3 Game Winning Streak Abruptly Ends With 0-3 Humbling

Stafford Town saw their three game winning streak come to an end as they were beaten 3-1 at Evans Park by West Didsbury & Chorlton, who produced a relatively comfortable performance to show why they are still unbeaten in the league so far this campaign.

West took the lead in just the third minute as the visiting captain headed home a corner at the backpost, Stafford protesting that the manner in which he had extricated himself from his marker should have been given as a foul by the referee. Stafford almost equalised in the tenth minute when a clever short corner led to a good cross by Josh Wilson, Ryan Bradshaw seeing his header tipped over the bar. West were having the better of the game however and doubled the lead in the 12th minute, the wet conditions perhaps playing a part as Stafford ‘keeper Henry Smith was unable to hold onto a low shot from outside the box and the follow-up was dispatched. Stafford were looking somewhat loose in their passing, as West had another couple of goalbound efforts from open play and a further one from a free-kick. After a Wilson free-kick found the visiting wall and a dangerous cross was well cut out by the West defence, some rare neat interplay down the right between Ben Wood and Nathan Scott saw another good cross cleared, Matt Dudley heading just wide from the resulting corner. West dragged another shot wide in the 30th minute, before missing a great chance with five minutes left in the half; a cross to the near post flicked just wide at close range. HT 2-0 West Didsbury & Chorlton.

West made the game completely safe three minutes into the second period, a through ball into the left channel releasing the West wideman, who calmly finished into the far bottom corner. Despite the result looking a foregone conclusion, none of the Stafford contingent went hiding and they continued to battle to get a consolation. In the 52nd minute a Stafford free-kick delivered into the box saw a glancing header by Charlie Swingwood go just wide of the post. Stafford ‘keeper Smith was then on hand in the 63rd minute as he did well to save a fierce low shot. Scott had a good effort for Stafford in the 70th minute, driving inside from the left and firing just over from the edge of the box. With just over ten minutes remaining, a curing effort from the right by Ryan Taylor hit the bar, Wood seizing upon the loose ball on the edge of the box before putting his curling shot just over. On the whole however it was a relatively comfortable afternoon for West, who perhaps had another gear if required, as they saw out the remainder of the game for the three points. FT 3-0 West Didsbury & Chorlton.

It’s the first of many Manchester away trips on Saturday 28th August for Stafford as they take on Maine Road, followed by the Bank Holiday Monday game away against local Staffordshire rivals Eccleshall on the 30th.

As always check out the best of the match footage at Stafford Town TV here;

https://youtu.be/sruvu9beBmk