Following their MFYL League Cup exit last Monday Town Youth now have four League games left to complete their season as detailed on the Youth Team Fixtures and Results page.

They are still on course for a third place finish in Premier Division South which will probably be decided by the result of their next match on Thursday March 2nd when they are at home to Stourbridge who are their only realistic rivals for that spot.

Meanwhile the Champions will be either Alvechurch or Rugby Town Juniors who meet at Alvechurch on Tuesday March 1st.   If current leaders Alvechurch win in what is their last game they will clinch the title but if the Juniors win of draw then they can overtake the Church by winning their other three remaining games.

Just a reminder of these two fabulous STISA events coming up at the club. Please support these events if you can so we can continue the great fundraising work we’ve done so far.

Just a reminder that the next STISA members meeting will take place at the DCS Stadium this  Monday 19th February at 8pm. Those wishing to join STISA can do so by clicking on the join STISA link under the Home tab on this website and return the form to our membership secretary on Monday.

Firstly my apologies for – by my standards – the somewhat  late appearance of my column today. This is due partly some technical difficulties and also to the  10 hour “magical Mystery Tour” endured by me and the coach passengers to Biggleswade !

I’d like to make my latest offering a “one-off” picTORial sTORy (amplification below) of the Tuesday trip to Bedfordshire. As the ediTOR, narraTOR and commentaTOR, I also take direcTORial licence in the content (and spelling) therein.

(TOR = “Townite On the Road”)

Background

I firstly must thank the perpetraTORS of the TORtuous TORment that I suffered from “that photo”. Yes, I bear no animosity towards them whatsoever as there was never any “payback” intended. I may have TORn into them but it is hisTORy now. To them I owe gratitude for the inspiration given to enhance and enrich my column with photos. Although my words may paint pictures for you already, the inclusion of amateur personal camera snaps taken  on the away-day will hopefully embellish your reading pleasure and take your enjoyment factor stratospheric ! I know that social media is the way to go for the “in crowd”, but it is a “no-go” for me and the STISA site is the place for me to be.

Disclaimer Statement

Whilst I am out of “writer block” territory, I must explain that my egotistical – yet self-effacing – “personna” is a mask for my shy, lonely, grouchy existence (for most of the year) as a meer mortal (and TORy) at “Toggie Towers” on the banks of the Avon. However, do not ever take me, or my apparent confident self-importance, seriously  at all …….  as I most definitely don’t !!  A most unsatisfacTORy perception to take. A sense of humour – very GSOH – is mandaTORy ! Any boredom or irritation is the price you must pay to be in my readership.

CAST LIST

 

 

 

 

The coach “TOR” operaTOR

The navigaTOR

 

The lads’ tuTOR & menTOR (r) with the “The instrucTOR”(l)

 

The sTORm troopers (after the winning goal)

The supporTORs

The “reporTOR”, the “statTORtition” and the “tweeTOR”

 

The long awaited story !

After the string of results that Town have produced this year, they now sit top of the bottom eight. This may have tainted the demeanour of the very few on board, who were there, yet again, for the normal tardy departure – this time for Bedfordshire – some 80 miles away. However, the recent loss of one or two favourites has been counter-balanced by two new signings, and one re-signing, by Carl. This same fixture one year and a day ago produced a seven goal match “suicide” by Town. Would it be rectified this time out ?

The tour took us to the A46, A45 and Coventry Eastern Bypass which was “choc-a-bloc” up to  Binley Woods where we made our first of two stops at TGI’s. A 15 minute wait ensued  there for 3 or 4 stragglers (blame it on the rush hour).Onto the M6 to pick up another three players just off the Rugby/Lutterworth exit and thereafter a good-paced,unhindered drive along the A14 and then A1. On arrival at Biggleswade, the good people of the parish had ensured that we see all of their town by means of road diversions. Undeterred we got to the Langford Road home of the Waders at 6.30pm.

As is normal on the rare midweek coach trips, there was no quiz from Mr. InquizitTOR, nor PredictTOR, although we missed the “PredicTOR InvigilaTOR” as he was on school commitments. His place as “on-pitch witchdocTOR” was taken by the returned Mark Bickley, but – happily for him and team – he was not needed to sprint on with the cold sponge !

The stadium is fronted by relatively new buildings, housing the changing rooms, admin. area and the spacious bar, sadly very devoid of most home fans both before and after the game. The official attendance for the game was a meagre 80 soles !

