Halesowen Town 1-0 Bishop’s Stortford Match Report

August 16, 2026

159

15/8/26

Pitching In Southern League Premier Central Division

Hamish Arnold

Jack Smith missed a penalty as Bishop’s Stortford lost 1-0 at Halesowen Town on Saturday, leaving the Blues in the relegation zone after three games of the Pitching In Southern League Premier Central Division season. Dan Meredith scored the only goal of the game as Stortford skipper Jake Thompson made his 100th appearance for the club.

Max Woodford punched clear a long ball while Thompson failed to head clear, the ball fell to Lewis Ison on the edge of the box but fired over the bar. Jason Cowley – who was last season’s top goalscorer in the division – shot wide from a tight angle after Alfie Thornett had seen his headed clearance blocked. Dan Meredith’s cross had home players and fans appealing for a penalty with the ball striking the arm of Leon Davies, before Ben Cassidy’s low shot on the edge of the box was blocked by Thornett. Frank Norris laid the ball off with his back to goal to Brad Russell but he shot over the bar, and the midfielder went close a minute later with a volley effort that went narrowly wide from the right side of the box after Thornett had won a tackle in the centre circle. The Yeltz did well to keep the ball around the edge of the Stortford box with a spell of pressure just after the half hour mark, but the chance was wasted when Cowley curled a shot wide. Cowley had another shooting chance from a corner, he ran from the back post around the crowd and towards the corner taker but fired over the bar with a shot near the penalty spot. Fabio Virciglio attempted to dribble into the box but found himself crowded out, Obi Onyeagwara picked up the loose ball but his shot went straight to Dan Platt. Russell’s low shot from the edge of the box was also saved as the first half ended goalless.

HT 0-0

Callum Ebanks fired over the bar from the right side of the box before Stortford failed to clear from a right wing free kick, the ball was worked back to Meredith on the right who picked out the top left corner from the right side of the box just before the hour mark. The Blues were gifted a chance to equalise just five minutes later when Onyeagwara was fouled by goalscorer Meredith as he dribbled into the box from the wing, but Smith fired over the crossbar from the spot as he tried to find the top corner. Joe Nardelli was on hand to hook the ball clear from Cowley’s right wing cross towards Milan Butterfield in the middle, before Cowley’s diving header from a right wing free kick was deflected wide. The corner kick was taken short and Cowley failed to hit the target with a shot from close range from the cut back.

FT 1-0

TEAMS

Halesowen Town XI

1 Dan Platt

2 Ben Cassidy

4 Matt Preston

5 Ryan Wynter (c)

6 Ryan Wollacott

7 Todd Parker (Evans 90+3’)

8 Lewis Ison (Kellermann 71’)

9 Jason Cowley (Yellow card 90+5’)

10 Callum Ebanks (Barnett 78’)

13 Milan Butterfield

22 Dan Meredith (Goal 59’)

Subs

3 Ethan Sephton

11 Vanylson Silva

17 Jim Kellermann

18 Rob Evans

23 Ty Barnett

Bishop’s Stortford XI

1 Max Woodford

2 Joe Nardelli (Yellow card 56’)

3 Leon Davies

5 Jake Thompson (c)

6 Alfie Thornett (Yellow card 90+6’)

9 Frank Norris (Yellow card 58’) (Greene 79’)

10 Bradley Russell (Titchmarsh 62’)

11 Obi Onyeagwara (Colletti 87’)

12 Fabio Virciglio (Chukwu-Nsofor 76’)

14 Jack Smith (Baker 70’)

22 Charlie Johnson (Yellow card 90’)

Subs

4 Dylan Colletti

7 Tyrone Baker

8 Harry Titchmarsh

17 Aaron Greene

19 Jackson Chukwu-Nsofor

Attendance 1121