Bishop’s Stortford draw 0-0 at Royston Town in Southern League Premier Central

Bishop’s Stortford earned their 1,000th point at step three of the non-league pyramid by drawing 0-0 at Royston Town on Saturday (February 15).

The Blues’ tally started building when the Alliance Premier League - now the Vanarama National League - was formed as step one in 1979-80.

The stalemate at Garden Walk against manager Steve Castle’s former club meant the visitors registered consecutive draws for the first time since March 2022.

Stortford are 16th in Pitching In Southern League, Premier Central, four points above the relegation zone, with 12 games remaining.

They are due to entertain 11th-placed Spalding United tomorrow (Tuesday February 18) before also hosting fourth-placed Stratford Town on Saturday (February 22).

The Blues had the first chance as Rashawn Scott had a low shot saved by Jamie Head at the near post after Luka Chalwell and Fabio Virciglio had combined.

The Crows, who are eight points better off in 10th place, went close when Harrison Rookard’s effort was blocked by Jaden Ogwuazor.

The hosts then had a series of corners and, eventually, former Blues midfielder Aaron Greene saw a shot blocked by Blues captain Jake Thompson.

Lenny Brown had the last effort of the first half for the away side, but the Stevenage loanee was denied by Head.

After the break, another ex-Blue in the form of Kian Harness had a low strike kept out by goalkeeper Elliot Krasniqi.

Very little of note occurred for the remainder of the contest until added time, when Stortford had two chances to claim all three points.

Cole Dasilva had Head scrambling across his goal with a curling left-footed shot that went narrowly wide.

And Thompson, who was excellent for the Blues at the back, saw a miscued effort go wide of the bottom corner from eight yards after Chalwell had flicked the ball on from a deep cross.

Royston Town: Head, Asafu-Adjaye, Coldicott-Stevens, Murray (booked 45), Beckett, Baker (Toiny-Pendred 76), Rookard (Harness 57), Reeve, Anyadike (Johnson 57), Greene (Weyman 68), Locke (booked 43). Not used: Akubuine.

Blues: Krasniqi, Dasilva, Warner-Eley, Oluwatimilehin, Thompson, Brown (Castle 57), Virciglio, Chalwell, Ogwuazor (booked 45), Amu, Scott (Cohen 64). Not used: Cook, Forde, Akinbulumo.

Attendance: 484.