Spurs goalkeeper Elliot Krasniqi saves penalty to help Bishop’s Stortford beat Reading FA Cup opponents Harborough Town 2-1
New signing Elliot Krasniqi saved a penalty on his debut to help Bishop’s Stortford triumph 2-1 at Harborough Town in Pitching In Southern League, Premier Central on Tuesday evening (November 13).
The goalkeeper, who has joined on a month’s work experience from Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur with No 1 Charlie Binns injured, kept out Riley O’Sullivan’s spot kick midway through the second half.
And Jack Roberts and Brad Russell were on target for the Blues as they picked up a first win in eight games in all competitions and climbed out of the relegation zone to 15th place.
Steve Castle’s men will be aiming to build on the success when they visit 16th-placed Spalding United this Saturday (November 16).
Stortford captain Jake Thompson volleyed wide and, at the other end, Kai Sanchez-Tonge saw a chipped effort land on the roof of the net for the Leicestershire-based Bees.
Olu Oluwatimilehin and Rashawn Scott went close for the Blues while Krasniqi saved Connor Kennedy’s header.
The visitors broke the deadlock before half time when Roberts pounced on a mistake by Ben Williams and slotted in from the left-hand side of the box.
The 17th-placed hosts, who are looking forward to visiting Sky Bet League One side Reading in the second round of the Emirates FA Cup, had a great chance to equalise in the 66th minute when Jaden Ogwuazor gave away a penalty, but Krasniqi dived low to his left to save substitute O’Sullivan’s effort from 12 yards.
The Blues punished them as they doubled their lead with 12 minutes remaining when Russell found the bottom corner with a first-time strike from the edge of the area.
The Bees did pull a goal back through Alex Morris five minutes from time, but Stortford, for whom Eyituoyo Akinbulumo made his debut as an 80th-minute substitute, withstood some late pressure to claim a valuable three points.
Harborough Town: Dadge, Cooper (Robinson 80), Walsh, Dolman (Forbes 46), Williams (Malone 63), Morris, Sanchez-Tonge (O’Sullivan 46), Kennedy, Daire (Sandhu 46, booked 76), Burgess, Starkie (booked 90+7).
Blues: Krasniqi, Dasilva (booked 67), Warner-Eley, Oluwatimilehin, Thompson, Collins (Akinbulumo 80), Russell (Moutawafiq 90+2), Roberts (Evans 75), Virciglio (Castle 60, booked 90-6), Ogwuazor, Scott (Amu 70).
Attendance: 283.