5 September 2026 · Alfreton Town (a) · Emirates FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round
Stratford Town into Next FA Cup Round with Deserved Win at Alfreton
Stratford Town beat Alfreton Town 2-0 away from home on Saturday in the FA Cup, recording their first win of the season.
The decisive tactical call came before a ball was kicked: winning the toss and forcing Alfreton to kick uphill in the second half, against their preference, shifted the contest on its axis — and Town took full advantage the moment the second half began.
The Bards won the pre-match toss and chose to defend the slope in the first half, soaking up pressure before turning it to their advantage after the break. Kevin Bastos tapped in within seconds of the restart to double the lead, and Town managed the game composedly from there, keeping Alfreton — who pushed hard in the closing stages — at arm's length. The commentary described it as a thoroughly deserved victory and a fantastic performance.
Key moments
- 1.Kevin Bastos (46') — barely a minute into the second half, a throw-in into the six-yard box bounced through to the back post and Bastos tapped in from a yard to make it 2-0.
- 2.Josh Hawker scored the opening goal to give Town the lead going into the break, the commentary confirming both his name and the score at half-time.
- 3.Kobe Hall replaced Tre Mitford (60') and was deployed in the centre-forward position, adding physicality to Town's attack in the second half.
- 4.Kevin Bastos came on for Dan Vann (69') as Town managed their lead, with Alfreton pushing for a way back into the match through a series of corners and free kicks around the Bards' box.
- 5.Josh Hawker was shown a yellow card (88') after a foul on the edge of the Bards' penalty area, with Alfreton awarded a free kick that came to nothing as Town saw out the game.
Town's decision to defend the slope in the opening period paid off handsomely: they absorbed pressure in the first half, then controlled the second behind the slope and the cushion of two goals. Josh Hawker was singled out as exceptional throughout by the commentary. The Bards advance to the next round of the FA Cup, with the draw scheduled for Monday.
Alfreton Town 0–2 Stratford Town · FA Cup · Solanda Stadium, Alfreton