After four consecutive Pitching In Southern League Premier Central Division defeats and facing the team third in the table it would be understandable if confidence was low in the Lowestoft camp - but there was no sign of an inferiority complex when The Trawlerboys took on Stratford Town last Saturday, writes Terry Lynes.

It was Lowestoft who made a lightning start and within a minute Kyle Haylock had grazed the outside of the post from 18 yards.

Harvey Sayer was next to try his luck but his shot took a deflection off Paul McCone into keeper Jake Weaver’s hands.

It was soon apparent that Stratford’s main danger followed set plays and they should have taken the lead in the ninth minute when a flag kick was flicked on and fell to Kevin Joshua who with his back to goal hooked the ball high over from six yards.

The next corner saw Callum Ebanks flash a header inches too high.

Lowestoft though were having their moments and when McCone slipped on the greasy surface Weaver saved well from Joao Rangel’s drive.

Charlie Norman’s strong run into the area was stopped by an excellent tackle from Josh Hawker as he was preparing to shoot and Sam Johnson flashed a header just wide of the post.

It was Stratford though who moved ahead four minutes before the break. Another corner routine saw McCone rise highest to loop a header over Ellis Craven and into the net.

Lowestoft had a chance to level the scores immediately after the interval with Rangel setting up Sayer but from 18 yards he placed the ball high over the bar.

Stratford then enjoyed a spell on top with Craven showing his talent with a series of excellent saves to thwart Owen James, Aaron Lacey and Alex Williams.

Lowestoft should have levelled the scores in the 67th minute when some Sayer trickery saw him cut inside the byeline but from his cross Johnson powered a header just the wrong side of the post.

That miss proved costly as The Bards doubled their lead in the 79th minute when from a Lowestoft corner Joshua broke quickly racing half the length of the pitch to set up the space for Williams to fire just inside the post.

Lowestoft continued to battle away and were rewarded with a goal in the fifth minute of added time when hesitation between Weaver and Hawker saw Johnson nip in to pinch the ball and roll it into the empty net.

TEAMS: LOWESTOFT TOWN: Craven, Norman, Eagle (sub Howell 83), McIntosh (sub B Atkinson 91), Ruffles, Ayoola, Haylock (sub Blogg 91), Johnson, Rangel, Sayer, Haddoch. Subs (not used): McGregor, Yeo.

STRATFORD TOWN: Weaver, Brennan (sub Vann 89), Hawker, McCone, Ludford-Ison, Ebanks (sub Bruce 81), Lafferty (sub Solanke 90), Joshua, Alex Williams (sub Molyneux 87), James (sub Charlie Williams 64), Lacey.

REFEREE: Mr I Ruddock

ATTENDANCE: 373

Report by Terry Lynes