FQPL Far North: The youngsters leading Stratford‘s fightback

If you’re losing, there’s no point looking at the ladder as you’ll just get a sore neck. The last line from Stratford coach Rob Wales says all you need to know about where the team is now. But a revolution is on the way.

IF you’re losing, there’s no point looking at the ladder as you’ll just get a sore neck.

The last line of a conversation with Stratford coach Rob Wales says all you need to know about the struggling team’s mindset midway through the FQPL Far North Premier Men’s season.

They are all well aware of their position on the ladder and just how far they have to climb if they want to feature in the finals.

But, Stratford is riding a mini wave of momentum into the second half of the campaign, but Wales insists there hasn’t been any noticeable difference to their approach.

Draws against top four sides Southside and Edge Hill United in their last two starts, plus a grinding win against fellow strugglers Redlynch Strikers United has given the side plenty of confidence.

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“Compared to the way we played those losses earlier this season, I didn’t think we did that much differently,” Wales said. “We just haven’t been able to get the goals.

“We’re still playing the same way, but that 2-1 win against Redlynch where we had to grind for the result, probably gave us that boost in confidence.

“Then to draw Edge Hill with 10 men was huge.”

And at the centre of their push is a cast of young players aged under 20 who have stepped into the top squad and made it their own.

Players like goalkeeper Robbie Cutts, Jordan Leporati, Quinn Wales, Taj Maric, Max Gawronski and Ronan Freeman, who stepped up from Stratford’s youth team, have impressed in their time in the top squad.

“Our young players are leading the way,” Wales said.

“And the others players, they take a lot of confidence out of seeing what those young blokes can do.”

Wales said the club would approach every remaining game for the rest of the season the same way.

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Stratford goalkeeper Robert Cutts. Picture Emily Barker.

hat starts with two games in two weeks against Innisfail United, which are must-win if they want to make a late play at the finals.

The glaring issue is the lack of goals, with Stratford boasting the worst attack in the league with just five goals in their seven games.

They have been held scoreless in more games than they’ve scored, and while luck - or the lack of it - has played a big part in that, Wales is confident the tide will turn.

“A couple weeks ago the wide players weren’t getting into the right position so we fixed that up,” Wales said.

“They weren’t getting that ball in as much as we needed but now we’ve got that sorted, it’ll change.

“We’ve had a few hit the post, or miss by centimetres. On any other day they go in.

“It’s coming, we just need to keep at it.”

This week features two blockbusters as Edge Hill Utd host Southside and Marlin Coast hosts Leichhardt.

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Originally published as FQPL Far North: The youngsters leading Stratford‘s fightback