Bishop’s Stortford 1-4 Spalding United Match Report

October 15, 2025

14/10/25

Pitching In Southern League Premier Central Division

Hamish Arnold

Two points separate the top five teams in the Pitching In Southern League Premier Central Division after Bishop’s Stortford lost 1-4 at home against Spalding United on Tuesday night. Saleem Akanbi scored a late penalty consolation goal in the Blues’ 100th Southern League match but defeat leaves Stortford fourth in the table, they could still go top if the Stratford Town result is reinstated.

Adam Hayton reacted quickly in the first minutes to deny Yusifu Ceesay’s low shot from range, before Rehan Field – who was drafted into the starting line-up after the warm-up following an injury to Mark Haines – miscued his volley over the bar from close range when the Tulips had failed to clear from a left wing corner. Dion Sembie-Ferris saw his shot from the left side of the box parried by Hayton, before Field mistimed his tackle as Bartosz Cybulski dribbled into the box, conceding a penalty. Dan Lawlor fired into the bottom left corner despite Hayton diving the correct way, with the Blues struggling to create chances against the Lincolnshire side. Former Blues forward Jack Roberts went close with a powerful strike from the right side of the box towards the near post but Hayton saved. Cybulski then held off the challenge of Field with his back to goal, and with a smart turn he slotted home from a tight angle to double the lead for Spalding United.

HT 0-2

Hayton made a great triple save to deny Sembie-Ferris then two efforts from Roberts, and Field did well to clear the danger from the following. Ceesay was too strong in the air for Field and jumped to head home from Ben Hart’s cross from the right. Cybulski dribbled into the box and laid the ball off to Roberts in space, but his low shot was saved, and Roberts’ free kick curled round the wall and came off the outside of the post with Hayton unmoved. Cole Dasilva’s free kick from a deep position was glanced wide by Jake Thompson’s header, but Roberts eventually got his goal when he shrugged Leon Davies off the off and dribbled round Hayton to fire into the empty net. Liam Moore fouled Akanbi in the box and the striker stepped up to reduce the deficit, with his spot kick nestling in the bottom left corner. The Blues had a succession of set pieces late on, with substitute Scott Kashket having a shot cleared off the line from a free kick that was half-cleared, and Kashket received the ball from a clearance from the corner, but his effort was blocked.

FT 1-4

TEAMS

Bishop’s Stortford XI

1 Adam HAYTON (Yellow card)

3 Leon DAVIES

4 Cole DASILVA

5 Jake THOMSPSON (c) (Yellow card)

7 Aaron GREENE

11 Obi ONYEAGWARA (Melvin-Lambert 64’)

12 Fabio VIRCIGLIO

14 Jack SMITH (Yellow card 60’) (Kashket 64’)

15 Rehan FIELD

19 Saleem AKANBI (Goal pen 79’)

22 Luka CHALWELL

Subs

9 Nahum MELVIN-LAMBERT

17 Scott KASHKET

20 Tommy LETHBRIDGE

Spalding United XI

13 James DADGE (Yellow card 67’)

2 Ben HART (Yellow card 86’)

3 Ben BLYTHE

4 Liam MOORE (c)

5 Connor JOHNSON

6 Dan LAWLOR (Goal pen 9’)

7 Jack ROBERTS (Goal 73’)

8 Alfie BENDLE (Thompson 74’)

9 Dion SEMBIE-FERRIS

10 Bart CYBULSKI (Goal 25’)

11 Yusifu CEESAY (Goal 51’) (Nicholson 66’)

Subs

1 Paul JONES

12 Abduramane SANI

14 Curtis THOMPSON

15 Lewis WHITE

17 Jordan NICHOLSON

Attendance 289