STRATFORD Town are showing a growing confidence and belief after becoming one of the form teams in Southern Premier Central, according to boss Thomas Baillie.
Two goals from Wilson Carvalho and one from Albi Skendi sealed a 3-2 win at home to Leiston to extend their unbeaten run to seven matches in all competitions.
They will look to continue the sequence on Saturday when they head to Alvechurch for their second visit inside two weeks. The FA Trophy first qualifying round clash follows a Town win in the League Cup a week last Tuesday, but Church were victorious when the sides met at the Arden Garages Stadium in the FA Cup in September.
Alvechurch have risen to the play-off zone but Town will not be fazed by the challenge.
“There’s a lot of confidence in the squad after our recent run of the results and the difference compared to a few weeks ago is staggering,” said head of football Baillie.
“Our togetherness has also improved markedly along with our fitness and players now know the shape in which I want the team to play.”
Baillie insists the players will keep improving and will expect nothing less.
He picked out man of the match Wilson Carvalho as a big positive from the game against Leiston but, like all the players, he can do better.
“Obviously Wilson stole the headlines from Saturday’s game,” said the boss. “He is a real talent who is now showing what he can do and I believe there is more to come from him.”
Carvalho was at the centre of Town’s victory in the first-ever fixture between Stratford and Leiston.
The visitors needed just 22 seconds to take the lead through Christy Finch’s header but Town responded to make it 1-1 seven minutes later as Carvalho fired home.
Skendi then fired the hosts in front from a loose ball following a corner from Will Grocott in the 23rd minute, only for Leiston to equalise after Jake Reed’s deflected effort looped over keeper Richard Walton.
The winner came on 68 minutes when Carvalho created room to fire unerringly into the net.
Meanwhile, Stratford have been handed a home tie against Redditch United in the second round of the League Cup. The tie is scheduled for the week beginning November 5.
TOWN will provide fireworks on Friday, October 26 when they host their annual bonfire party. Gates open at 6pm, with the bonfire being lit at 6.30pm and fireworks beginning at 7.15pm.
Admission is £4 for adults, £2 for children, with under-twos admitted free, or a family-of-four ticket is £10.
