Bishop’s Stortford took the game to County on an immaculate playing surface and both sides played neat and fluent football in the early stages. The hosts were probing the away defence with their pace and broke through in the 13th minute. Jason Mason set John Turner clear and he unselfishly laid the ball across to strike partner Greg Pearson who slotted home for an early lead.

 

In an even first half Steve Jenkins came closet to redressing the score-line but the home defence somehow scrambled his close range effort off the line as Jenkins directed Jason Bowen’s cross at goal. Despite a series of corners and a handful of half chances County went in at the break without a goal to their name.

       

County re-emerged for the second half bristling with determination. The Exiles had a close call two minutes in, Jacob Giles making a great save with an outstretched leg to deny Turner before the visitors ‘turned the tables’ on their hosts.

 

Andrew Young was equal to Jason Bowen’s volley from a pinpoint Sam O’Sullivan cross, and O’Sullivan himself went close but hit his long range effort over the bar. Jason Mason caused a scare at the other end and Giles was thankful to see his shot flash wide of the post. Nathan Davies hit a screamer wide and Craig Hughes’ header was deflected narrowly wide of the goal frame as County piled on the pressure.

 

The pressure finally told from another Bowen corner in the 69th minute - Damon Searle firing a rasping shot from a tight angle at the far post in off the body of Young and into the inner side netting for a deserved equaliser. Seven minutes later County were ahead. Jenkins and Bowen combined on the right and Young was uncertain in meeting the looping cross. Top scorer Hughes controlled with his back to goal and turned sharply to hit the ball across the keeper and inside the post from eight yards.

 

County looked comfortable in retaining possession to run the clock down but Ian Hillier gave away a needless free kick in the final minute. Up stepped substitute Dave Collis to drive the dead ball past a disorganised defensive wall and into the bottom corner of the net from fully 25 yards. County did not give up and in stoppage time both substitute Kyle Bassett and O’Sullivan forced Young into spectacular saves.

 

This was a brave and impressive performance from County who will rue the loss of two further away points as a direct consequence of conceding a needless free kick in the late stages. County must maintain their four match unbeaten run and not give up in the quest for the play offs with 27 points still to play for.   

 

Line Ups:

County: Giles, Jenkins, Searle, Davies, Brough ©, Hillier, Bowen, Collier, Griffin (Bassett 86), Hughes (Holdsworth 86), O’Sullivan Subs Not Used: Evans, Simpson, Ovendale

Bishop’s Stortford: Young, Jones, Gwillim ©, Porter, Goodacre, Gilman, Mason (Midson 59), Edwards, Turner (Essandoh 74), Pearson, Fuller (Collis 70) Subs Not Used: Morgan, Wright

 

Goals:

County: Damon Searle (69) and Craig Hughes (76)

Bishop’s Stortford: Greg Pearson (13) and Dave Collis (90)

 

Cautions:

County: Jason Bowen (foul)

 

Officials:

Referee: Stuart Burt

Assistants: Andrew Crawford and Andrew Medlock 

 

Attendance:

502

 

Conditions:

Mild and cold, immaculate pitch

 

Man of the Match:

Reporter’s County Man of the Match: John Brough

Reporter’s Bishop’s Stortford Man of the Match: Craig Edwards

 

Match Rating:

5/5