BSFC 2-2 Bowers & Pitsea

 

Bishop’s Stortford 2-2 Bowers & Pitsea Match Report 4/1/20

 

Bishop’s Stortford twice came from a goal down to rescue a draw against Bowers & Pitsea, thanks to the goals of Jamie Cureton.

The 44-year-old player-manager scored a free kick before smashing home from close range to get their first point of the New Year.

The match was Jack Thomas’ 100th Blues appearance, against a team for which his brother James also reached a century recently.

 

Matthew Campbell-Mhlope was rewarded with his first start after a lively cameo off the bench on New Year’s Day, and nearly opened the scoring early on, striking the far post from the corner of the box, while Cureton nearly scored from the rebound.

From the resulting corner, Campbell-Mhlope crossed to Cureton who headed straight at Bowers goalkeeper Callum Chafer from close range.

Continuing to create chances, Campbell-Mhlope found David Manu, but the winger couldn’t get his second Blues goal, somehow missing the target altogether.

But, after dominating the first half, the Blues went into the break a goal down thanks to a lapse in concentration, allowing Bradley Warner in behind Ryan Henshaw to smash low past Fred Burbidge.

 

Half time 0-1

 

After Lewis Manor had missed from close range for 0-2, there was another chance for the visitors to double their lead, with Warner over-running a cutback, he couldn’t find a team-mate and the ball was scrambled clear.

Then came the three goals in 19 minutes, starting with Cureton’s free kick.

From the edge of the box, he left Chafer rooted to the spot by getting it up and down over the wall and into the side netting.

Max Cornhill restored the Bowers lead, heading home unmarked from six yards out from a long free kick, before a left wing corner hit the near post and bounced away from the Blues goal.

Substitute Lawrence Hammond had an instant impact on the match, cutting open the defence to play Cureton through on goal in the right channel, who went past the sliding defender before shooting with the outside of his right foot past Chafer.

There was a late shout for a penalty for Bowers, but Jayden Sweeney won the ball and the referee gave a free kick for simulation.

 

Full time 2-2

 

TEAMS

 

Bishop’s Stortford XI

1: Fred Burbidge

2: Jordan Wescott

4: Jack Thomas

5: Sam Robbins

6: Ryan Henshaw © (Yellow card 86’)

7: Matthew Campbell-Mhlope (Mason 71’)

9: Jamie Cureton (Goal 66’ 85’)

11: David Manu (Hammond 83’)

16: Jayden Sweeney

17: Mark Haines (Yellow card 90’)

20: Shomari Barnwell

 

Subs

10: Lawrence Hammond

14: Matt Baxter

15: Alfie Mason

18: Bradley McClenaghan

19: Louie Johnson

 

Bowers & Pitsea XI

 

1: Callum Chafer

2: Tom Hine

3: Tom Stephen

4: Max Cornhill (Goal 72’)

5: Lewis Manor ©

6: Callum Leahy

7: Quentin Monville (Trendall 70’)

8: Ben Sartin

9: James Thomas (Yellow card 17’) (Osifuwa 67’)

10: Bradley Warner (Goal 44’) (Yellow card 90’)

11: Jamie Dicks (Yellow card 90+2’)

 

Subs

12: Adetayo Osifuwa

14: Dan Trendall

15: Joe Gardner

16: Sam Collins

17: Tyrone Baker

 

Attendance 338