Bishop’s Stortford 2-5 Kingstonian Match Report
Bishop’s Stortford 2-5 Kingstonian Match Report 21/8/215
Bishop’s Stortford suffered a heavy defeat in the first home game of the Pitching In Isthmian League Premier Division season, losing 2-5 to Kingstonian. Ks striker Daniel Ajakaiye bagged a hat-trick, with Mark Haines and Jonny Giles netting for the Blues.
Sam Robbins was deputising at right back for the injured Rio Davidson-Phipps, and made an early through ball towards Jake Cass that was cut out by Robert Tolfrey, before Giles saw his cross goe behind for a goal kick. At the other end, Ryan Henshaw and Anthony Church combined to scramble clear after Jason Banton had worked some space for a shot but was denied with a block. Cass again got himself into a position to shoot but fired just wide with his left foot on the edge of the box, before Joe Gardner headed over the crossbar from a Giles free kick. Gardner then put Cass through on goal with a brilliantly weighted pass, the striker went past two defenders but couldn’t find the target. And the visitors made the Blues pay missed chances, byt going straight up the other end and breaking the deadlock, with Ajakaiye converting from close range from Nyren Clunis’ low cross from the right. Kingstonian might have doubled their lead, but for the decision sweeper-keeper exploits of Jack Giddens, who rushed out to close down Bryant Akono Bilongo and made a brilliant tackle. Cass fired into the side netting from a tight angle, having turned the defender on the edge of the box, before Ghassimu Sow fired over the bar when a corner kick had been headed away. Frankie Merrifield beat the Ks right back and chipped the ball to Giles on the other side of the box, who brought it down and fired early towards goal, but saw his shot blocked, with Merrifield having a chance of his own after a smart turn to beat the defender, with his shot also blocked. Giddens punched away Banton’s shot, before Haines rose highest to get a glancing header on Giles’ cross to equalise before half-time.
HT 1-1
Kingstonian made a fast start after the break, with Ajakaiye chipping the onrushing Giddens, before smashing home from near the bye-line just two minutes later to complete his hat-trick. They could have increased their lead further had Rhys Murrell-Williamson’s effort been lower, instead it cannoned off the crossbar and Banton fired wide from the rebound. Jack Thomas worked hard to keep the ball in play on the goal line, cutting the ball back to Merrifield who squared it to Cass but his low effort was saved by Tolfrey. Giles dragged the Blues right back into the game with a stunning strike into the top left corner from near 30 yards, scoring when it looked like there was no threat from his position. Merrifield could have equalised but headed off the corner of woodwork from Giles’ wide free kick, before Banton curled wide at the other end. Sow had a slice of fortune when he struck towards the middle, and a deflection off Henshaw carried it into the top corner instead of towards Giddens who was prepared for the original path of the ball. Giles had a shot blocked before Merrifield headed over from Giles’ corner and Haines tried an overhead kick but couldn’t hit the target. Ex-Blue Elliott Buchanan came off the bench for the Ks and scored with nearly his first touch of the ball, he beat the offside trap and ran through to curl home into the bottom corner. Southend United loanee Bobby Unwin came off the bench and looked lively for the Blues, firing just over the bar as well as making a number of good runs and crosses during his cameo appearance.
FT 2-5
TEAMS
Blues XI
1 Jack Giddens
3 Archie Edwards
4 Anthony Church
5 Sam Robbins
6 Ryan Henshaw (c)
7 Jonny Giles (Goal 60’)
9 Jake Cass (Yellow card 89’)
10 Frankie Merrifield
12 Jack Thomas
17 Mark Haines (Goal 37’)
19 Joe Gardner (Sub Unwin 56’)
Subs
11 Yasseir Nazor
16 Bobby Unwin
18 Pat Sankey
20 James Baker
Kingstonian XI
1 Robert Tolfrey
2 Juevan Spencer
3 Bryant Akono Bilongo
4 Declan Skura
5 Oliver Cook
6 Kenny Beaney (Sub Kurtaran 90’)
7 Nyren Clunis (Sub Buchanan 82’)
8 Ghassimu Sow (c) (Goal 73’)
9 Daniel Ajakaiye (Goal 16’ 50’ 52’)
10 Jason Banton (Yellow card 27’)
11 Rhys Murrell-Williamson (Sub Camacho Saraiva 69’)
Subs
12 Elliott Buchanan (Goal 83’)
14 Fabio Camacho Saraiva
15 Teo Kurtaran
16 Aaron Lamont
17 Frank Jerry Puemo
Attendance 326
By Hamish Arnold