My pre-match walkabout  from the entry corner  immediately found the snack kiosk -commonly called the burger van. Yes, I did give my custom to chefs at half-time !

The main stand (i.e. seats !) covered the central expanse of the near-side but the rest of the pitch perimeter only found a small stand on the far side. There was no terracing at all, like DCS. The pitch appeared fine and flat.

As mentioned, the crowd was small and therefore atmosphere was non-existent. Townites described it as  ghost town. Car travelling numbers were very low, making the “Blue Barmy Army” the smallest I can recall.

The match itself was on a very slow burner – to ignite only in the latter stages. It did seem that our suicidal tendencies had continued with a bizarre own goal to which most away fans resigned themselves as a sign of another defeat. However, the fighting spirit brought us a scrambled then a headed goal (both from  series of corners) which allowed the Town finally to bring a bit of “savvie” to their game by using the proverbial corner-hugging routine. We saw it out …..  and were the cheers of joy or relief ?

After a happy post match drink, and some free hot sausage rolls, the coach party boarded and set off on our way at 10.30. After another detour and three-point turn in the town we found our way to the A1 and assumed a speedy return to Warwickshire. The Highways Agency had other ideas ! We soon encountered a “road closed” sign blocking th A1 and what followed was a disaster of diversions put in place. Somehow we, and other artics, cars etc, were shepherded into the village of Buckden in Huntingdonshire where a  narrow river/canal bridge presented nigh-impossible progress possibilities for larger vehicles. Driver Paul, Carl and Adams senior and some concerned players alighted to assess the situation. Only after the brilliant directing and manoeuvring did we get by after over an hour’s delay. That was not the end of it !  We found ourselves back at the original diversion – not that far from Biggleswade ! Although by midnight now, I dosed off but I believe we came back via the A421 and M1 to do our second drop-off at TGI’s at 1.15am.

DCS saw the intrepid “coachers” alight at 1.45 am  – a full 10 hours after departure.

Was it worth it, just for three points ?  You bet it was !

 

 

Town looked to be heading for defeat when Biggleswade went ahead in the 71st minute through a Jean Kalenda own goal, but two goals from corners in the 82nd and 85th minutes from Mike Taylor and Liam Francis turned the game on its head and propelled Town to a vital win.

A full report is now available under the First Team Match Reports Section.

A bigger, stronger and more experienced  Rushall side ended Town’s hold on the League Cup in this rescheduled Fourth Round tie played on the 3G pitch.

Town never recovered from a disastrous start which saw Rushall’s leading scorer Ryan Brooks  fire in two long range strikes in the sixth and seventh minutes before going on to complete his hat-trick in the 20th minute.

Town’s own ace marksman Dylan Parker gave Town a glimmer of hope by pulling a goal back a minute before the break, but Simeon Paisley hit  Rushall’s fourth immediately after half time and Josh Selvey’s header made it 5-1 with twenty minutes to go.

To their credit Town kept going right to the end and with eight minutes left Harry Hartin  surged through to curl an exquisite chip over the advancing keeper but Rushall deservedly went through to the Quarter Finals and an away tie at Evesham United..

A coach to tomorrow night’s league fixture at Biggleswade will depart from the stadium at 3.45 with a further pick up from TGI’s Coventry at 4.30.

Town Youth’s MFYL League Cup tie against Rushall Olympic which was called off last Thursday has been switched to the 3G pitch and will take place tomorrow (Monday) evening with a 7.45 pm kick off.

There was a distinct buzz of excitement among  Stratford Special FC’s  players  after STISA presented them with orange beanie hats to match their shirts during their regular training session at Stratford High School last Friday.

The Specials whose playing kit is sponsored by the Vesuvio  Caffe in Union Street are very much on the up at the moment with 35 players including a number of girls, and they run two teams in the Stourbridge and District Ability Counts League based at the Portway Leisure Centre in West Bromwich competing in  7- a-side and 5-a-side matches respectively.

“This will give everyone a tremendous boost” said Chairman Martyn Brookhouse as the hats were distributed by his STISA counterpart Rob Maisey “and we are very grateful for STISA for their generous support.”

Rob Maisey added “This evening emphasises that STISA wishes to offer help and assistance to every level of the club, and it is humbling to see how much joy these hats have given to this wonderful group of players.”

And the Specials will be hoping that they will have more to celebrate next Friday as they have been nominated in the Senior Team of the Year Category at the District Council Sports Awards, with Martyn Brookhouse also being nominated in the Coach/PE Teacher Category.

The match at Dunstable has been called off following the planned inspection.