Bishop’s Stortford 2-0 Lewes Match Report

Bishop’s Stortford 2-0 Lewes Match Report 30/10/21

 

Bishop’s Stortford progressed to the First Round of the Buildbase FA Trophy with a 2-0 win over 10-man Lewes. Jake Cass scored both Blues goals, either side of a red card for Michael Klass, while Taylor Maloney missed a second half penalty on a bad day all round for the Rooks.

 

Cass opened the scoring with a fine header in the third minute, he jumped highest to nod home from Archie Edward’s’ right wing corner, but Ayo Olukaga nearly equalised straight away, from Freddie Parker’s through ball he somehow fired wide from 12 yards. Edwards’ one-two with Anthony Church gave the full back a chance to shoot at goal, but was denied by a great last ditch block by Kenneth Yao. Keeping the pressure on, the Blues reworked it and Edwards’ cross to Cass was headed over the bar. Parker had a shot deflected behind for a corner off Jimmy Wallace, before Ollie Tanner’s free kick was blocked by Church in the defensive wall. Debutant Chris Harris nearly had a goal to show for his good performance, but shot wide after a swift counter-attack by Johnville Renee and Ryan Charles. A brilliantly timed tackle by Jack Thomas fell kindly to Cass who turned and fired an early shot, but off target. After a shoulder to shoulder challenge, Klass kicked out at Thomas, catching him in the groin, with referee Jack Willmore instantly brandishing the red card for the Lewes man. From the resulting free kick, Ben Marlow was fouled outside the box in a central position. With regular set piece taker Jonny Giles unavailable for this match, Cass stepped up and dispatched the free kick like a rocket into the right side netting, past the despairing dive of goalkeeper Lewis Carey. Tanner ran from the halfway line into the box, dribbling past the Blues midfield and defence, but his shot was blocked, before Cass shot high of the goal after a lay off by Charles. Another Charles lay off to Cass gave the striker another opportunity to complete his third hat trick of the season, but Carey made a smart low save, before Marlow saw his long range effort deflected wide as the Blues piled on the pressure towards the end of the half. Wallace, still looking for his first Blues goal, couldn’t quite get his head on Renee’s clipped cross to the back post following a right wing corner.

 

HT 2-0

 

In the first minute of the second half, it looked as though the comeback would begin, when Wallace fouled Yao in the box. Maloney stepped up and fired high and wide of the target though, epitomising a poor day at the office for the visitors. Mitchell Nelson’s attempted headed clearance from a cross fell kindly to Harris, whose volley was blocked, and from the resulting corner, Maloney somewhat atoned for his penalty miss with a brilliant goal line block to deny Mark Haines’ header. Harris flicked the ball into Marlow’s path but his shot was saved, before Nelson headed away Cass’ cross with his strike partner Harris waiting to head home at the far post. Parker made a smart run to beat the offside trap, forcing Jack Giddens into his first save of any low, blocking the low shot from the left side of the box with his legs. Renee crossed to Charles at the back post, which Carey parried to Cass, but his powerful shot went high. Maloney had another brilliant chance to get on the score sheet, but rattled the woodwork from close range after the Blues failed to clear a low cross from the right side. Charles looked likely to seal the win with three great runs and shots towards the end, but each time he couldn’t hit the target after working the space to let fly.

 

FT 2-0

 

Lewes return to the R & D Advisors UK Stadium for a match in the Pitching In Isthmian League Premier Division on Saturday 6 November, before the visit of second-placed Enfield Town on Tuesday 9 November.

 

TEAMS

Blues XI

1 Jack Giddens

3 Archie Edwards (Sub Haines 41′)

4 Anthony Church

5 Sam Robbins (c)

8 Ben Marlow (Yellow card 70′)

9 Jake Cass (Goal 3′ 31′) (Sub Baker 74′)

10 Chris Harris (Sub Chandler 64′)

11 Johnville Renee

12 Jack Thomas

15 Ryan Charles

19 Jimmy Wallace

Subs

2 Reiss Chandler

6 Ryan Henshaw

13 Toby Bird

14 Luke Callander

16 Charlie Allum

17 Mark Haines (Yellow card 90+1′)

20 James Baker

 

Lewes XI

1 Lewis Carey

3 Tom Carlse

5 Mitchell Nelson (c) (Yellow card 72′)

6 Michael Klass (Red card 29′)

7 Ollie Tanner (Yellow card 86′)

10 Freddie Parker

11 Taylor Maloney

12 Kenneth Yao

14 Ayo Olukaga

20 Will Salmon

21 Deon Moore (Sub Coleman De-Graft 61’)

Subs

2 Killian Colombie

4 Matt Weaire

15 Bradley Pritchard

16 Nic D’Arienzo

17 Iffy Allen

18 Razz Coleman De-Graft

31 Roman Hall

 

Attendance 283