Bishop’s Stortford 2-0 Bognor Regis Town Match Report

Bishop’s Stortford 2-0 Bognor Regis Town Match Report 25/3/23

Hamish Arnold

Back to back wins for Bishop’s Stortford moved the Blues level on points with top of the league Hornchurch on Saturday, beating Bognor Regis Town 2-0 at home on Saturday in the Pitching In Isthmian League Premier Division, with Frankie Merrifield and Tosin Olufemi netting the goals. Hornchurch suffered defeat at home to Margate, meaning the Blues made up the three point deficit, although the Urchins do still have a game in hand.

Stortford made a fast start, Sam Deering fired narrowly wide from a Jay Porter cross that was half cleared by a diving header in the first minute. Ollie Peters’ low cross into Merrifield was controlled by the striker, and his shot on the turn was blocked for a corner. The Blues sustained the early pressure, with Jonny Giles’ header from a right wing cross put behind for a corner, from which Deering picked up the ball on the edge of the box, and slid a perfectly weighted pass to Merrifield on the left side of the box, and he powerfully finished across goal with his left foot. Merrifield headed wide from Olufemi’s deep cross, but was flagged offside, before Nathan Odokonyero was offside at the other end, after he received a pass from Josh McCormick. Giles picked up a loose pass from Daniel Howick, but the midfielder couldn’t punish the error when he fired wide from 30 yards with a low shot. Dan Gifford’s free kick from the right was headed clear to Florian Kastrati, who dirbbled into the box but reduced his angle as Harry Beadle forced him down the line without taking a shot. Peters’ free kick on the right was blocked by the wall, and Church’s dipping volley from range looked like it would trouble Matt Rowley in goal, but it went over the bar. Peters dribbled into  the box, a tackle fell kindly to Ryan Charles, but his shot was straight at Rowley. Giles’ free kick from the right was headed by Merrifield, but he coulsn’t get power or direction on the effort, while Charles was unmarked at the back post and was in an arguably better position to challenge the keeper.

HT 1-0

Odokonyero curled a shot wide from the left side of the box, and Merrifield fired wide from Porter’s through ball on the left wing. Charles fired over the bar from the edge of the box, and Church’s close range volley was headed off the line by Howick when it looked easier to score. Deering played a low corner to Giles on the edge of the box, and after riding the tackle he let fly with a powerful strike but off target. Merrifield’s chipped cross from the right was headed clear to Giles, who volleyed into the ground and Rowley made a full stretch diving save. Gifford switched the play on a Rocks counter attack ,pssing to Tom Holland but his low effort was off target, and Odokonyero squandered the best chance for the visitors to equalise, firing straight at Jack Giddens from close range, who stuck out an arm to palm it away. Olufemi was fouled in the box by Holland for a certain penalty, and he calmly dispatched it into the bottom left corner to seal the three points.

FT 2-0

TEAMS

Bishop’s Stortford XI

1 Jack Giddens

2 Jay Porter

3 Sam Deering (Johnson 71’)

4 Anthony Church

7 Jonny Giles (Foxley 57’)

10 Frankie Merrifield (Goal 20’)

11 Tosin Olufemi (Goal 90’p)

15 Ryan Charles (Marlow 78’)

17 Mark Haines (c)

18 Ollie Peters

19 Harry Beadle

Subs

8 Matt Johnson

12 Lordon Akolbire

14 Darren Foxley

16 Ben Marlow

20 Chris Harris

Bognor Regis Town XI

1 Matt Rowley

2 Calvin Davies (c) (Yellow card 27’)

3 Joe Rabbetts

4 Joshua Dockerill

5 Cameron Black

7 Josh McCormick

8 Florian Kastrati (Holland 46’)

9 Nathan Odokonyero

10 Dan Gifford

11 Walter Figueira (Yellow card 52’) (Paterson 60’)

18 Daniel Howick

Subs

12 Matt Paterson

14 Tom Holland

15 Joseph Briffa

16 Harvey Whyte

Attendance 605