Nearing the end of the season McDonald Stratford football club were looking for a good result from Saturday's game against Peringa Masters.
These two teams had squared up against each other several times and results have been fairly even spread. Peringa were still smarting from a loss in the Nimos Cup knockout round last week and were keen to reverse their fortunes. Meanwhile Stratford was still settling in new players and were struggling to find their earlier form.
Peringa kicked off after Stratford made the decision to play into the wind and the game was into full speed from the get go. The intensity was evident from both teams when Stratford scored after five minutes and Peringa replied with a goal in the seventh minute.
After the initial burst the game settled down to a fast paced to and fro with Peringa probing the Stratford defence, utilising the speed and control of their front men. Stratford's back line held with the experience of Stu Hawkless and John Kane keeping control. This didn't stop Peringa entirely and there were several shots on goal that had to be dealt to by keeper James Burroughs.
Up front Stratford's attacking play was set up by Caleb Cook, one of the hardest working players on the pitch. His energy and commitment was tremendous and often the catalyst for Stratford's strikes on goal, the closest coming when Josh Houghton received a through ball that he deftly took into the box and beat the keeper only to have the ball run just wide of the upright.