Bill Robinson reports from Ship Lane……….
Thurrock 1 Bishops Stortford 3
After five games Thurrock are still looking for their first win, just three points from a possible fifteen sees them lying dangerously close to the relegation zone.
It may still be very early in the season but both Chairman Tommy South and Manager Hakan Hayrettin believe its going to be a long hard slog to get them moving up the table.
The game started with plenty of action flowing from end to end but neither side created any real chances, Thurrock perhaps having the greater possession but Bishops still looked dangerous on attack.
Matt Bodkin was a constant threat down the right flank and on 24 minutes his penetrating run put him on the goal line inside the box when Bishop’s Matt Jones trailing leg tripped him and the referee had little to think about as he awarded the penalty.
Cliff Akurang stepped up to take the kick, the large frame of Nicky Morgan seemed to take up all the goal, Akurang’s shot to the keepers right was saved but he couldn’t hold on to it and Akurang was fortunate to have a second attempt and he side footed the ball home.
The game remained evenly balanced despite Bishops trailing and then in the 42nd minute a shot completely out of the blue from Bishops Sanchez Ming some 25 yards out caught the Thurrock defence on the back foot and the ball crept into the corner of the net for the equaliser.
Within a minute Bishops could have added another ex Thurrock player Matt Judge was 10 yards from goal with the ball at his feet but his lost his balance and Kenny Clark was able to thump the ball clear.
HT 1-1
The goal before the break had inspired and driven Bishops on and the came out for the result a rejuvenated side.
This early pressure paid off when they awarded a free kick in the 50th minute, about 25 yards from goal and just slightly to the right. Reece Prestedge lined up his shot and the ball went thundering straight into the goal.
Manager Hakan Hayrettin made some tactical changes bring on Paul Olima to replace Lee Roache and Joe Collins to replace Reiss Gilbey.
The changes made little difference to the game as it went off the boil with Bishops dropping back to defend and protect their lead.
Thurrock pushed forward but without any penetration and it was difficult to see where an equaliser would come from.
With just two minutes remaining on the clock an attack down the right flank by Bishops saw Ming cut inside by the goal line, Lee Flynn was defending and he was adjudged to have fouled Ming by the linesman who signalled to the referee, after a consultation the referee booked Lee Flynn and awarded a penalty to Bishops.
Reece Prestedge stepped up to take the spot kick, sending keeper Andre Charles-Foster the wrong way to seal Bishops victory.
Next up for Thurrock are two difficult away games, first on Monday at Dover Ath, then on Saturday at Havant & Waterlooville.
Thurrock : Andre Charles-Foster, Craig Pope, Lee Flynn, Kenny Clark, Rob Swaine, Reiss Gilbey, Matt Bodkin, Leon Lalite, Cliff Akurang, Lee Roache, Danny Hart.
Subs: Paul Olima, Ryan Stalley, Conor Okus, Aaron Waters, Joe Collins.
