Bromsgrove Sporting 0-2 Bishop’s Stortford Match Report
Bromsgrove Sporting 0-2 Bishop’s Stortford Match Report
9/8/25
Pitching In Southern League Premier Central Division
Hamish Arnold
Cole Dasilva scored two penalties as Bishop’s Stortford won 0-2 away at Bromsgrove Sporting in the opening game of the Pitching In Southern Premier Central Division on Saturday. The Rouslers failed to avenge the 2-3 defeat to the Blues on the final day of last season which saved Stortford from relegation, while 2025-26 got off to the perfect start as there were debuts for goalkeeper Adam Hayton, who earned a clean sheet, Saleem Akanbi and Obi Onyeagwara, who each won a penalty, Leon Davies, Harry Titchmarsh and Jack Smith.
Paul McCone lost possession in his own defensive third, allowing Akanbi to dribble through on goal, after knocking the ball past goalkeeper Adam Harrison, his outstretched arms felled the striker for a penalty kick. Dasilva found the bottom left corner despite Harrison guessing the right way to give the Blues the lead inside 10 minutes. Another mistake at the back gave Brad Russell a shot at goal from right of centre, but it went narrowly wide. Billy Shaw’s right wing cut back went into a dangerous area for the hosts, but Smith hooked the ball clear. Luke Benbow flicked a header from a deep free kick to the far post, McCone nodded the ball back across goal but Shaw volleyed over the bar from close range. As Bromsgrove grew into the game, they finished the first half strongly as Shaw’s dangerous cross was well defended by Davies, before Benbow’s curling left footed strike was saved by Hayton. McCone dealt with Dasilva’s inswinging corner from the right with a header over his own crossbar, and the following corner was cleared.
HT 0-1
Nick Clayton-Phillips headed wide from close range from a right wing cross, before Luka Chalwell’s low cross from the right deflected off two defenders’ legs and ricocheted into Harrison’s arms. Josh Ezewele won a header at the back post from a right wing corner, but he was denied by Brad Russell who cleared off the line. Onyeagwara dribbled into the box but his right footed shot was tipped round the post, Presley Evans’ cross was blocked for a corner. Dasilva’s cross was headed down by Chalwell, and Akanbi’s first time shot was blocked at close range. Akanbi showed his strength and ball control as he dribbled through the defence, riding the challenges before his shot was saved by a diving Harrison away to his left. Hayton picked out Chalwell in the right channel with a long through ball, his first time volley shot was saved by Harrison. Onyeagwara dribbled into the box from the left wing and was fouled by Ezewele, for the second penalty of the match with six minutes to go. Dasilva found the bottom left corner once more with Harrison diving the opposite way. Thomas Edge fired wide through a crowd from the edge of the box, before Koby Arthur’s rasping effort came off the inside of the post and away from goal into Hayton’s arms. Kobe Hall dribbled in from the right wing, but his low shot lacked power and was saved by Hayton which was the last chance of the match.
FT 0-2
TEAMS
Bromsgrove Sporting XI
1 Adam Harrison (Yellow card 9’)
2 Josh Ezewele
3 Jack Kelly (Yellow card 72’)
5 Paul McCone (Yellow 45+2’)
7 Billy Shaw (c)
8 Thomas Edge (Yellow card 2’)
9 Luke Benbow
10 Nick Clayton-Phillips (Hall 69’)
12 Aksum White (Macedo Sanches 83’)
15 Jack Newell (Arthur 62’)
16 Bo Morris (Yellow card 60’)
Subs
11 Koby Arthur
14 Romehl Critchlow
17 Taylor Morrison
19 Gustavo Macedo Sanches
20 Kobe Hall
Bishop’s Stortford XI
1 Adam Hayton
3 Leon Davies
4 Cole Dasilva
6 Mark Haines (c)
8 Harry Titchmarsh
9 Nahum Melvin-Lambert
10 Brad Russell
12 Fabio Virciglio
14 Jack Smith
16 Jaden Ogwuazor
19 Saleem Akanbi
Subs
5 Jake Thompson
11 Obi Onyeagwara
15 Harry Forde
17 Presley Evans
20 Luka Chalwell
Attendance 551