The Blues’ first match in February saw them come away from East Manchester with a share of the points. In cold, breezy conditions at the Butchers Arms ground, after a goal-less first half, Dwight Gayle gave Stortford the lead shortly after the break only for the hosts to net twice to go ahead. However, the Blues leading marksman notched his 19th Blue Square Bet goal late in the game to square the contest. 

 

In an end to end contest Stortford had the chances, particularly in the first 45 minutes, to have taken all three points. Unfortunately, shots off target and a number of excellent saves by the Bloods’ keeper Paul Phillips denied Stortford. Jordan Archer, in the Stortford goal, also had to be in good form as he also made a number of fine stops during the course of the match. 

 

In Bishops’ first game after almost a three week gap Rod Stringer made a few changes to his starting line-up. In defence Sean Francis returned to the middle of the back four and partnered Mark Haines whilst Phil Anderson moved across to the left back berth. Max Lette Jallow and Paco Craig were in the midfield as Scott Shulton hadn’t recovered from his hamstring injury and Alli Abdullahi was one of the substitutes. 

 

Jordan Archer was alert to hold on to a deflected shot from Droylsden’s Dan Gardner during an early passage of play in which there was a heavy sleet shower. The Blues were the better side before the interval and were aggrieved that they didn’t take the lead in the 12th minute as Dwight Gayle bundled a deep cross from the left into the net but was pulled up for an adjudged foul on keeper Phillips by Referee Michael Salisbury. 

 

The Bloods’ defence looked very vulnerable throughout the match and they were lucky to keep a blank scoresheet a couple of minutes later. Defender Nat Kerr’s poor crossfield pass was cut out by Dwight Gayle whose shot from the edge of the box was kept out only by Phillips’ trailing leg. The ball was collected by Ricky Sappleton and the striker’s goalbound follow-up shot was blocked by Kerr. 

 

Midway through the half Archer saved from the hosts’ number nine Ciaran Killheeney after a good move but the Blues looked menacing nearly every time they attacked. Just after the half-hour mark Ricky Sappleton and Matt Johnson linked down the middle and the latter’s shot from 15 yards was blocked by a defender and then when Sappleton put Gayle through Phillips made a fine blocking save. 

 

Just before the break Paco Craig played Gayle in on goal but the striker’s effort was a foot wide of the target. During the three minutes of stoppage time at the end of the half Dan Garner, for the hosts, almost twisted his way through on goal after Mark Haines lost possession but Archer came out quickly to grab the ball. Then Ricky Sappleton, breaking into the box from the right flashed a shot wide of the near post. 

 

 

The Blues were ahead in the third minute after the restart. DWIGHT GAYLE intercepted a loose pass from Droylsden skipper Lewis Killeen on the halfway line before shrugging off challenges from defenders and finishing with a low shot past Phillips (0-1). 

 

Stortford’s lead only lasted five minutes however. A fine crossfield pass from Gardner found Carlos Logan on the right flank and after cutting in the Droylsden midfielder crossed for CIARAN KILHEENEY to find the net with a close range header into the opposite corner (1-1). 

 

The Bloods began to have greater control of the midfield and after a long range shot from Gardner had gone close, Jordan Archer had to parry away an effort from Carlos Logan and when Kilheeney collected the loose ball Ritchie Jones cleared the danger when heading away the cross from the Droylsden striker. Then moments later a shot on the turn from Dale Johnson was pushed aside at the near upright by Archer for a corner. 

 

Dwight Gayle had a shot from just inside the area well saved at full stretch by Phillips in the 66th minute and at the other end Warren Peyton sent a through ball down the middle for Dale Johnson to run on to in what seemed an offside position. The Assistant Referee’s flag stayed down but fortunately Jordan Archer made an excellent save and the ball rebounded to safety. 

 

Droylsden, however, went ahead in the 75th minute. In an attack down the left substitute DOMAINE ROUSE, who had only been on the pitch for three minutes, played the ball inside and aided by a wicked deflection off of Mark Haines it looped over Archer and fell just under the bar and inside the far post (2-1). 

 

Carlos Logan shot into the side-netting from the right soon after and then in the 83rd minute Phil Anderson, who had been booked in the first half for a late challenge, had to come off with a calf injury. 

 

There was five minutes remaining of normal time when Stortford netted their second goal of the afternoon. DWIGHT GAYLE collected a loose ball on the right and after advancing into the area tumbled over when trying to swerve past the onrushing keeper Paul Phillips. The hosts’ stopper made a fine save diving his right to keep out the penalty but the rebound was swiftly dispatched into the net by Gayle (2-2). 

 

The action was far from over and in the remaining minutes of normal time the Blues could have clinched the points. Gayle flicked on a long clearance from Archer into the path of Daniel Subuola but Phillips made a superb save to deny the Stortford substitute and then Paco Craig fired wide from a Matt Johnson pass. 

 

Even in the four minutes of added time at the end of the contest there were still near misses at both ends. Rouse’s lofted shot from the left went narrowly past Archer’s far post and Harry Milton went close after good work by Matt Johnson. In fact Paco Craig found the net with a shot but the final whistle had been blown seconds before to end the match. 

 

BISHOP’S STORTFORD: Jordan Archer; Ritchie Jones; Phil Anderson (sub – Sebastian Dunbar 83 mins); Bai Mass Lette Jallow; Mark Haines; Sean Francis; Dwight Gayle; Matt Johnson; Reneil Sappleton (sub – Daniel Subuola 77 mins); Paco Craig; Harry Milton. 

Unused substitutes: Callum Stewart, Alli Abdullahi and Junior Dadson. 

 

DROYLSDEN: Paul Phillips; Chris Brown; Carlos Logan; Nat Kerr (sub – Andy Langford 46 mins); David Thompson; Warren Peyton; Dan Gardner; Lewis Killean; Ciaran Kilheeney (sub – Domaine Rouse 72 mins); Dale Johnson; Tom Fisher (sub – Shaun Holden 20 mins). 

Unused substitutes: Steve Owens and Steve Hall.