Match Report | Bishop’s Stortford (H)
The Yeltz record a first win of the league season with a narrow victory over Bishop’s Stortford at The Grove
It was far from vintage in the first half, but a Dan Meredith strike a minute before the hour ended up as the eventual winner. The goal came from a Ben Cassidy sprint down the left, before a cutback to Ebanks in the box from the by-line. The latter was unable to find a way to go and instead played it to Cowley. The Yeltz number 9 also failed to get a shot away, and instead found Meredith on the edge of the area, whose shot flew into the top left.
The first chance of the game came our way after just four minutes. A high ball saw Callum Ebanks put pressure on Max Woodford in the Blues goal. The ball dropped, and Jason Cowley picked it up, before setting up Lewis Ison for a shot that went over the bar. It was end to end very early on, a sign of what was to come for the rest of the half. A minute after Ison’s shot, a ball was played through to Stevenage loanee Frank Norris 1v1 with Dan Platt, but Matt Preston got back to put in the slide tackle.
Five minutes later, a free kick was awarded to the visitors after Ison’s poor pass saw Obi Onyeagwara taken down. Jack Smith’s delivery down the left found defender Charlie Johnson, but Ryan Wynter got a foot on the ball to help it over the bar from close range. A slight penalty claim arrived 21 minutes in, as a brilliant combination of passes between Meredith & Ebanks, set the former off down the right. His cross came off the sliding Stortford player, as penalty claims were waved away after the ball hinted at coming off his hand.
For a 20 minute period, after the free kick Wynter hooked over his bar, chances were very slim. That was until the half hour mark of the contest, where chances came like London buses. An extraordinary effort from Brad Russell flew just over the bar from 30 yards, before another effort from the Blues number 10 went past the post a minute later, after a pass from midfield by defender Alfie Thornett. Soon it was our turn to graze the top of the woodwork, as a Cowley effort went just over the bar with his right foot, shortly before another effort from him went over from a corner.
It was very awkward from both sides. The finishing wasn’t on point, and neither was the defending. Not poor, but not convincing by any means. Despite home advantage, it was the visitors who ended the half better. A 37th minute cross from the right by Leon Davies was directed towards goal, where Fabio Virciglio headed onto the top of the net from close range. A minute before a very uneventful solo minute of stoppage time at the end of the first 45, a Russell shot was hit straight at Platt on the edge of the area, before a Todd Parker free kick was claimed in the box by Woodford.
The second half was much better from us, and to little surprise, because the second 45 was where most of our games came alive last season at home. The first attempt of the half came three minutes into it, as an Ebanks shot went just over the bar from an angle in the right of the box. Two chances in four minutes swiftly followed before the goal, as a Meredith free kick was cleared by Joe Nardelli, before an Ison shot was blocked on the edge of the box from another free kick.
The goal came at a very good time, but all the hard work was very nearly undone just five minutes later. Just inside the area, goalscorer Meredith brought down Onyeagwara for a penalty kick to the visitors. Stortford midfielder Smith stepped up to the spot, but hit the ball well over the bar. For the remainder of the contest, the away side, despite bringing on a raft of changes, were unable to lay a glove on a stern second half defensive display from our three centre halves.
Instead, it was Yeltz pressure that grew, and grew. 15 minutes before the 90, a pass across the box from Meredith found Cowley. The latter took a touch and forced Woodford into a diving save. Three minutes before stoppage time, a free kick down the right was directed towards Cowley at the near post, but flicked away for a corner by Leon Davies. The delivery from Kellermann was met by Cowley, and saved low by Woodford. In the five minutes of additional time, there was time for one more chance, as Cowley missed a sitter to double the lead. It didn’t matter in the end, and three points were well welcomed after last week.
Attendance: 1,121
MOTM: Todd Parker
Teams
Yeltz: Dan Platt (GK), Ben Cassidy, Matt Preston, Ryan Wynter (C), Ryan Wollacott, Todd Parker (Rob Evans 90+3’), Lewis Ison (Jim Kellermann 72’), Jason Cowley, Callum Ebanks (Ty Barnett 78’), Milan Butterfield, Dan Meredith
Unused Subs: Vanylson Silva & Ethan Sephton
Bishop’s Stortford: Max Woodford (GK), Joe Nardelli, Leon Davies, Jake Thompson (C), Alfie Thornett, Frank Norris (Aaron Greene 79’), Brad Russell (Harry Titchmarsh 62’), Obi Onyeagwara (Dylan Colletti 87’), Fabio Virciglio (Jackson Chukwu-Nsofor 76’), Jack Smith (Tyrone Baker 70’), Charlie Johnson
Unused Subs: None