Stratford F.C. 4 vs 2 Old Stamfield

Old Stamfield travelled to Stratford Town FC on 5 April 2026 for a 4:00pm kick-off in a high-stakes cup away match against Stratford F.C. The encounter ended in a 4-2 defeat for Old Stamfield after a pulsating 90 minutes plus added time, witnessed by a crowd of 21,999. Referee Peter Bankes oversaw the contest with a steady performance.

Old Stamfield lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, aiming to balance defensive solidity with attacking flair. Alex Dos Santos guarded the goal, supported by a back four comprising Rory Stride at right back, Taiwo Ejuke and Eduardo Fuenzalida as central defenders, and Florian Sarosi on the left. The midfield pivot featured Sam Miller and Dominic Wilkinson tasked with controlling the centre of the park. Ahead of them, the attacking midfield trio consisted of Sam Jones on the right, Fredrik Wirz centrally, and William Wilngrove on the left, all charged with creating chances for lone striker Hugo Lamy. The substitutes available were Romeh Serratton, Ben Spencer, Eduardo Camavinga, Anders Larsson, and Jamie Johnson.

The match burst into life early on when Stratford F.C. took the lead in the 10th minute through a spectacular direct free-kick from outside the box, struck with the right foot. This early setback put Old Stamfield on the back foot, forcing them to respond. However, discipline issues arose when Eduardo Fuenzalida received a yellow card in the 22nd minute for dissent, hinting at growing frustration.

Old Stamfield found their footing in the 33rd minute when Rory Stride confidently converted a penalty, awarded following an assist from Sam Jones. This goal levelled the scores and injected hope into the visitors. Yet, just before the break, Sam Miller was booked for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity, a caution that would prove costly in terms of his availability and influence.

The second half saw Stratford F.C. regain control swiftly. Within three minutes of the restart, they restored their lead with a left-footed finish inside the box. Barely two minutes later, they doubled their advantage again, this time with a headed goal, leaving Old Stamfield chasing shadows. The visitors’ woes deepened when Florian Sarosi was shown a yellow card for diving in the 59th minute, further disrupting their rhythm.

Stratford F.C. extended their lead in the 63rd minute with a powerful long-range strike, executed with the right foot, which left Dos Santos with no chance. In response, Old Stamfield made a flurry of tactical substitutions at the 68th minute mark, bringing on Romeh Serratton for Taiwo Ejuke, Ben Spencer replacing Sam Miller, and Eduardo Camavinga coming on for Fredrik Wirz, signalling a shift in approach to claw back the deficit.

Further changes followed with Anders Larsson replacing Hugo Lamy in the 75th minute and Jamie Johnson coming on for Sam Jones at 82 minutes, as Old Stamfield sought fresh impetus in attack and midfield. Their persistence paid off deep into stoppage time when William Wilngrove netted a goal inside the box, expertly assisted by a cross from Romeh Serratton, providing a late consolation.

Despite the spirited fightback, Old Stamfield were unable to overturn the three-goal deficit, and Stratford F.C. emerged victorious in this enthralling cup tie. The match showcased moments of quality and resilience from both sides, but ultimately Stratford’s clinical finishing and timely goals proved decisive.