Potters Bar Town 0-3 Bishop’s Stortford Match Report 8/2/22
Bishop’s Stortford got back to winning ways with a 0-3 victory at Potters Bar Town on Tuesday. After two draws, the Blues equalled the biggest away win this season against the Hertfordshire rivals, and returned to third place in the Pitching In Isthmian League Premier Division table. Ben Marlow, Ryan Charles and Jonny Giles got the goals against the Scholars, who have suffered eight defeats in their last nine matches.
Marlow’s goal came from the first real attack of the match, with regular free kick taker Giles dropping to the bench, it was the right foot of Marlow who whipped the ball over the wall and into the top corner from 25 yards after a foul on Charles. Having scored his second goal in as many games, the midfielder was hungry for more, forcing Kacper Kurylowicz into a fine low save down to his right with a powerful long range effort. Jacques Kpohomouh headed Aryan Tajbakhsh’s free kick wide at the other end, before Jack Thomas nearly marked the occasion of his 150th Blues appearance with a rare goal, but he volleyed straight into Kurylowicz’s chest after the keeper had rushed out to close down the shot, after he had parried Frankie Merrifield’s initial effort. Tyler Chirstian-Law fired wide with a long range strike, before Merrifield rattled the crossbar with a rocket that had the keeper beaten from long range. Despite being aimed towards the middle of the goal, the pace of the shot beat Kurylowicz, and he was thankful to see the woodwork come to his aid, and rebound back to a Potters Bar defender. Jaden Sharman dragged a shot wide after venturing forward from left back, and Sam Robbins crossed to Charles but his glancing header was easily saved. Chris Harris latched onto Jack Giddens long kick upfield, and nearly found the goal with an audacious chip attempt, holding off the defender, he lofted the ball over the onrushing Kurylowicz with his weaker left foot, but saw the ball land on the roof of the net from the edge of the box. Charles doubled the lead after a defensive howler from the hosts, a superb through ball from Marlow into Merrifield’s path, his shot was parried by Kurylowicz to Charles, whose first shot was blocked on the line by Kpohomouh, but Charles reacted before the keeper could dive on the loose ball, to slam home from close range.
HT 0-2
Kurylowicz’ shaky performance between the sticks continued in the second half, fumbling a low cross by Charles, eventually grabbing the ball off Harris’ toe before he could convert. Harris flicked a long kick onto Marlow who had a half-volley effort blocked for a corner, which came to nothing, and a long pass from Marlow was brilliantly brought under control by Charles, and his low shot was turned around the post by Kurylowicz. Substitute Darren Foxley slipped as he took a free kick, but it nearly dipped under the crossbar, but Kurylowicz back tracked and caught the ball on his goal-line. Smart wing play from ex-Blue Joe Boachie and Isaac Ogundere down the right led to a chance for Potters Bar substitute Chris Manangu, who turned and volleyed well but just over the crossbar. The Blues made sure of three points late on, as Foxley’s hard work in pressing the defence forced a mistake, Thomas picked the ball up and laid it off to Giles who found the bottom right corner with a low strike through a crowd from 18 yards.
FT 0-3
The Blues travel to Donkey Lane to face Enfield Town on Saturday 12 February, before the visit to Haringey Borough on Tuesday 15 February.
TEAMS
Potters Bar Town XI
1 Kacper Kurylowicz
2 Dwight Pascal
3 Jaden Sharman (Carrington-Alberdi 53’)
4 Frazer Shaw (c)
5 Jacques Kpohomouh
6 Aryan Tajbakhsh (Jordan-Livings 74’)
7 Zak Guerfi (Yellow card 45+2′)
8 Tyler Christian-Law (Yellow card 53’) (Manangu 60’)
9 Joe Boachie
10 Samson Easan
11 Isaac Ogundere
Subs
12 Eddie Carrington-Alberdi
13 Hafed Al-Droubi
14 Chris Manangu
16 Nathan Jordan-Livings
15 Amine Sassi
Blues XI
1 Jack Giddens
4 Anthony Church
5 Sam Robbins
6 Ryan Henshaw (c)
8 Ben Marlow (Goal 8′) (Peters 78’)
9 Chris Harris
10 Frankie Merrifield (Foxley 55’)
11 Johnville Renee
12 Jack Thomas
15 Ryan Charles (Goal 37′) (Giles 77’)
19 Billy Cracknell
Subs
3 Archie Edwards
7 Jonny Giles (Goal 84’)
14 Darren Foxley
16 Oliver Peters
17 Mark Haines
Attendance 271
