Pitching In Southern League Premier Central
Saturday 21st February 2026
Stratford Town 1-2 Harborough Town
Ison (33’); Kamara (45+1’), Morris (82’)
Attendance – 812
Report – Andy Sparrow
Photo – RB Media
Harborough Town ground out a hard-fought 2–1 victory in Warwickshire, overcoming Stratford Town in heavy conditions at the Arden Garages Stadium to maintain their promotion push in the Pitching In Southern League Premier Central.
For the third straight game, Mitch Austin named an unchanged starting XI as the Bees made the short trip across the border to face a Stratford side sitting 12th in the table. Despite a five-game winning run at the start of the calendar year, the Bards had lost three of their previous four fixtures and were looking to respond on home soil.
This was the fourth meeting between the sides, with both teams hoping to improve on the goalless draw played out at the Beehive in October — another sign that a tight, competitive contest was once again in-store.
The game began at a high tempo and it was the Bards who started the brighter. Inside two minutes, Coventry City loanee Josh Toluwaloju charged down a hurried Elliott Taylor clearance to immediately put the Bees under pressure. Moments later, skipper Lewis Ison saw the ball break kindly to him on the edge of the area but, forced onto his weaker foot, dragged his effort wide.
Harborough gradually settled. On 12 minutes, Riley O’Sullivan struck a bouncing effort from 25 yards that was gathered comfortably by Jake Weaver. Shortly after, Ben Stephens tested the Stratford goalkeeper with a powerful 30-yard free-kick.
Stephens continued to look lively. After strong defensive work from Liam Dolman to intercept and launch a swift counter-attack, the midfielder struck a dipping effort from range that once again required Weaver’s attention.
David Kamara nearly broke the deadlock on 29 minutes, racing onto a flick-on through the middle, but Finlay Brennan recovered superbly to force him wide and block the shot.
Despite the Bees creating the clearer openings, it was the hosts who took the lead on 33 minutes. Stratford captain Lewis Ison, surrounded by defenders, unleashed a powerful low drive from just outside the area that squeezed just inside Elliott Taylor’s post to make it 1–0.
Harborough responded with purpose and were rewarded in first-half stoppage time.
With four minutes added on, Eliot Putman slipped Kamara into space down the left. The forward cut inside, skipped beyond two defenders and emphatically fired into the roof of the net to score his sixth goal for the club. A superb solo effort that sent the sides into the break level at 1–1.
Rain began to fall during the interval, but despite the worsening conditions the pitch held up well as the second half got underway.
Just two minutes after the restart, Mitch Austin made his first change, Rob Morgan replacing Josh Walsh to make his 35th appearance for the Bees.
The second half produced fewer clear-cut chances as the heavy surface began to take its toll. Stratford threatened from a corner on 56 minutes when Morris’ sharp turn and shot ricocheted off Morgan and spun narrowly wide.
At the other end, Stephens almost produced a moment of quality on 72 minutes, his curling 30-yard free-kick drifting inches over the crossbar.
The decisive moment arrived on 82 minutes.
Dempsey Arlott-John was brought down needlessly while running away from goal, earning Harborough a free-kick in a dangerous position. Devon Kelly-Evans delivered a superb curling cross into the penalty area and Alex Morris rose to guide an angled header beyond the outstretched goalkeeper to give the Bees the lead.
Stratford pressed in the closing stages, but Harborough defended resolutely, managing the final minutes to secure another valuable three points on the road.
The victory makes it six consecutive league wins for the Bees.
With a demanding March ahead including eight fixtures across successive Tuesdays and Saturdays, Harborough will welcome another week without midweek action before returning to the Beehive next Saturday for a Leicestershire derby against Barwell, who will arrive on the back of a 2–1 victory over Stamford.