Ryan Charles and Osman Sow score as 10-man Bishop’s Stortford beat Darlington 2-0 in their first away win in Vanarama National League North this season
Bishop’s Stortford gave their fans an early Christmas present in the form of their first away league victory of the season as they won 2-0 at relegation rivals Darlington on Saturday (December 23).
After picking up only two points on their 11 previous travels in Vanarama National League North, the Blues made the 223-mile journey home with all three points thanks to first-half goals from Ryan Charles and Osman Sow – despite playing the final third with 10 men after having Zain Walker sent off.
In completing the double over Darlington, it was their first clean sheet in three-and-a-half months since they won the reverse fixture at the RDA Stadium 1-0 on September 9.
The win leaves Stortford at the foot of the table and still 10 points from safety, but they can climb off the bottom if they beat Peterborough Sports at home on Boxing Day (kick-off 1pm) and Darlington fail to win at Scarborough.
On the morning of the match the Blues announced three new signings: defenders Riccardo Di Trolio, on an initial month’s loan from Championship side Coventry City, and Asher Falase, released by West Ham United in the summer, and former Stranraer and Cheshunt midfielder Amadou Kassarate, who joined from National South side Welling United.
Di Trollio and Kassarate went straight into the starting XI as manager Steve Smith made four changes to the team that started the 1-0 home defeat by Hereford a week earlier. The previously suspended Charles returned along with Walker. Out went Jack Thomas, Sam Robbins, Gio McGregor – all missing from the squad – while Mbunya Alemanji dropped to the bench alongside Falase
The handful of travelling hardcore Blues fans were soon rewarded for their loyalty as Charles gave the visitors the lead after nine minutes, running in behind the Darlington defence onto a lofted through ball and deftly volleying it over keeper Tommy Taylor, who was stuck in no man’s land after trying to close him down.
Stortford keeper Jack Giddens denied the hosts an equaliser. From a left-wing cut back, Wll Hatfield stabbed the ball goalwards from eight yards but captain Jack stuck out a leg to keep him out.
Di Trolio recovered brilliantly to tackle Hatfield in the box as he was about to shoot, before a promising attack on the left wing finished with a poor shot from Jonny Ngandu, high and wide of the target.
The Blues made it 2-0 a minute before the interval. Swedish striker Sow scored his first goal for the club, slamming home from close range in a goalmouth scramble following a corner that Darlington failed to clear.
Walker was sent off in the 61st minute for a foul in the middle of the pitch, a possible high boot. As a result, the Blues took a more defensive approach to see out the game and tried to fashion chances on the counter attack.
Giddens reacted brilliantly to a long-range strike that moved in the air, tipping the shot over the crossbar, before Cameron Salkeld fired against the bar from close range from a right-wing cut back.
Despite the player deficit, Stortford remained resolute in defence and picked up a huge three points.
Darlington: Taylor, Hedley (booked 82), Platt (c) (Liddle 63), Lees, Lawlor, Ngandu (Williams 60), Hatfield, Asante, Salkeld, Rowe, Lindley (Rivers 73). Unused: Sukar, Griffiths.
Blues: Giddens (c) (booked 90+3), Di Trolio, Kassarate (booked 14), Beadle, Crichlow (Alexander 58), Foxley, Olufemi (booked 21), Oke, Sow (Alemanji 66), Charles, Walker (sent off 61). Unused: Haines, Greene, Falase.
Attendance: 1,305