Hellenic League Division One West
Shortwood United 2 FC Stratford 1
Shortwood started the season with a victory over FC Stratford, writes Harry Ash.
Shortwood captain Joe Tryner opened the scoring for the Nailsworth side after 10 minutes. Finlay Byrnes’ corner caused chaos, with Stratford keeper Louis Beresford unable to clear convincingly to allow Tryner to strike home,
Shortwood doubled their lead on 20 minutes. The impressive Ben Jaggers produced a dangerous cross from the right, and, after Martin Smith failed to connect cleanly, Dom Kent was perfectly placed to guide a left-footed shot back across goal and into the bottom corner.
Having utterly dominated proceedings up until that point, Shortwood switched off and conceded instantly, which would turn the game on its head. Robbie Sone picked the ball up left of centre and speculatively tried his luck from around thirty yards. The swerving ball completely flummoxed Joe Wright in the Wood goal, and suddenly Stratford were back in the game.
Stratford almost found an equaliser when Teddy Woodisse’s mis-hit shot fell into the path of Harvey Pritchard, but Wright did well to smother. The hosts struggled to recover their early rhythm, letting Stratford dictate the tempo for the remainder of the half. Jaggers did latch onto Smith’s flick-on ten minutes before the break, but could only shoot straight at Beresford.
The visitors managed to carve out two more first half chances, Jake Williams volleying over following a Jack Newman cross, then Wright produced an astonishing save to deny Joe Sykes, whose shot was arrowing into the top corner.
The second half was a more even contest, in the sense that neither team had spells of dominance as both had enjoyed during the first. Jaggers forced Beresford into an excellent save five minutes after the restart, as his curling shot was tipped onto the bar. Elliott Martin’s follow up was well blocked.
Stratford responded soon after, Dan Chaundy’s clever header finding Ben Cook in a dangerous position, but he was denied by a goal saving Olly Whelan block. That wasn’t Whelan’s last crucial contribution, once again producing a brilliant block to deny Ralf Penton as Stratford searched for a late equaliser.
Both sides produced a few half chances each in the closing twenty minutes or so, but Wood were able to cling on despite coming under pressure in stoppage time. Alfie Bradshaw proved an invaluable aerial presence in a defensive sense, despite being introduced primarily to provide attacking thrust.
Shortwood will be looking to build some early season momentum with a positive outcome from their big clash at home to Stonehouse on Tuesday evening.
Shortwood: Wright, King E, King T, Byrnes, Tryner, Whelan, Jaggers (Price 89), Kent (Duncan 90), Smith (Bradshaw 61), Martin (Stalley 86), Cooke (Gardner 54)
Star Player: Tyler Jaggers
