Bishop’s Stortford dropped two points and slipped to fourth in the Pitching In Isthmian League Premier Division as they let go a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 at home to Corinthian-Casuals on Saturday.
The result means the Blues lost ground on the two teams above them at the start of play: leaders Worthing thrashed Wingate and Finchley 6-0 at home while Enfield Town, who Stortford visit next Saturday (Jan 12), won 4-1 at lowly Bowers and Pitsea, with former Blues striker Jake Cass, who is still their top scorer this season with 15, among the goals again.
Lewes were the only one of the four sides immediately below Stortford to capitalise, beating relegation-threatened East Thurrock United 3-2 at home. Folkestone Invicta – two points behind Blues with two games in hand – were held 1-1 at home by Carshalton Athletic; Hornchurch – the only side who have beaten Stortford in their last 20 league games – also let a 3-1 lead slip, to draw 3-3 at Haringey Borough; and Kingstonian lost 2-1 at home to Potters Bar Town, who Blues visit on Tuesday (Feb 8).
Steve Smith’s side got off to a great start in front of a crowd of 515 at the R&D Advisors UK Stadium by taking the lead after just 56 seconds. Casuals keeper Emmanuel Agboola was unable to collect a Jonny Giles free kick and Frankie Merrifield reacted first to tuck home his 13th goal of the season.
In-form Chris Harris made it 2-0 after 14 minutes with his sixth goal in eight games since Christmas. Captain Ryan Henshaw carried the ball out from the back and fed Merrifield, who slid the ball to Ryan Charles. The wide man found Harris in the box and he tucked it into the far corner.
Casuals pulled one back with their first real attack after 18 minutes, Alfie Bendle taking advantage of a poor clearance to volley smartly into the corner.
Blues restored their two-goal advantage eight minutes into the second half when Ben Marlow leaped high at the back post to head home a Giles cross for his second goal of the season.
But two minutes later the visitors were back in it courtesy of a penalty awarded for a reason that is unclear as even the away side’s bench looked bemused. Casuals skipper Keiron Cadogan slammed home the spot kick to make it 3-2.
Agboola kept Corinthian in the match with three crucial interventions. First, after 64 minutes, Charles broke at pace and put Merrifield through one on one but he was denied. Then, the keeper made two terrific saves to turn away a powerful Henshaw header from a Giles corner after 80 minutes and again, four minutes later, to keep out Harris’ header with Giles again the provider.
The equaliser came after 87 minutes when Bendle rose to nod home a free kick for his second of the afternoon.
It was a second successive draw for Steve Smith’s side following their stalemate at bottom-of-the-table Leatherhead last week.
ISTHMIAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
(games played, points, goal difference)
- Worthing 28, 61, +33
- Enfield T 29, 59, +31
- Lewes 29, 53, +25
- Blues 28, 52, +24
- Folkestone 26, 50, +29
- Hornchurch 27, 49, +20
- Kingstonian 27, 48, +10
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