Match Report


BISHOP'S STORTFORD (0) 1 ALTRINCHAM (1) 1

BSBN Match
played on Saturday, 22 September 2012, at 3pm


SUMMARY

The dismissal of Simon Richman, 13 minutes from time was the deciding factor in the outcome of this match; he was dismissed for two second-half fouls. In the first half Alty went ahead against the run of play when Richman was fouled and he took a quick freekick, setting Lawrie free. Lawrie scored impressively from the edge of the box after 22 minutes.

In the second half, Alty dominated and looked likely to add to their lead, but had a goal from Reeves disallowed. But, once Alty were reduced to 10 men, Bishop's Stortford got forward, though they were fortunate to survive several threatening counter attacks in which Duncan Watmore played a prominent part, after joining the game as a substitute.

The Blues levelled when Sappleton scored from close range five minutes from time, following Herd's long throw.


SCORERS:

  • 22 mins: James LAWRIE (Bishop's Stortford 0 ALTRINCHAM 1)
  • 85 mins: Ricky SAPPLETON (Bishop's Stortford 1 ALTRINCHAM 1)


    REFEREE: Mr Rob Hyde


    ATTENDANCE: 481


    TEAM NEWS

    Alty's starting eleven was unchanged from the side which had beaten Shildon the previous week. For the first time this season, there was no keeper on the Altrincham bench as the management opted for five outfield players. Bishop's Stortford were using their fourth keeper of the season, the recently signed former Histon man, Jorg Stadelmann. Normal keeper Chambers was suspended as was defender, Anderson.


    BACKGROUND:

    Alty had failed to score against today's opponents in either game last season.


    LINE-UPS:

    BISHOP'S STORTFORD (All blue): 1. Jorg Stadelmann, 2. Anthony Sinclair-Furlonge, 3. Johnny Herd, 4. Reece Prestedge (cap), 5. Lynvall Duncan, 6. Sean Francis, 7. Matt Johnson, 8. Jesse Waller-Lassen, 9. Ricky Sappleton, 10. Steve Cawley, 11. 'Freddie' Olayinka Ladapo. Subs: 12. Bertie Brayley, 14. Nathan Livings, 15. Matthew Redgrave, 16. Alli Abdullahi, 17. Callum Webb.

    ALTRINCHAM (Red & white striped shirts, red shorts and socks): 1. Stuart COBURN, 2. Shaun DENSMORE (capt), 3. Matt DOUGHTY, 4. Carl RODGERS, 5. Gianluca HAVERN (capt), 6. Danny HALL, 7. Simon RICHMAN, 8. Jake MOULT, 9. James LAWRIE, 10. Damian REEVES, 11. Nicky CLEE. Subs: 12. Scott LEATHER, 14. Patrick LACEY, 15. Ryan BROOKE, 16. Duncan WATMORE, 17. Danny MITCHLEY.


    REPORT

    Despite all the recent rain the pitch was watered before kick off by automatic sprinklers. Bishops then kicked off in bright sunshine and suffered an immediate foul by Moult, after which Cawley shot badly across the face of goal following a feed from Sappleton.

    In a fairly uneventful opening, the hosts were soon having slightly the better of things and it needed a fine tackle from Richman to stop the advancing Ladapo on the Stortford left (7 mins). At the other end, there was a wild shot by Clee after a poor clearance from Duncan had come to him. Another slip up by Duncan allowed Reeves possession but he was soon halted by a defender.

    After a Bishop's Stortford throw on their right, Hall cleared but soon Cawley poked an effort over the Alty bar (16 mins). Next, a clearing header by Hall fell to Ladapo who struck the inside of the post; in the aftermath, a corner resulted but was cleared. Bishop's Stortford were now on top.

    Coburn had to smother a Sappleton pass intended for Cawley, before Clee conceded a freekick near half way (18 mins). But, with Alty still on the back foot, Richman was fouled just inside the hosts' half; he took the freekick quickly to Lawrie, who scored impressively with a right-footed, low shot from the edge of the box (22 mins).

    When Jake Moult was penalised for a foul on Cawley 40 yards out, he was booked (28 mins). However, soon afterwards, Moult got in a decent header from a Clee cross but it was saved by Stadelmann (29 mins). In response, Johnson fired wide from 27 yards following a Waller-Lassen lay off.

