Bishop’s Stortford fall to the bottom of National League North after losing 5-0 at Scarborough Athletic
Bishop’s Stortford were brought down to earth with a bang as they lost 5-0 at Scarborough Athletic and slipped to the foot of Vanarama National League North on Saturday (November 25).
Steve Smith’s side were looking to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to three games, but instead suffered their joint-heaviest defeat of the season in front of a 1,294-strong crowd at the Flamingo Land Stadium. They also lost by a five-goal margin when succumbing at Scunthorpe United on October 28.
The result leaves the Blues bottom of the table - Gloucester City beat Spennymoor Town 4-2 to leapfrog them on goal difference - and nine points adrift of safety.
They are back in league action this Saturday (December 2) when they entertain third-placed South Shields at the RDA Stadium.
Manager Smith made three changes to the side that started the 2-2 midweek draw at Banbury United with Jack Thomas, Harry Beadle and Tosin Olufemi all returning. Ben Marlow, Sam Robbins – who both dropped to the bench – and Mark Haines made way.
Stortford goalkeeper and captain Jack Giddens made a good save to thwart Lewis Maloney, but, from the resulting corner, Aidan Rutledge headed home to give the ninth-placed hosts the lead inside 10 minutes.
After Darren Foxley saw a curling shot blocked for the Blues, Rutledge had a shot from a tight angle deflected behind for a corner. Giddens made two great reaction saves from the set-piece, but could not keep out the third attempt as Kieran Weledji found the bottom corner.
And, after Gio McGregor had fired wide for the visitors, the home side added a third with only 28 minutes gone when Stortford gave the ball away in the centre circle and Rutledge found Finlay Barnes to rifle home.
Things got even worse for the Blues eight minutes after the interval as Luca Collie beat Giddens from the left-hand side of the box.
Giddens did well to keep out Harry Green’s effort and Alex Purver volleyed wide as the hosts looked to add more goals to their tally while, at the other end, Stortford substitute Osman Sow had a penalty appeal turned down after appearing to be pulled down.
Scarborough did add a fifth in the 90th minute when substitute Green sent a powerful strike into the bottom corner.
Scarborough Athletic: Whitley, Weledji, Maloney (Dom Tear 30), Thornton, Gooda, Purver, Mulhern (Green 63), Collie (Durose 54), Brown, Barnes, Rutledge. Not used: Cracknell, Qualter.
Blues: Giddens, Sodje, Thomas (Peters 71), Beadle, McGregor (Sow 58, booked 90+4), Alemanji, Foxley, Olufemi, Adebowale, Charles, Alexander (Marlow 54). Not used: Robbins, Greene.
Attendance: 1,294.