Bishop’s Stortford draw 0-0 at Banbury United in Southern League Premier Central
Bishop’s Stortford kept their first away clean sheet in the Pitching In Southern League, Premier Central this season when they drew 0-0 at Banbury United on Saturday (January 18).
The stalemate means the Blues are 16th in the table, three places and two points above the relegation zone.
They would have gone above their 15th-placed hosts, who have both the worst goalscoring and best defensive records in the division, with a victory.
Steve Castle’s men face another big match against Lowestoft Town, who are two places and one point below them, at home this Saturday (January 25).
Jaanai Gordon had the first shot of the match for the Puritans and saw his curling effort saved by Blues goalkeeper Elliot Krasniqi.
At the other end, Nahum Melvin-Lambert brought down Luke Warner-Eley’s lofted pass before seeing two shots from a tight angle saved by home shot-stopper Jack Harding.
Olu Oluwatimilehin made a superb flying block to deny Banbury’s Daniel Jarvis from the edge of the box while the Blues’ Louis Walsh controlled Ryan Charles’ cross but he took the ball too wide and the shot was blocked.
There was one more chance apiece before the break - Jarvis’ shot from the left side of the box was saved by Krasniqi, who got down quickly to his left, while Charles headed wide from Cole Dasilva’s right-wing cross.
After the restart, Dasilva and Warner-Eley missed the target with opportunities either side of Krasniqi keeping out George Forsyth’s shot.
Fabio Virciglio twice went close for the Blues as he had a shot deflected over after Melvin-Lambert had held the ball up well and failed to head home when goalkeeper Harding missed Charles’ cross.
The visitors carved out more chances as Walsh had an effort deflected over the bar and, from the corner, Charles had a header saved.
As time ticked away, Puritans substitute Connor Ferguson had appeals for a penalty waved away after going down under a challenge from Blues captain Jake Thompson.
Banbury United: Harding, Reilly, Okito, Prosser, Nantwi-Ofosu (booked 53), Fleming, Forsyth (booked 45+1), Stanley (Yusuf 74), Gordon (Ferguson 74), Jarvis, Rowe (booked 35, Ball 62). Not used: Jones, Franca Dias.
Blues: Krasniqi, Dasilva, Warner-Eley, Oluwatimilehin (Bennett 83), Thompson, Haines (Akinbulumo 85), Melvin-Lambert, Russell (booked 90+6), Walsh (Evans 73), Virciglio (Castle 74), Charles (Balogun 83).
Attendance: 544.