    Just after the half-hour mark, Coburn had to beat out a fierce shot from Sinclair-Furlonge and the pressure continued as Prestedge won a corner, following which a Sappleton rocket passed the post after he had got the better of Havern (34 mins).

    However, Alty then replied as they forced Stadelmann to punch clear a Doughty cross but, soon, play was at the other end again as Sappleton headed over the bar from a Ladapo cross from the left. After Doughty had done well and put in a cross which went across the Bishops' penalty area, a trip on Prestedge by Hall, just outside the box, gave the hosts a threatening freekick. An Alty man was booked in this incident - later confirmed as Clee (42 mins).

    Following a poorly taken Alty corner on the right, a long throw from the Bishops' Herd was only half cleared to Ladapo, whose shot was saved by Coburn (45 mins). After just one added minute, half time arrived with Alty leading, against the run of play. They had played some neat passing football but rarely threatened the opposition goal in the first forty-five minutes.


    Half-Time: BISHOP'S STORTFORD 0 ALTRINCHAM 1

    After Altrincham had kicked off the second half, Sappleton, from very close to the near post, forced a save from Coburn which gave Bishops a corner, from which Coburn tipped a header over the bar for another corner (48 mins).

    Five minutes into the half, a Prestedge foul on Rodgers gave Alty a freekick. A great ball was fired up to Clee, who took it down well, in the inside left position, and he fed Reeves, to his right, who scored from close range. But he was given offside, which seemed a debatable decision.

    For the Blues, Sappleton got inside Hall but could only generate a very weak shot as the second-half opened brightly with end to end football. But now Altrincham got the upper hand. Firstly, Lawrie was given just offside from Rodgers's flicked header; then Reeves got half clear but saw his shot blocked (55 mins).

    After Herd's shot from the left had gone just wide, Lawrie was offside again for Alty as he got clear of the back line and, then, a Richman cross was overhit from right of goal (60 mins). Alty made a swap as Watmore replaced Doughty, with Clee moving to left-back (62 mins).

    Next, a Reeves glancing header went just wide from Densmore's cross before an advance from Watmore was halted as Alty now applied some sustained pressure. After Richman had mis-headed Clee's long throw over the bar, a Watmore run produced a corner on the left as Alty's best spell of the game continued.

    After 70 minutes, Richman was booked after stumbling over on top of Prestedge. Then, after a Moult effort had run to the keeper, an impressive run from Lawrie up the left ended with a pass to the unmarked Richman who should have hit the target from 8 yards but, instead, he lifted his shot over bar.

    Now Lacey came on as a 75th minute substitute for Moult. Alty continued to dominate and both Watmore and Lacey now had efforts blocked before Lawrie's shot was saved at full length. But it all went wrong when a needless foul on the Alty right, deep in the Bishop's Stortford half, by Richman led to him being sent off after being shown a second yellow card (77 mins).

    Scenting a reprieve, Bishop's Stortford sent on striker Brailey for defender Duncan (77 mins) as they went to a back three formation. Nevertheless, the next significant event was the booking of the home side's Sinclair, for a foul. However the Alty freekick from 25 yards out was wasted and a Bishop's Stortford corner on their right soon arrived.

    Following Sappleton's poor 80th minute header wide from a cross from the left, his manager brought on Livings for Sinclair (81 mins). Alty were now getting penned back and were fortunate to see Sappleton nod over when he should have done better.

    Now Webb replaced Cowley for the Blues and, shortly afterwards, Sappleton equalized with a firm effort from close range after a long throw-in from the right by Herd was nodded on by Francis.

    Alty responded by bringing on defender Scott Leather for Damian Reeves (87 mins). Alty were now under the cosh but were a danger on the breakaway, particularly fromthe marauding Watmore. However, when the teenager next got into the box, neither he, Lacey nor Lawrie could muster a firm enough shot to score. Just after this, Watmore laid a ball off for Hall, whose well hit shot won a corner off the keeper, diving full length to his left.

    After this, Lacey had an effort saved but neither side could clinch a win despite the playing of three additional minutes. Before the sending off Altrincham had looked on course not only to win but to extend their lead, however, playing a man short for the final stages proved too big a burden.


    Full-Time: BISHOP'S STORTFORD 1 ALTRINCHAM 1