Yusifu Ceesay goal condemns Bishop’s Stortford to 1-0 home defeat at hands of Hereford in National League North
Yusifu Ceesay’s first-half goal condemned Bishop’s Stortford to a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Hereford in Vanarama National League North on Saturday (December 16).
The Bulls completed a league double over the Blues having won September’s encounter by the same scoreline.
The result means Steve Smith’s men remain at the foot of the table, 10 points from safety, while their opponents have risen two places to fourth.
The Blues are back in action this Saturday (December 23) when they visit third-from-bottom Darlington before they host 17th-placed Peterborough Sports on Boxing Day.
Stortford boss Smith handed a debut to new loan signing Emmanuel Oke, who can operate in defence and midfield, following his arrival from league rivals King’s Lynn Town until the end of the season. Morgan Mahoney returned to the bench while Ryan Charles served a one-match suspension.
Jason Cowley had a couple of headed efforts for the visitors before Ollie Southern also went close with his head.
Osman Sow had the Blues’ first real chance when his half-volley was blocked behind for a corner.
Gio McGregor’s caused the away side problems and goalkeeper Curtis Pond was fortunate when he punched one of the midfielder’s deliveries onto the woodwork and Ceesay cleared.
Hereford took the lead in the 31st minute when Ceesay side-footed the ball past Jack Giddens from Alex Babos’ low cross on the right.
Kane Crichlow had a chance to equalise in added time at the end of the first half, but his effort was deflected narrowly wide.
Pond got down well to save a low shot from Crichlow after the interval before Oke fired over the bar from Crichlow’s lay-off.
Lassana Mendes was off target from 25 yards for the Bulls and, at the other end, McGregor dribbled into the box before firing a shot over the bar.
Stortford had a penalty appeal turned down when striker Mbunya Alemanji thought the ball had been handled by a defender as they controlled the ball back to Pond, with the referee waving play on.
The Blues pushed for a leveller in the dying minutes and Harry Beadle’s long throw was flicked goalwards by fellow defender Sam Robbins, but McGregor couldn’t apply the finishing touch and Pond saved.
Blues: Giddens, Thomas (Walker 75), Robbins, Beadle (booked 17), McGregor, Crichlow (Greene 70), Alemanji, Foxley (Alexander 79), Olufemi, Oke, Sow. Not used: Haines, Mahoney.
Hereford: Pond, Skinner (booked 73), Teixeira, Downing, Ceesay, Babos (Howkins 90+5), Cowley (Freemantle 90+1), Pugh, Mendes, Southern, Cameron. Not used: Livingstone, Tolley, Rooney.
Attendance: 520.