Late Michael Woods brace condemns Bishop’s Stortford to 3-2 home defeat against South Shields in National League North

Bishop’s Stortford conceded two goals inside the last 10 minutes as they let the lead slip to lose 3-2 at home to South Shields on Tuesday night (January 9).

Darren Foxley put the Blues 2-1 up in the 76th minute, but Michael Woods’ late brace earned the visitors the points in the Vanarama National League North contest.

Stortford, who remain bottom of the table, have now suffered six straight home defeats in the league.

They get the chance to put their league form to one side on Saturday (January 13) when they host Aldershot Town in the fourth round of the Isuzu FA Trophy.

The hosts, who handed a debut to attacking midfielder Ethan Burnett after signing him on an initial one-month loan from their upcoming FA Trophy opponents, had the only chance of note in the opening 15 minutes when Osman Sow’s looping header was easily saved by Kyle Seymour.

The ninth-placed visitors took an 18th-minute lead when Paul Blackett netted with a first-time volley after Aaron Martin had flicked on Seymour’s long clearance.

Seymour, who was making his league debut for the Mariners, made a string of saves before Kane Crichlow equalised in first-half added time as he found the bottom corner from Sow’s pass.

After the break, Stortford goalkeeper and captain Jack Giddens saved with his legs to thwart Woods before Seymour kept out Sow’s left-footed effort.

The Blues, who only named three substitutes, took the lead with 14 minutes remaining when Foxley’s powerful strike seemed to go through the gloves of Seymour after the midfielder had dispossessed Jed Abbey and dribbled into the box.

But Woods levelled matters with a first-time finish from the middle of the box from a short-corner routine before getting the winner a minute from time by running onto a through ball and finding the net from a tight angle.

And the Mariners could have added a fourth when Blackett hit the base of the post in a one-on-one with Giddens.

Blues: Giddens, Di Trolio, Robbins, Beadle, McGregor (Greene 53), Crichlow, Foxley (booked 90+6), Burnett (Alemanji 63), Oke, Sow, Falase (Thomas 80).

South Shields: Seymour (booked 90+4), Adams, Liddle, Smith (booked 90+6), Briggs, Blackett, Woods, Martin (Savage 61), Abbey (Heaney 71), Clarke, Broadbent (booked 90+6). Not used: Mongoy, Fletcher, Sloan.

Attendance: 290.