Women’s
1’s v City of Peterborough 1’s
4-1
Stortford travelled to a wet and windy Peterborough in the hope of maintaining their winning streak. Stortford had a few good chances in the first half but, although in control of the game, were unable to score.
The score was 0-0 going into the second half. Stortford put their foot on the pedal and within minutes of the starting whistle won a short corner, smashed into the bottom left corner by Lexie Guthrie, with a beautiful injection from Molly Brooks. In quick succession followed the second goal. Some fancy skills by Liv Smerdon that she tucked away perfectly. Two then lead to 3! Deflection off the defender left the ball lingering high in the air. A deft touch from Titch and Stortford are on a roll. Gorgeous open play two touch passing ended up with a 1 on 1 with Robbo and the keeper. Robbo won the battle and slotted into the corner. Onto the fourth (my lucky number). Some solid defending from the squad, in particular Liv Locke (lady of the match). Peterborough won a short corner in the last seconds of the game and managed to convert, leaving the final score 4-1. Solid performance from the blues.
2’s v Upminster 2’s
3-1
Stortford Ladies 2s braved the fierce conditions of Storm Bert to face Upminster in a thrilling encounter, coming out on top 3-1 after a hard-fought contest.
The match began at a blistering pace, with Stortford taking the lead just four minutes in. Pilar delivered a well-placed ball across the goal, which was expertly deflected by Zoe into the bottom corner for the opening goal. However, Upminster were quick to respond, leveling the score less than two minutes later with a powerful short corner strike that found the back of the net.
Both teams battled on evenly for the remainder of the first half, with chances at both ends but no further goals. The game remained 1-1 until the 55th minute, when Stortford broke the deadlock through some excellent team play. Dutchie, on the left wing, delivered a perfect cross into the circle for Nicky, who slotted the ball past the Upminster keeper to make it 2-1.
Upminster weren’t finished, though, and kept pushing for an equalizer. They tested Stortford’s defense with some strong attacks, but Ali made a superb 1v1 save to deny an Upminster forward, while Beans was in the right place at the right time to clear a shot off the line, keeping Stortford’s lead intact.
The game was sealed in the 63rd minute after a costly turnover at the back by Upminster. Charlottes ball out found Nicky on the halfway line. After taking it around 2 defenders Nicky found herself 1v1 with the keeper and slipped the ball past to give Stortford a 3-1 lead.
3’s v Shefford and Sandy 1’s
1-0
It was a cold, windy day at Hockerill, setting the scene for a hard-fought battle. After a delayed start, the game finally got underway.
Stortford worked tirelessly to string together some flowing play but struggled to find rhythm. Despite creating numerous chances, converting them proved challenging.
Eventually, persistence paid off with a scrappy but decisive goal from Charlotte in open play! .
Tensions rose in the second half, with some fiery moments leading to a green card for Hollie. Shefford & Sandy ramped up the pressure, but Stortford’s defense stood firm with some exceptional performances, holding out until the final whistle.
The game ended in a 1-0 victory for Stortford, thanks to their resilience and determination.
Player of the Match: Becky – for an all-around solid performance!!
4’s v Bedford 4’s
1-4
It was a very cold and windy Saturday afternoon, BSCH Ladies 4s were playing top of the table Bedford 4s. Bedford started with the ball, we went out strong applying pressure resulting in us gaining possession, from this we created lots of space by transferring the ball around the defenders passing it onto the midfielders.
After some consistent leads from our forwards it meant we caught Bedford out on a break, with some strong attacking it pressured Bedford but narrowly we missed the goal. Shorty after at the 16th minute Lois positioned on post scored the 1st goal of the match by slipping it past the goalie. Both teams eager to get more goals reset, pressuring each other into many turnovers. With some lovely saves from Freya and great defending we kept any outcomes for Bedford out of our D, but with minutes to go in the 1st half after some fast passing, Bedford equalised the score to make it 1-1 through a top corner hit.
At half time, we had a constructive team talk and made some changes to the formation. There was high praise to be given as Stortford was holding strong against the top team in the league.
