The first chance of note came in the 11th minute when Bassett was able to work his way into the box from the left and play in Shamsi. His shot was parried and then collected on the visitors goal line by Ty Belford.

The hosts kept up the pressure on Town’s defence and nearly found themselves 1-0 up again minutes later when Goddard collected the ball from a throw in and was able to get past two players and run into the box before shooting just wide.

The away side’s only real chance of the half came in the 22nd minute when Powell was played through and lobbed a shot over the on-rushing keeper Breeden. But the former Boro striker had put too much power on the strike which went inches over the bar.

Boro continued to press throughout the half with a succession of corners and half chances going begging.

The breakthrough came in first half added time with a well worked goal.
After sharp passing had opened things up, Lita was able to hold off a defender and play in Ollie Bassett who calmly slotted the ball past the Stratford keeper and into the bottom right corner.

It should have been 2-0 just moments later as Lita again played a through ball, this time to Shamsi who was one on one with Belford but under pressure he rolled his shot inches past the far post.

HT: 1-0

The away side started the second forty-five with a sense of urgency as immediately they tried to test Breeden with a shot from distance that fizzed past the post.

The majority of the half was quite even with both sides creating chances but failing to convert.

As the game wore on though Stratford notched up the pressure as they searched for an equaliser.

This lead to a busy closing twenty minutes for Boro captain and goalkeeper Tony Breeden.

He was forced into a great stop in the 74th minute when a long throw was flicked on and a header at the back post was somehow clawed from the goal line by the Nuneaton number one.

After another close shave Boro hit back to relieve the mounting pressure in perfect fashion.

Carl Baker, on as a 71st minute substitute, changed the game’s momentum when he played a huge part in Boro’s second goal.
In the 82nd minute, Baker glided past three players before finding Lita in the right hand side of the box.
Lita’s shot was so powerful that despite Belford getting a hand to it, the ball found it’s way into the right corner to make it 2-0.

That goal proved to be vital as, despite the best efforts of Breeden, in the 92nd minute a corner forced the keeper into a fantastic double save but the loose ball was turned in by Jordan Williams to make it 2-1.

It was now about game management and Boro were able to hold on and guarantee a place in the third qualifying round with an impressive all round performance.

FT: 2-1

MOTM: Oliver Bassett.

Boro: Breeden©, Goddard, Gudger, Hood, Edjenguele, Kelly, Edmunds (Baker 71), Dias (Bassett 4 - Brown 80), Shamsi, Tomkinson, Lita.
Subs: Landers, Ruff, Dunbar.

Stratford Town: Belford, Vann, Muggleton, Curtis (Feyi 59), Heaven, Williams, Kaziboni, Sammons, Isaac (McLean 86), Grocott ©, Powell (Fry 69).
Subs: Howards, Braimbridge, Birch, Flanagan.

Attendance: 488