Stratford vs Boston Road to Wembley part 6.5

Stratford set up tie against Shrewsbury

Today the 19th of October Stratford defied the odds and beat higher level Boston 3-2.

You could tell that the game was going to be eventful when the floodlights went off within the 1st minute causing the game to be delayed for 15 minutes. Before that there was still time for Boston to smash the post.

After the restart Boston had the majority of the play until Ahmed Obeng gained the ball and curled a cross that former West Ham youngster Janaii Gordon headed home to give the bards a 1-0 lead.

Not long after the pilgrims had a chance to level when Paul Green had a shot that took a wicked deflection and bobbled just wide.

Boston kept probing at the goal of Liam O’Brien most notably a chance that shot straight down his throat and a trademark Fraser Preston free kick that curled over the net.

Stratford shot out the blocks in the 2nd half and were rewarded when Owen James ran to the byline and crossed for former football league player Gordon who couldn’t miss, making the score line 2-0 to the home team.

There lead was halved less than ten minutes later when a Corner from, on loan from Harrogate, Joe leesley found its way directly into the far corner.

Five minutes later they were level when a cross was headed on by football league player Leesley into the left hand side of the goal.

Boston almost took the lead when a shot was sent in only for the strong hand of O’Brien to keep the bards in the tie.

The tie was evenly poised at this point and was 15 minutes away from going to extra time until the ball ricocheted to former Cheltenham youth product Will Dawes who smashed the ball into the net.

Stratford thought they had lengthened there lead when Enoch Andoh shot across goal only for the ball to find it’s way back to him so that he could shoot into the net only for it to be disallowed as he was offside.

Stratford had O’Brien to thank when Boston’s final shot was struck towards goal only for the new father to acrobatically tip the ball over the goal sending the home fans into dreamworld.

The next round will see Stratford face the hardest competition in its 80 year history when they take on league 1 side Shrewsbury.