AN INSTANTLY forgettable opening 45 minutes was put firmly in the back of home supporters' minds after Town turned in a terrific second half display.

Was it Ian Britton's interval pep talk, the introduction of Dean Wellington for Stuart Eades or the sight of Journal Series sports editor Mervyn Collins on the line that lifted the hosts out of their doldrums?

Probably a combination of the two former points as the replacement assistant referee was a virtual spectator as Romulus faded badly after taking the lead through Masons Road and Alveston old boy Tyrone Fagan just five minutes into the second half.

It was a goal that Nigel Niblett, making his 200th appearance in a Stratford shirt, and his central defensive partner Richard Robinson will want to forget as Fagan raced clear down the middle before firing confidently past debutant goalkeeper Shaun Hayes.

Robinson, though, rectified his lapse in concentration after 68 minutes with a slide-rule pass that Craig Pountney despatched with the authority of a player standing at the top of the Travel Factory Alliance goal charts.

The striker's fine finish was one of three top quality strikes that left Town easy winners at the end, while substitute Robbie Elmes made his mark 20 minutes from tie when he took advantage of a short back pass to help bundle the ball past the Romulus custodian.

Strike partner Pountney then chipped a magnificent third from the angle of the penalty area to seal the points after 79 minutes before Nick Heath's fierce centre seven minutes later was met superbly by the balding head of the experienced Elmes to cap a remarkable turnaround.

There could, and should, have been more goals to add even more gloss to a dazzling 45-minute display that will have pleased new boss Britton who must have been pondering a third successive defeat when Fagan struck.

Town started the match missing the reliable Paddy Connelly, whose 100th Stratford appearance was marked with a similar salver to the one presented to Niblett.

Also absent was striker Dennis Bailey, while defenders Phil Mortimer, Dennis Mulholland and Ashley Pringle were also on the sidelines.

And, it looked like fortune was against the hosts when Ilkeston referee Peter Carter pointed to the penalty spot when Heath was fouled in the third minute by another Town old boy Neil Cooksey but an assistant referee's flag had ruled the winger offside.

Tom Leaver wasted the best chance of a half that saw Stratford's final ball into the box ever wasteful and frustration started to get the better of the home side with Robinson, Hunter and Pountney all receiving yellow cards.

The latter's caution was the final act of the man in the middle who was forced to retire with a hamstring problem. Romulus weren't happy when Mulholland volunteered to take the flag but they could have no complaints about the eventual replacement - and the final scoreline!