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Louis Walsh misses penalty as Bishop’s Stortford lose 4-0 at Halesowen Town in Southern League Premier Central




Louis Walsh missed a penalty as Bishop’s Stortford suffered their heaviest Pitching In Southern League, Premier Central defeat of the season with a 4-0 reverse at Halesowen Town on Saturday (February 1).

His spot kick was saved when the visitors trailed 2-0 and they were also not helped by Brad Russell and Nahum Melvin-Lambert going off injured in the first half.

Kieren Donnelly bagged an early brace to add to the two goals he scored when the fourth-placed Yeltz also won the reverse fixture earlier in the campaign.

The Blues had gone into the game on the back of their biggest home league win - also 4-0 - in nearly three years. They have dropped two places to 16th, but remain five points clear of the relegation zone.

They travel to 13th-placed Alvechurch tomorrow night (Tuesday February 4) before entertaining leaders AFC Telford United on Saturday (February 8).

Donnelly went close with a free header which he put over the bar before cutting in from the left and firing past Elliot Krasniqi to give the hosts an eighth-minute lead.

Halesowen Town celebrate one of their goals as they beat Bishop's Stortford 4-0. Picture: @halesowentownfc on X
Halesowen Town celebrate one of their goals as they beat Bishop's Stortford 4-0. Picture: @halesowentownfc on X

He then capitalised on Blues captain Jake Thompson misreading an aerial ball to get in behind and slot home his second with only 15 minutes played.

Donnelly could have had a hat-trick when he pressed Krasniqi and had an open goal at his mercy, but he was deemed to have fouled the shot-stopper.

Stortford were awarded a penalty when Ryan Charles went down inside the box, but, after Cole Dasilva initially stepped up to take it, Walsh took aim and saw Daniel Platt keep out his spot kick with a fine save low to his right.

Donnelly was again denied a treble as Krasniqi made a save while Kacy Butterfield hit the bar from the edge of the box as the Yeltz twice went close at the end of the first half.

After the break, Donnelly saw a header go over the bar before, at the other end, Charles was thwarted by Platt and Erin Amu’s effort from the rebound was blocked.

The home team extended their lead in the 54th minute when Ryan Wollacott headed in a right-wing cross.

And the title-chasing hosts, who are one point adrift of table-topping Telford, added a fourth in the 68th minute as McKauley Manning saw his shot from the right side of the box deflect in off Luke Warner-Eley.

As time ticked away, Krasniqi parried Conor Tee’s shot and claimed the loose ball before Donnelly could finish and the Blues goalie also saved Tee’s curling effort at full stretch.

Halesowen Town: Platt, Hickman (Cassidy 58), Mitchell, Parker, Wynter, Wollacott, Butterfield, Tee, Donnelly (Flanagan 78), Ceesay Ceesay (Wragg 67), Manning. Not used: Smile, Yussuf.

Blues: Krasniqi, Dasilva, Warner-Eley, Thompson (Ogwuazor 73), Haines, Melvin-Lambert (Castle 31), Russell (Oluwatimilehin 20), Virciglio, Charles (Evans 63), Amu, Walsh (Roberts 63).

Attendance: 1,147.



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