After half time, the opposition came back composed and strong. They were heavy on the offensive and put pressure on the Stortford defence. They had four short corners, none of which successful, but managed to score in open match play within 10 minutes. The opposition were hard against the defence, not letting up. They slipped past the defence again at 15 minutes. Stortford broke into the attacking 25 a few times, but Bedford defence were man marking and shutting down any attempts at goal. The final goal came at 25 minutes, with the oppositions attackers outnumbering the defence.
Final score of 4-1. A result that didn’t match the game play. The opposition gave very positive feedback to the Stortford side, praising the Stortford players.
Player of the match was spread across the team evenly, showing the team effort in defending and holding against the strong opposition. 2 votes for Maddie, Izzy, Claire, Freya, Amelia. Also, shout outs for Nadia, Eliza and Catherine!
5’s v Stevenage 2’s
2-1
Match report pending
Goals Lisa Suckling, Scout Neville
6’s v Crostyx 2
0-9
Ladies 6 played Crostyx 2 away, we arrived at Ashton a wet and windy pitch. We started with 10 (as our keeper was slightly delayed.
Crostyx used this to their advantage to score a two quickly, however defence held it together as best we could until Linda could take her place.
Crostyx continued with a strong attack. Ending the first half 2-0 up. Frustrated but energised by Squashies we tried our hardest to fight back, alas Crostyx came out fighting. Despite some good team work, running the ball up through the middle and some solid strikes we didn’t quite convert any into goals. Crostyx monopolised the second half (making the most of a home advantage) to score of a further 8 in the second half. Final score a disappointing 9-0.
7’s v Bedford 6’s
2-2
PoM Libby Hodges
The Ladies 7s bundled into cars and set off to Bedford on a grey and windy Saturday, ready to take on the challenge. The game was high-pressure from the start, with both teams displaying strong end-to-end play.
Bedford gained the upper hand early, winning a short corner in the opening five minutes, but an excellent clearance by Lis kept them at bay. Stortford responded with determination, pushing into their attacking half and earning a short corner. Despite clever play around the keeper, a Bedford defender stopped the ball impressively on the line, denying Stortford the lead.
The game remained evenly matched, with Bedford securing two more short corners, both expertly defended by Stortford’s backline. Intensity grew as both teams pressed hard, but Bedford managed to break the deadlock with a goal 10 minutes before halftime.
Stortford refused to be disheartened, showcasing great midfield passing as well as movement between forwards Jo Hall and Emily Wood, creating opportunities right until the halftime whistle.
The break offered a chance to regroup. Jo Hall’s call for extra effort inspired the team, and Stortford emerged determined to fight back.
Stortford upped the intensity immediately. Within four minutes, Nyla Smith coolly finished a well-orchestrated attack levelling the score at 1-1.
With the defensive trio of Kim, Sally, and Naomi breaking down Bedford’s play and distributing the ball effectively, Stortford began to dominate again. Better use of width and diagonal passing through to Katie, Chloe, and Beth stretched Bedford’s defense.
At the 10-minute mark, teamwork shone through as one of Libby’s short passes found Emily, who delivered a perfect ball to Megan. With composure and precision, Megan Laws slotted the ball into the net, giving Stortford a 2-1 lead.
Bedford responded with intensity, pushing hard in midfield and eventually finding an equalizer at the 14-minute mark. With the score tied at 2-2, both teams fought for dominance in the final stages.
Bedford earned two late short corners, but Stortford’s defense held firm, showcasing resilience and composure. Counterattacks from Stortford nearly tipped the scales, but the game ended in a well-deserved 2-2 draw.
Libby earned Player of the Match for her exceptional play, including pivotal passes and consistent effort throughout the game.
A thrilling and evenly matched game, the Ladies 7s displayed grit, determination, and teamwork to secure a hard-fought draw. Their performance sets a strong foundation for the matches to come
8’s v Stevenage
1-2
Ladies 8s hosted Stevenage at Hockerill this week. Another weekend with only half the regular players on pitch meant a couple of new faces making their debut adult league games. We also saw some players taking up new positions on field.
