Bishop’s Stortford suffer 2-1 home defeat to Halesowen Town in Southern League Premier Central
Charlie Binns’ penalty save was in vain as Bishop’s Stortford suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Halesowen Town in the Pitching In Southern League, Premier Central on Saturday (October 19).
The visitors grabbed an 88th-minute winner at the RDA Stadium to condemn the Blues to a third straight defeat in all competitions.
Steve Castle’s side are 15th going into tomorrow night’s (Tuesday October 22) scheduled home game with fourth-from-bottom Royston Town. They are also at home this Saturday (October 26) when they entertain Felixstowe & Walton United in the first round of the Isuzu FA Trophy.
Kian Harness had a low shot saved by goalkeeper Daniel Platt and also volleyed over the bar as the Blues had a couple of early efforts.
But it was the seventh-placed visitors who took an 18th-minute lead when Kieren Donnelly beat shot-stopper Binns to the ball in a foot race from a goal kick and chipped into an empty net.
Luke Warner-Eley went close to equalising when his 25-yard effort flew narrowly wide before Brad Russell saw a shot get deflected over the bar.
Towards the end of the half, Conor Tee hit the far post when his corner evaded everyone in the box and the Halesowen midfielder also fired wide in a one-on-one.
Sami Moutawafiq was penalised for a foul in the area early in the second period and Donelley had the chance to double the visitors’ lead, but he saw Binns keep out his spot kick with a smart save.
Harness and Russell both had chances to level matters before the Blues did restore parity in the 56th minute as Cole Dasilva nodded in Warner-Eley’s first-time cross.
Rashawn Scott was denied at the near post by Platt while, at the other end, Musa Ceesay Ceesay fired over from a free kick.
Then, with two minutes remaining, Ryan Charles was dispossessed in midfield by Jordan Ponticelli and he fed Donnelly who found the bottom corner to win it for the visitors.
Blues: Binns, Dasilva, Warner-Eley (booked 50), Thompson, Haines (Ogwuazor 46), Castle (Charles 63), Moutawafiq (Oluwatimilehin 56), Harness, Russell (Virciglio 83), Amu (Taylor 78, booked 90+7), Scott.
Halesowen Town: Platt, Hickman (booked 66, Cassidy 72), Mitchell (booked 71, Kelly 90+5), Smile (booked 77), Wynter, Wollacott, Ceesay Ceesay, Tee (Parker 83), Donnelly, Ponticelli, Manning. Not used: Yussuf, Solly.
Attendance: 531.
The Blues went into the contest having also conceded late on in a 2-1 defeat at Lowestoft Town last Tuesday (October 15).
They fell behind midway through the second half when Harvey Sayer converted a penalty following a foul by Mark Haines.
Substitute Olu Oluwatimilehin slotted in an equaliser for the Blues, but, with five minutes left, Joao Soares Rangel volleyed home the Trawlerboys’ winner and Binns was shown a straight red card after the final whistle.