BSFC Academy 1-0 Barking FC

Bishop’s Stortford secured their first win of the season with a hard fought victory over Barking by a goal to nil. The result see’s Stortford creep into the top half of the fledgling league table after two games.

 

Stortford couldn’t have asked for a better start to the game when Joe Franzini capitalised on a defensive error by the visitors leaving him through on a one on one with their keeper in just the second minute of the game. Franzini coolly slotted the ball past the keeper to give Stortford the early lead. The game then developed into a “what might have been” scenario with both sides creating chances but not able to convert them. In the 5^th minute Stortford’s Charlie Allum had a great shot which just crept over the cross bar to be followed by the visitors having an opportunity to equalise in the 10^th minute only to see that shot balloon over the bar. Joe Franzini had a shot well saved by the visiting keeper in the 20^th minute and had a free header in the box in the 28^th minute that missed wide of the left hand post. Theo Michael had a goal bound shot deflected for a corner in the 44^th minute and had a great chance to double Stortford’s lead in the 45^th minute but sent the ball way over the crossbar.

 

Half time  Bishop’s Stortford 1-0 Barking FC

 

The second half continued much as the first with opportunities being created but not converted. Charlie Allum had a deflected shot athletically tipped around the post by the visiting keeper in the 50^th minute. Barking responded by creating their own chance in the 54^th minute only for the shot to lack any power and run harmlessly past the post. Barking had another chance in the 65^th minute but yet again was off target. Indeed the Stortford keeper Toby Bird had hardly broken sweat at this stage of the game. Barking’s increasing pressure nearly resulted in reward in the 70^th minute in an extraordinary sequence of play. Barking won a corner which was swung into the Stortford box. It was met by a Barking player who rifled a shot goal bound from short range only for it to be cleared off the line. The ball bobbled about in the Stortford area before falling to the feet of the Barking forward who from 8 yards out crashed an unstoppable shot goal bound only to look in disbelief as it smacked against the cross bar and was then cleared by the Stortford defence. The storm had temporarily been weathered and Stortford were unlucky not to double their lead in the 85^th minute when a Charlie Allum 20 yard free kick hit the visitors cross bar with the rebound being sent over the bar by the lurking Kavan Hurling. The last five minutes or so of the game saw Barking press forward in search of the elusive equaliser. They had one final chance in the 86^th minute when the visiting player had a free header just 6 yards out but sent it way over the crossbar. So the game ended with surprisingly only one goal scored despite the numerous opportunities created by both teams. Stortford now have a busy schedule ahead with 3 games in eight days, all away from home!

 

Full time              

Bishop’s Stortford 1-0 Barking FC

 

Team 

Toby Bird

Harry Sankey

Spencer Earthy

Joe Harper-Sharp

Riley Cross

Pat Sankey

Joe Franzini

Charlie Allum

Theo Michael

Tomas Periera

Kavan Hurling

Subs 

Phill Harris

Connor Lee

Sam Jarrett

 

Next Fixtures

 

FC Clacton           Wednesday 7^th October 2pm ko

Lowestoft           Friday            9^th October 2pm ko

West Ham           Wednesday 14^th October 2pm ko