Stafford Town made it six consecutive home wins in the league, inflicting a heavy 11-0 defeat on bottom of the table St. Martins who are still without a win this season and already look consigned to relegation. The win is the largest margin of victory and the most goals scored by a single team in a league match so far this season. Stafford signalled their intentions from the outset, Josh Wilson curling wide from the edge of the box with less than a minute on the clock. A 5th minute in-swinging corner by Wilson was then turned into the goal, Matt Dudley appearing to get the final touch. After Declan Arber failed to get touch on a good cross by Nathan Scott, Stafford doubled the lead in the 14th minute; Harry Bowers driving out from the back with the ball and playing it through to Arber, the frontman unselfishly squaring the ball for strike-partner Josh Oultram to tap in. The same pair combined five minutes later for the third goal, Arber crossing from the right for Oultram to finish after he had been released by a good ball from Sean Kinsella. Arber got in on the act himself in the 23rd minute, robbing a defender in the box and finishing across the ‘keeper following a ball into the box by Oultram. St. Martins were unable to keep hold of the ball for any extended period, Stafford constantly forcing them into mistakes and regaining possession. Just before the half hour Oultram should have had a hat-trick, hitting the post after bulldozing his way through the St. Martins defence, the follow-up shot by Arber also saved. Aided by Charlie Swingwood, Kinsella had been heavily dictating play in midfield thus far and he further underlined his quality with a superb 25 yard free kick into the top corner in the 30th minute. The final ten minutes of the half were a rare quiet period in the match as the tempo in the game dropped, during which time an impact injury to Stafford ‘keeper Henry Smith saw the introduction of young U21 ‘keeper Max Gibbs-Boddie for his competitive first-team debut. HT 5-0 Stafford Town. Stafford showed an impressive level of discipline in the second half, the players maintaining their normal shape and continuing to pass the ball as they would in a game where the scoreline was far closer and avoiding bad habits like showboating. Following an inviting cross by Kyle Ashman, another good cross by substitute Ben Wood saw a volley by Arber well saved. St. Martins had their only clear chance of the game in the 60th minute, heading over from a corner. Oultram then somehow headed a Wilson free kick from the right off target at the near post when it looked easier to score. After a 68th minute Arber shot from the edge of the box was pushed wide, Chris Anderson was on hand to head home from the resulting corner to make it six. Two minute later a Wilson shot was tipped over, Anderson again turning the subsequent corner goalwards and although the ball was blocked on the line, Wood fired a follow-up through the crowd into the net. Minutes later, an Oultram break down the right saw Wood head the ball straight at the ‘keeper at close range. Arber and Ryan Taylor both went close before an 83rd minute corner by Wilson was headed out to Kinsella who volleyed home from the edge of the box, the ball taking a deflection on the way to give the ‘keeper no chance. Arber then got his second of the game, shooting across the goal into the corner following some neat Stafford interplay on the edge of the box. After another Arber shot was saved, Ashman was tripped in the box for a penalty which was coolly dispatched into the bottom corner by Bowers. There was still time for Wilson to get in on the act, sweeping home an Arber cross from the left. Despite the score, some credit must go to St. Martins; who could not be criticised for a lack of effort, nor did they resort to dirty tactics as the game began to get away from them. FT 11-0 Stafford Town. Saturday 27th November sees Stafford travel to take on Stockport Town before a huge midweek match on Tuesday 30th November when they welcome local rivals Stafford Rangers to Evans Park for the First Round of the Staffordshire Senior Cup.
All the goals can be found here at Stafford Town TV: https://youtu.be/gO0nqXGrTLk
