Stourbridge 1-1 Bishop’s Stortford

Stourbridge 1-1 Bishop’s Stortford Match Report 11/4/26

Pitching In Southern League Premier Central Division

Hamish Arnold

Hertfordshire Senior Cup Finalists Bishop’s Stortford will go into the showpiece on a run of one win in 10 games after a 1-1 draw away at Stourbridge, which secured the Glassboys survival in the Pitching In Southern League Premier Central Division. Charlie Pavey scored in the first half before Jack Smith equalised for the Blues soon after the break. Stortford travel to Hitchin Town for the Cup Final on Tuesday, before trips to champions Harborough Town and relegated Barwell. Steve Castle’s team can still achieve a club record points haul for a Southern League season, but will need two wins from the remaining games to do so.

Brad Russell’s right wing cross looked perfect for Cole Dasilva to finish from close range but Tom Solanke hooked the ball clear for a corner, with captain Jake Thompson getting a glancing header on the ball but Dom Lewis cleared off the line. Obi Onyeagwara cut in off the left wing and his curling effort was blocked by a defender in the middle of the box, but neither Fabio Virciglio nor Frank Norris could find a shooting opportunity before the ball was cleared. Thompson had a free header from the next Blues corner but headed over the bar from a central position. Charlie Price saved Onyeagwara’s next shot as he turned in off the wing to shoot with his right foot, before Brad Bood’s low effort from the left side of the box was saved low by Adam Hayton. Onyeagwara missed the target with his next shot and was dispossessed on the wing just minutes later from which the ball was whipped in for Pavey to fire home from close range.

HT 1-0

Onyeagwara latched onto a long ball and picked out Smith in the middle with a cut back, the midfielder slotted home to level the score. Liam Brazier worked some space for a shot on the edge of the box, but his low right footed effort was saved by Hayton, before Frank Norris’ header from Dasilva’s free kick was on target but saved by Price. A low cross from the right picked out substitute Nathan Hayward in the middle, but his shot was deflected wide for a corner. Norris outjumped his marker from another Dasilva free kick but the header was saved, and Price came to punch the next free kick but failed to get a clean contact on the ball, Erin Amu shot low on the turn but Price retreated to his goal-line and saved before a defender cleared the ball.

FT 1-1

TEAMS

Stourbridge XI

1 Charlie Price

2 Jack Fletcher

3 Brad Bood

4 Tom Solanke (McKenzie 74’)

7 Jai Verma

8 Tom Edge (Hayward 32’)

10 Dom Lewis

11 Liam Brazier

14 Charlie Pavey (Goal 37’)

18 Ash Carter (c)

19 Harvey Portman (Reeves 52’)

Subs

5 Richard Batchelor

6 Hayden Reeves

16 Nathan Hayward

17 Jeval McKenzie

20 Callum Knowles

Bishop’s Stortford XI

1 Adam Hayton

3 Leon Davies

4 Cole Dasilva

5 Jake Thompson (c)

9 Frank Norris (Forde 79’)

10 Bradley Russell

11 Obi Onyeagwara (Assist 46’) (Castle 76’)

12 Fabio Virciglio (Greene 52’)

14 Jack Smith (Goal 46’)

16 Jaden Ogwuazor (Yellow card 44’) (Kreka 64’)

18 Erin Amu (Haines 85’)

Subs

6 Mark Haines

7 Charlie Castle

15 Deivi Kreka

17 Harry Forde (Yellow card 90’)

19 Aaron Greene

Attendance 493