WebsiteSponsorsJCFlooring

Blues 0 Crows 3

pb2THERE was no Happy New Year for Blues as arguably their worst performance of the campaign saw them comfortably beaten by the Crows.

Despite the derk highbut of former Norwich City and Reading striker Jamie Cureton, the home side clearly missed Dipo Akinyemi who missed the game due to bruised ribs suffered in the Boxing Day draw against Biggleswade Town.

Joe Robinson returned to the Blues’ line-up after suspension, but after a bright start , Stortford never looked like taking anything from the game.

pb1Home keeper Tyler McCarthy did well to keep his side on level terms in the opening minute of the game, but Blues settled well with Jordan Westcott narrowly being caught offside and top scorer Jason Williams being denied by Tibbett in the visitors’ goal after a perfect George Casey goal.

A great move between Cureton and Westcott saw the latter fire over from 15 yards, but those wasted efforts came back to haunt the home side in the 16th minute as McCarthy misjudged a cross, leaving Marriott to tap the ball home.

Blues forced into an early change in the 24th minute with skipper Marvel Ekpiteta hobbling off to be replaced by Callum Taylor, and things further deteriorated eight minutes later when former Cambridge United striker Marriott was left unmarked to head home from 12 yards.

PB3Taylor nearly pulled a goal back eight minutes after the break when he fired over the bar after some good work from Williams.

But it was all over in the 63rd minute when Marriott completed his hat-trick when he scored from the spot after some more poor defending.

McCarthy did well to prevent a fourth goal when he saved from Oyishan, before Cureton put the ball in the net after rounding Tibbetts only to see a linesman’s flag deny him a debut goal.

Williams also went close down the stretch but Watson will be looking for a much better performance when his side travel to Weymouth, on Saturday.

Blues: T McCarthy, G Casey, D Foxley, J Simpson, M Ekpiteta (C Taylor 24), J Robinson, J Westcott, J Thomas (M Hughes 63), J Williams, J Cureton, D Ager. Unused subs: Mason, Rogers, M Brassington