Bishop’s Stortford 1-1 Lewes Match Report

Bishop’s Stortford 1-1 Lewes Match Report 6/11/21

 

Bishop’s Stortford’s unbeaten run extended to seven matches in all competitions but were held to a 1-1 at home to Lewes. After a win in the FA Trophy last week, the Blues were unable to do the double over the Rooks, with Iffy Allen scoring late to cancel out Anthony Church’s opener.

 

It was a fast start for the visitors, with Kenneth Yao picking out Ollie Tanner with a long switch, only for Jack Giddens to smother the loose ball after a heavy touch. Tanner broke through the Blues defence in the next attack, but the returning Ryan Henshaw did enough to deflect the shot into Giddens’ arms. Sam Robbins – deputising at left back for the injured Archie Edwards – took a throw-in into Jake Cass’ chest, who turned and shot on the edge of the box, and it was parried behind for a corner by Lewis Carey. Consecutive corners by Jonny Giles saw headers from Henshaw and Church go just wide, before a glancing header by Cass from a deep Giles cross went just wide. Bradley Pritchard could only shoot high and wide of the target from Razz Coleman De-Graft’s lay-off, before Reiss Chandler received the ball on the overlap, but his cross was too heavy for Cass and Ryan Charles at the back post could only head at Carey. Charles then reacted quickest to the rebound from Carey’s save from Cass’ shot, Giles crossed to Church who nodded back across goal to Chandler, who was flagged for offside before he could shoot. Deon Moore saw his low shot from a tight angle saved by Giddens after a run down the left wing, and at the other end, Jack Thomas’ volley was blocked in front of goal from Giles’ corner. Cass looked like he had made the breakthrough with a header from a follow-up corner, but it was headed off the line, and the striker was appealing to referee Toby Enstone for a penalty, when he appeared to be blocked off when running through on goal to Chandler’s through ball, but his pleas were waved away. Henshaw headed straight at Carey from Giles free kick, Charles had a shot blocked and the follow-up volley from Marlow was saved by Carey, as Lewes were able to hold off the Blues onslaught until the break.

 

HT 0-0

 

Marlow had a long range effort parried by Carey, before heading against the base of the left post from Giles right-wing cross. Giles made a purposeful run cutting in off the right, but couldn’t find the target with his left footed shot, before Cass slid through Marlow with a perfectly weighted pass, only for the midfielder to sky his shot from 15 yards. Freddie Parker came off the bench and was involved as he got the ball out of his feet and fired a low shot that flashed wide of the post, and league top goalscorer Joe Taylor headed over the bar from Yao’s cross but was in an offside position. Giles’ free kick went all the way through to Mark Haines at the back post, who could only rattle the crossbar, but Church was on hand to nod home the rebound – his first goal since returning to the club in the summer. Coleman De-Graft was fortunate not to concede an own goal as he headed over his own crossbar from Giles’ corner, before a swift counter-attack from the subsequent corner led to the equaliser, with Allen bundling home from close range into the bottom right corner.

 

FT 1-1

 

The Blues host Chipstead in the Buildbase FA Trophy First Round on Saturday 13 November, and Enfield Town visit the R & D Advisors UK Stadium on Tuesday 16 November in the Pitching In Isthmian League Premier Division.

 

TEAMS

Blues XI

1 Jack Giddens

2 Reiss Chandler

4 Anthony Church (Goal 65’)

5 Sam Robbins

6 Ryan Henshaw (c)

7 Jonny Giles (Sub Foxley 73’)

8 Ben Marlow

9 Jake Cass (Sub Harris 82’)

12 Jack Thomas (Yellow card 67’)

15 Ryan Charles

17 Mark Haines

Subs

10 Chris Harris (Yellow card 87’)

13 Toby Bird

14 Darren Foxley

19 Jimmy Wallace

20 James Baker

 

Lewes XI

1 Lewis Carey

3 Tom Carlse

4 Matthew Weaire

5 Mitchell Nelson (c)

7 Ollie Tanner (Sub Allen 77’)

8 Taylor Maloney (Sub Olukoga 86’)

9 Joe Taylor

11 Deon Moore (Sub Parker 46’)

12 Kenneth Yao (Yellow card 45’)

15 Bradley Pritchard

18 Razz Coleman De-Graft

Subs

2 Killian Colombie

10 Freddie Parker

14 Ayo Olukoga

17 Iffy Allen (Goal 85’)

31 Roman Hall

 

Attendance 304