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Hastings United 0-1 Bishop’s Stortford Match Report 15/10/22
Bishop’s Stortford strengthened their position at the top of the Pitching In Isthmian League Premier Division table with a 0-1 win at Hastings United. The Isthmian South East champions from last season have made a promising start after promotion, but Frankie Merrifield’s goal secured three points for the Blues, after three successive 1-0 victories for the hosts. Stortford’s nearest challengers Potters Bar Town dropped points with a 1-1 draw at home to Cray Wanderers, while third-placed Enfield Town lost 2-4 at home to Lewes, meaning the Blues have a cushion of two points to second place, and superior goal difference over second, third and fourth.
Ryan Worrall’s low free kick from the right wing nearly gave the hosts the perfect start, he picked out James Hull near the penalty spot but he side-footed wide through a crowd of defenders. Matt Johnson’s long throw was flicked on at the near post by Harry Beadle, Ryan Charles cushioned the ball into the path of Ollie Peters but he volleyed wide. Ryan Henshaw misread the flight of the ball for a clearing header, with Ben Pope sliding Hull through on goal on the left side, but Giddens made himself big and made a smart low stop. Darren Foxley passed down the left wing to Merrifield, who cut inside and switched to Charles, whose low cross was blocked for a corner. Henshaw stooped at the back post to win the header from the corner, but his goalbound effort was blocked. Johnson saw his back post effort from Jay Porter’s cross scrambled clear with Louis Rogers out of his goal, before the keeper fumbled a low cross by Foxley but gathered it at the second attempt.
HT 0-0
Peters slid the ball to Foxley in the left channel, his powerful strike was blocked for a corner, and on he counter attack, Hastings wasted the opportunity with Hull chipping over the crossbar from a wide position when he had teammates waiting for a cross. Hull then blazed over a 25 yard free kick, before Merrifield nodded home Foxley’s corner from the right to break the deadlock. Harry Beadle headed away a dangerous free kick from the left wing, and Charles slid in Peters for a shot through the middle but the defence recovered to poke the ball away. Substitute Anthony Church stuck out a leg to block a powerful strike by Pope, Porter’s deep cross was held by Rogers with Merrifield making a run towards the near post. Donell Thomas helped to stretch a tiring defence, and held the ball up well with his back to goal, he provided a pass for Foxley but his shot was blocked as the Blues pushed to double the lead. Pope dribbled into the box, his heavy touch looked like it would roll through to Giddens, with Porter trying to usher the ball towards his goalkeeper, but Pope got his shot away with a toe poke which Giddens saved. The resulting corner was headed away by Merrifield, and Finn O’Mara’s follow-up strike was off target.
FT 0-1
TEAMS
Hastings United XI
1 Louis Rogers
3 Ryan Worrall
5 Craig Stone
6 Tom Chalmers
7 Lloyd Dawes (Adams 40’)
8 Jack Dixon (c) (O’Mara 90’)
9 Ben Pope
12 Alex Brefo
15 James Hull (Scott 62’)
16 Kane Penn
19 Jake Elliott
Subs
2 Kian Moynes
4 Finn O’Mara
10 Sam Adams
18 Knory Scott
Blues XI
1 Jack Giddens
2 Jay Porter
6 Ryan Henshaw (c)
8 Matt Johnson (Donell Thomas 71’)
10 Frankie Merrifield (Goal 62’)
11 Tosin Olufemi
12 Jack Thomas (Church 63’)
14 Darren Foxley
15 Ryan Charles
18 Ollie Peters
19 Harry Beadle
Subs
4 Anthony Church
17 Mark Haines
20 Donell Thomas
Attendance 1161
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