Curzon Ashton 1-0 Bishop’s Stortford Match Report

Curzon Ashton 1-0 Bishop’s Stortford Match Report 11/11/23

Vanarama National League North

Hamish Arnold

William Hayhurst’s penalty was the difference as Bishop’s Stortford lost 1-0 at Curzon Ashton in the Vanarama National League North. The Blues have lost the last nine away matches, with one point on the road so far this season. New signing Manny Adebowale made his second debut – having made 15 club appearances in the 2016-17 season – while Mbunya Alemanji made his first start for the Club. Sam Robbins and Ben Marlow made their first starts since returning from injury.

Gio McGregor’s low cross from the left went right across the six yard box but Darren Foxley couldn’t meet it at full stretch. Stefan Mols dribbled into the box from Marcus Poscha’s long ball into the right channel he passed to player-manager Craig Mahon on the overlap but Harry Beadle blocked the low cross. Hyden Campbell shot over the bar from the cleared corner, before Adebowale headed behind from a free kick by Jordan Richards. James Spencer curled a left footed shot safely to Jack Giddens, and McGregor’s strike from 25 yards looked to be goalbound before a deflection off Foxley took it away from Ollerenshaw, who was grateful to see the ball go wide of the post. Marlow’s long range strike was deflected wide, before Alemanji appealed for a penalty from the resulting corner, with the defender appearing to have hold of the striker’s shirt as he jumped for the ball. Hayhurst curled a free kick narrowly wide of the top right corner at the end of the first half, the left-footed shot had Giddens at full stretch diving to his left, but it remained goalless at half-time.

HT 0-0

Foxley led the counter-attack and passed left to Aaron Greene, he crossed to McGregor at the far post but his first time volley was off target. Alemanji fired wide from long range, before Giddens saved Hayhurst’s free kick and Jack Thomas cleared the danger. Tosin Olufemi conceded a penalty kick on 61 minutes for a foul on substitute Jamie Allen, he was perhaps fortunate to stay on the pitch having been booked in the first half, Hayhurst slotted the spot kick away into the bottom right corner. Isaac Sinclair fired over the bar from long range, but into the last 20 minutes the hosts sat back and allowed Stortford time on the ball in the Nash half, the best chance for an equaliser came when Adebowale headed Foxley’s corner back across goal and Thomas volleyed off the crossbar. The midfielder’s next shot missed the target before Miles Storey’s low cross on the end of a quick break failed to find a teammate. Adebowale’s long throw was flicked on by Ryan Charles, but was flagged for offside as he jumped for the ball at the near post.

FT 1-0

TEAMS

Curzon Ashton XI

13 Joshua Ollerenshaw

4 Marcus Poscha

5 Devon Matthews

6 Alex Kenyon

7 Isaac Sinclair

8 Hyden Campbell (Allen 58’)

9 James Spencer (c)

11 William Hayhurst (Goal 68’p) (Yellow card 90’)

14 Stefan Mols (Barnton 69’)

19 Jordan Richards

21 Craig Mahon (Storey 84’)

Subs

10 Miles Storey

12 George Waring

15 Jamie Allen (Yellow card 90+4’)

20 Luke Taylor

22 Adam Barnton

Bishop’s Stortford XI

1 Jack Giddens (c) (Yellow card 45+1’)

4 Jack Thomas (Yellow card 58’)

5 Sam Robbins

6 Harry Beadle (Yellow card 19’) (Sodje 46’)

7 Gio McGregor

8 Ben Marlow (Alexander 63’)

9 Mbunya Alemanji

10 Darren Foxley (Yellow card 68’)

11 Tosin Olufemi (Yellow card 42’)

12 Emmanuel Adebowale (Yellow card 61’)

17 Aaron Greene (Charles 73’)

Subs

2 Mark Haines

3 Harrison Sodje

16 Zain Walker

15 Ryan Charles

20 Fraser Alexander

Attendance 243