Manager Ian Long made 5 changes to the starting line-up that beat St Ives Town on Saturday.
Taylor Morrison came in for Foster at left back, Smith replaced Willets in the centre, Turton replaced Llewellyn in the middle, Stokes replaced Bellis and 16 year old Ben Cassidy started his first Church senior game, replacing March up front, with all 5 senior players rested with Saturdays league game v Bedworth United obviously higher on the managers priorities.

Despite the changes, Church got off to a bright start when Cook glided past the Stratford defence, only to be crudley hacked down from behind by Oulton as he was about to pull the trigger. Lloyd sent the resulting free kick just on the edge straight at Walton to save.
Stratford took the lead in the 10' when Lewis Wilson was allowed space on the right before scoring past Evans.
Church equalised in the 23' when 16 year old Ben Cassidy scored, with his shot taking a deflection before finding the corner.
Church went 2-1 up in the 33' when Mitch Botfield went through before striking a shot into the corner.
A mad couple of minutes saw a 2-1 lead change into a 2-3 defecit, when first a mistake by Evans allowed Taylor to poke home to equalise in the 41'. A minute later a mix up between Turton and Smith just inside their own half saw both players leave it for each other, with the ball falling to Will Grocott, who saw Evans off his line before hitting a wonderful effort from 50 yards just inside the Church half to make it 2-3 at the break.

The second half was mostly one way traffic, with manager Ian Long replacing 1st choice players Botfield, Ezewele and Lloyd, with O'Callaghan, Henley and Tilbury. Stratford got their 4th in the 76' when substitute Carvalho poked in at the far post following a cross.
To be fair, if it wasn't for keeper Evans, the score should and could have been a lot worse for Church as the keeper pulled off a string of fine saves to deny the Stratford attack.

Having already played and beaten them in the FA Cup, this was the first of 3 games in close succession, as we host them again in the FA Trophy on Saturday 27 October, before playing them again at home, in a re-arranged league match on Tuesday 13 November.
All the best to Stratford in the next round and see you in a couple of weeks in what should be a totally different encounter (with hopefully a different result).

Match Photos HERE