Waders fall to double defeat by Stratford

Biggleswade Town succumbed to a second defeat to Stratford Town inside a fortnight when they lost by a single goal in Warwickshire on Saturday.

A 12th minute strike was enough to give the hosts a quickfire Southern League Premier double over the Waders after winning 2-1 at the Carlsberg Stadium.

Stratford, with the wind at their backs, started the livelier with Jamie Spencer and Mike Taylor proving a handful for Russell Short and Gavin Hoyte.

They went in front when Simeon Tulloch put over a cross and Jamie Spencer beat Ian Brown from close in.

It could have got worse for the visitors soon after but strong appeals for a Stratford penalty for a foul were waved away.

Biggleswade had the wind behind them in the second period. However, although Connor Vincent and Michael Richens pressed up front, there were few clear cut chances to speak of.

Stratford did not look like adding to their total at the other end although they were denied another penalty shout when Spencer went down in the area.

Manager Chris Nunn tweeted afterwards that he took responsibility for a poor performance: “Tried a different formation and not working. Back to basics for the Waders now.”

With the play-offs now surely well out of reach and the club comfortably clear of relegation, another year of Southern League Premier football beckons and it falls to Waders to make a strong finish in their final 10 league games.

One target would be beating their ninth place finish in 2013, their highest ever position in the football pyramid. They currently sit tenth, six points behind Chesham United immediately above them.

The challenge continues with a tough home fixture against Welsh side Merthyr Town on Saturday followed by the visit of Slough Town on Wednesday.