North Leigh were always struggling after hosts Stratford scored two excellent goals in the first 15 minutes of Saturday’s Evo-Stik Division 1 South & West clash on the way to a 3-1 victory.

The visitors started with reserve keeper Kane Lewis in goal due to Matt Bulman being unavailable, and the midfield pairing of Kieran Sanders and Callum McNish were missing through suspension and injury.

Stratford struck after just four minutes through Aaron Moses-Garvey who hit a stunning left-foot shot from 18 yards that flew past Kane Lewis into the top right corner of the net.

Morgan Williams looked like equalising for North Leigh after being set up by Elliott Osborne-Ricketts, but he shot straight at the keeper The hosts doubled their lead on 15 minutes when a great 16-yard strike from Kevin Charley flew past Lewis into the top left corner of the net.

While striker Tyrone Fagan was causing problems to the Millers’ defence, at the other end Jamie Cook saw his close-range shot blocked.

The visitors hopes disappeared when they conceded a sloppy goal after 53 minutes.

Michael Hopkins passed back to keeper Lewis, who saw his kick out charged down and rebound into the net off striker Fagan.

North Leigh pulled back a goal in the 56th minute when Jon Else went on a mazy run and squared the ball to Williams who slotted it home.

The Millers tried hard to claw back the deficit, but Else, Hopkins and George Seacole saw their efforts go just wide.

North Leigh: Lewis, Hole, Hopkins, Turk (Gunn 81), Caton, Westlake, Else, Osborne-Ricketts, Cook, Woodley, Williams (Seacole 64). Sub not used: McNish.

Attendance: 214.