STRATFORD Town were hammered 4-1 away at Rushall Olympic as the managerless Bards slumped to a disappointing defeat on Non-League Day.
Despite Jack Storer briefly drawing Stratford level, Rushall proved too strong for the Bards who lost back-to-back matches for the first time since November.
The result means Stratford sit 12th in the Southern League Premier Central table, 10 points clear of the relegation zone.
The Bards lost influential pair Melis Bushaj and Leroy Lita on deadline day (March 24th) after the former was recalled from his loan spell by Solihull Moors and the latter departed for Hednesford Town.
And Ian King’s side should have taken the lead inside 60 seconds at Dales Lane when Storer was played through only to be denied by an excellent save from Rushall goalkeeper Jonathan Flatt.
Rushall made the Bards for that missed chance when Alex Moore slotted home on six minutes after cutting in from the right.
Stratford equalised on 21 minutes when Storer found the net after great work from Will Dawes.
However, the home side restored their lead just five minutes later when Mitchell Clarke pounced on some lapse Stratford defending.
Bards goalscorer Storer then spurned a gilt-edged chance to draw Stratford level for a second time when he shot wide after a superb run by Dawes.
And Rushall struck again on the stroke of half time through Ben Usher-Shipway to take the game out of Stratford’s reach.
The game was put to bed on 77 minutes when Danny Glover’s exquisite overhead kick evaded Bards goalkeeper Liam O’Brien.
Stratford are next in action at home to Barwell on Saturday, April 2 with kick-off at 3pm at the Arden Garages Stadium.
