Bishop’s Stortford 3-1 St Albans City Match Report

Bishop’s Stortford 3-1 St Albans City Match Report 18/11/23

Isuzu FA Trophy Second Round

Hamish Arnold

 

Mbunya Alemanji scored twice in four minutes either side of half-time as Bishop’s Stortford beat St Albans City in the Isuzu FA Trophy Second Round on Saturday. After failing to progress in the Emirates FA Cup earlier this season, the Blues went a goal down to the Vanarama National League South visitors at the RDA Stadium, but came back from a losing position for the first time this season thanks to Alemanji’s brace and a third from Tosin Olufemi.

The draw for the Third Round will be made on Monday.

 

The last meeting between the Hertfordshire rivals was also in an FA competition, with today’s hosts winning on that occasion as well, in the Fourth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup in 2020-21, in front of the TV cameras. ONe of the goalscorers that day – Aaron Greene – had the first opening for either side, he nearly managed to get in behind the Saints defence when Dan Bowry’s backward header to his goalkeeper was left slightly short, but Josh McNamara managed to claim the ball before the Stortford winger. But the away side turned defence into attack with Mitchell Weiss’ low cross leading to Ben Smith’s shot which was blocked by Sam Robbins, into the path of Dylan Fage, who slotted home from the left side of the box. Ibby Akandi could have doubled the lead for St Albans but his chipped effort went over the bar, before Alemanji curled a left footed shot off target. Gio Rasulo dribbled into the box from midfield, but his shot from a tight angle was saved by Jack Giddens, before Fage curled wide from the edge of the box. Fraser Alexander won the ball on the edge of the St Albans box, he slid a through ball to Ryan Charles who cut it back for Alemanji  to convert from eight yards.

HT 1-1

Stortford went ahead two minutes into the second half, when a corner from the left was headed clear at the near post, Alexander picked it up and his cross was won in the air by Mark Haines, Alemanji held off the defender and poked home into the bottom left corner. Alemanji may have wanted to seal his hat-trick from the penalty spot when Walker was blocked from receiving the ball as the defender went to ground and handled the ball, but it was the Blues regular penalty taker who stepped up. Olufemi’s spot kick was saved by McNamara, but the defender reacted quickest to slot home the rebound. Substitute Shaun Jeffers stretched to reach a low cross from the right, and while he did make contact it wasn’t enough to get the ball on target. Bowry headed wide at the near post from a right wing corner, before Akandi dragged his shot wide from the left side of the box. Alemanji turned and shot from the edge of the box, but straight at McNamara, it was a rare attack in the closing stages of the match as the Blues were happy to sit in a low block to see out the win. George Hoddle volleyed over the bar, the only chance of note that St Albans could fashion late on, as Bishop’s Stortford sealed the win.

TEAMS

Bishop’s Stortford XI

1 Jack Giddens (c)

2 Mark Haines (Assist 47’)

3 Harrison Sodje

5 Sam Robbins

7 Gio McGregor

9 Mbunya Alemanji (Goal 43’ 47’)

10 Darren Foxley (Thomas 75’)

11 Tosin Olufemi (Goal 59’) (Yellow card 84’)

15 Ryan Charles (Assist 43’) (Marlow 66’)

17 Aaron Greene (Walker 57’)

20 Fraser Alexander

Subs

4 Jack Thomas

6 Harry Beadle

8 Ben Marlow

13 Adam Messaoudin

16 Zain Walker

18 Ollie Peters

St Albans City XI

19 Josh McNamara

2 Jack James

3 Sam Brown (Carlyle 46’)

4 Ben Smith

5 Dan Bowry (c)

8 Gio Rasulo

12 Mitchell Weiss (Jeffers 46’)

14 Joe Partineton

21 Dylan Fage (Goal 8’)

24 Ibby Akandi (Morrall 72’)

28 George Hoddle

Subs

7 Ryan Blackman

9 Shaun Jeffers

13 Sam Bentley

17 George Morrall

18 Andronicos Georgiou

22 Nathan Carlyle

27 Kieran Gauthier

Attendance 515