Match Preview | Bishop’s Stortford (H)
The Yeltz host Bishop’s Stortford for our first home game at The Grove in the league with eyes set on a positive result after the opening day defeat
Head to Head
There have been just the five meetings between the two sides, the first coming in 1987. We won the first three meetings, but the most recent two, both last season, saw the Blues come away with a draw and a win. The last meeting came in March as we went to Woodside Park in Hertfordshire in poor away form, following two defeats in three away matches. This game was none better, as we fell to a 1-0 defeat, with the hosts match clinching goal coming in the 37th minute from former Blue Cole Dasilva.
Russ Penn’s Thoughts
“It’s great to be back at home. It’s been a long off season. We want to show the fans what we are made of this season, especially with all the new signings and the good record we had at home going into the latter weeks of last season.
“On the first day of the season, Bury was always going to be a tough game. Even if it had been played down the line. It never clicked for either side on the day, but I thought defensively we were superb aside from the goal, and minimised them to just that one shot. On the flip side, we had one or two shots from set pieces, and unfortunately that was it, which was very disappointing and very much unlike us. We just looked edgy with everything not clicking, just like at Leiston last season, but I’m hoping we have got that out of our system going into today.
“We have always had tight and tough games against Bishop’s Stortford, including that 4-4 here last season. I am a big fan of what Steve (Castle) has done at the club, and we will welcome them with a terrific home form. Obviously with the Stourbridge game being rearranged we had an extra training session this week that a lot of clubs didn’t have. We will hold that game in hand for a few weeks most likely, but I never look at the table until we are 10 games or two months in. My only worry is how many points we can pick up, especially given the disappointing start.”
Opposition Overview
Manager
Steve Castle
The 60 year old started his managerial career just under 30 years ago at Peterborough United’s U21’s, while also being the first team’s assistant. His near five year role in the two jobs ended in 2001 when he became West Ham’s Youth manager for two years. His next role came as Cambridge United assistant manager for two years in 2006. He then spent time in non-league with St Albans & Takeley, before his historic 10 year spell at Royston Town. After a six month break in 2024, he joined Bishop’s Stortford that summer, where he has been ever since.
Goalkeepers
Max Woodford
The 18 year old joins on a one month loan from League Two Stevenage. The young shot stopper had his first senior loan move last season at step 4 Ware, where he kept six clean sheets in 15 league appearances. He has started both of Bishop’s Stortford’s opening two league games this season.
Defenders
Leon Davies
The 26 year old signed last summer after a year away from action. The former Cambridge United academy man featured in all but one of their league games last season – all but one of which in the starting XI. He has started both of their opening two league games this season.
Mark Haines
The 36 year old signed in the summer of 2018 from step 2 Chelmsford. The experienced centre half made 27 league appearances last season for the Blues – 23 in the starting XI. He was absent from their opening two league games this season.
Charlie Johnson
The 25 year old signed last October from fellow step 3 side Berkhamsted. The centre half featured in 25 league games last season – all of which in the starting XI. He has started both of their opening two league games this season.
Joe Nardelli
The 20 year old signed in the summer from step 4 side Hertford Town. The fullback kept five clean sheets in 22 league appearances last season. He has featured off the bench in both of Bishop’s Stortford’s opening two league games this season.
Alfie Thornett
The 18 year old joins on a one month loan from Stevenage. The centre half had two previous loan spells in 2026, first at step 4 Uxbridge, where he didn’t make a league appearance, before playing at step 3 with Royston, and making nine league appearances. He has started both of Bishop’s Stortford’s opening two league games this season.
Jake Thompson
The 27 year old signed in the summer of 2024 from step 4 Brightlingsea Regent. The centre half was the only Stortford player who featured in all 42 league games last season – 38 of which in the starting XI. He has started both of their opening two league games this season.
Midfielders
Aaron Greene
The 31 year old signed last summer from Royston. The wide midfielder who can also fill in at fullback, featured made 17 league appearances last season – 12 in the starting XI. He has featured in both of their opening two league games this season, one in the XI and one off the bench.
Usisya Longwe
The 18 year old signed in the summer after being released by Premier League Ipswich Town. The midfielder spent the start of last season on loan at step 4 Felixstowe & Walton United, where he made two league appearances. For the remainder of the season, he made 18 U18 Premier League appearances for Ipswich. He has featured off the bench in both of Bishop’s Stortford’s opening two league games this season.
Obidinma Onyeagwara
The 22 year old signed last summer from step 4 Biggleswade Town. The attacking midfielder scored three goals in 37 league appearances last season – 25 in the starting XI. He has featured off the bench in both of their opening two league games this season.
Brad Russell
The 26 year old side in the summer of 24 from Brighlingsea. The midfielder scored eight goals in 35 league appearances in the 2024/25 campaign, but had a lower tally of three goals in 32 league games last season – 30 in the starting XI. He has featured in both of their opening two league games this season, one in the XI and one off the bench.
Jack Smith
The 24 year old signed last summer from step 2 Enfield Town. The defensive midfielder featured 35 times in the league last season – 32 in the starting XI. He has started both of their opening two league games this season.
Harry Titchmarsh
The 21 year old signed last summer from step 3 Hitchin Town. The former West Ham academy man featured just four times for the Blues last season due to an injury hit campaign. He has started both of their opening two league games this season.
Fabio Virciglio
The 22 year old signed in the summer of 2024 from now step 4 Royston Town. The wide man/playmaker scored twice in 34 league appearances last season, scored four times in the 24/25 season, and then five last season in 38 league matches – 34 in the starting XI. He has started both of their opening two league games this season.
Forwards
Tyrone Baker
The 25 year old signed in the summer from step 4 St Ives Town. The striker started last season at step 4 Walthamstow, where he scored once in 17 league appearances. He then joined the Saints and scored twice in 25 league appearances before their ultimate relegation. He has started both of their opening two league games this season, and scored their only goal midweek against Leiston.
Jackson Chukwu-Nsofor
The 18 year old signed in the summer after being released by Ipswich. The striker had four separate loans across step 3 & 4 last season. He made 17 league appearances across Needham Market, AFC Sudbury, Cambridge City & Redbridge, scoring once, for Needham. He missed Bishop’s Stortford’s opener this season, but did come off the bench in their midweek game.
Frank Norris
The 18 year old rejoined in the summer on loan from League Two side Stevenage. The striker featured three times in the FA Youth Cup for Stevenage’s academy last season, before scoring three times in 15 league games on loan at Stortford – 13 in the starting XI. He has started both of their opening two league games this season.
Sam Okolie
The 18 year old signed in the summer after being released by Cambridge United. The Seychelles International scored once in three league appearances on loan at step 4 Newmarket Town last season, before failing to score in seven league games on loan at fellow step 4 St Neots Town. He featured off the bench in Bishop’s Stortford opener this season, but missed their midweek game.