.9 convert to put Town 2 behind. Immediately afterwards Allan Somerville shot wide from a free kick and then in the space of 7 minutes, Ashley Sheridan had 3 opportunities to pull Town back into the game but failed to convert any of them. The 2nd half saw Town continue to have most of the possession, but could not find a way through a very well organised Bilbrook back four. Try as they might, Town could not find a way through and the inevitable happened, when a long through ball led to a misunderstanding between 2 defenders and the Bilbrook No.11 converted to put Town 3 behind, and a minute later a 30 yard shot hit the Town bar and bounced kindly for the Bilbrook No.9 to make it 4-0. A very disappointing start to the season with lessons to be learned.