Despite Storm Bert bringing some challenging conditions, but we went out positive and secured a lead early on with a goal from Mia B.
Taking advantage of our lack of keeper, Stevenage pushed ahead with an overload from their attackers, but despite the gallant efforts of the defense team it was impossible to stop them equalizing by half time.
A team talk at half term and a jig about of positions wasn’t enough to hold off Stevenage who went on to score their 2nd goal before the final whistle blew.
Player of the match was Captain, Kerrie Chapman
A special thanks go to the lower ladies team captains in supporting us in fielding a team this week, especially so late in the week.
9’s v Chiltern 2’s
9-0
Match report pending
Mens
1’s v Pelicans
5-4
Bishop’s Stortford welcomed Pelicans for a crucial encounter on a wet, cold, and windy afternoon. After three consecutive draws, the home side knew they needed a win to stay competitive at the top of the table. Pelicans, sitting second in the league, were always going to be a tough opponent, making this match even more important for Stortford.
The match began at a fast pace, and it didn’t take long for Stortford to take the lead. A penalty flick in the 5th minute was awarded, and Richard Heywood stepped up to convert it confidently, putting Stortford 1-0 up.
The hosts continued to build momentum, and in open play, they doubled their lead when Jamie Brooks slotted home after a well-executed move. As the first half progressed, Stortford looked in control, and they further extended their advantage when Craig Smith completed a simple one-two with a teammate around the Pelicans goalkeeper to make it 3-0.
However, Pelicans soon found their rhythm. Stortford’s concentration slipped, and with some questionable marking, Pelicans capitalised on two quick goals to reduce the deficit to 3-2.
The second half resumed with the score still 3-2 in Stortford’s favour. Both teams continued to battle hard, but it was Stortford who would find the next breakthrough. A well-worked short corner routine saw Jamie Brooks finding the back of the net, extending the lead to 4-2.
Despite Pelicans’ best efforts to respond, Stortford kept their cool. Then, in another moment of fortune, Matt Fildes found himself in the right place at the right time. A ball popped up into the air, and despite its unpredictable bounce, it ended up in the back of the net, putting Stortford 5-2 up.
Pelicans, though, were not done. They managed to create a couple of lucky breaks and found the net twice more, making it 5-4. However, despite a valiant effort, they were unable to find an equaliser.
The final whistle blew with Bishop’s Stortford securing a 5-4 victory, a much-needed win to end their run of draws. It was a hard-fought performance, with clinical finishing and key contributions from Heywood, Brooks, Smith, and Fildes.
2s v 3’s
4-2
Match report pending
4’s v Royston 2
2-2
Match report pending
5’s v Harpenden 3
3-1
Match report pending
6’s v West Herts 4
7-4
The 6s approached West Herts today with a confident stride. We had the advantage of having substitutes, unlike West Herts, who were coming off the back of three consecutive losses, and we were almost even on points. Then the rain began to pour…
Stortford tackled the slick pitch with aggression, taking an early lead. However, it was short-lived as West Herts came back strong. We tussled fiercely throughout the first half, with Herts using their physical strength, but we capitalised on our opportunities, going into half time with a 5-2 lead.
After the break, West Herts came at us hard, scoring early from a short corner. The battle continued with relentless effort from both sides, and we held our ground, finishing the match with a 7-4 victory.
Congrats to the team for a hard-fought and well-deserved win!
Scorers:
Taylor M x2
Taylor F
Cook F
Fox S
Turner R
Basra J
7’s v MBDA
2-2
Despite the efforts of Storm Bert and the threat of frozen pitches, the 7 th team made it to
Hitchin for their morning fixture against MBDA (which is a manufacturer of missile systems, if
you’re interested).
Taking to the pitch after stirring words from Captain Clune, Stortford dominated possession
in the first half, with Badger striking the ball very cleanly from our 16s and exploiting the
good positioning of our midfielders. Industrious work by Gillott and Pettit in midfield kept us
in the opposition half and after a lot of pressure we eventually won a short, beautifully struck
at the sharp end by Badger sending a missile of our own in to their net to give us a well
deserved lead.
Soon after, a trademark run by M McLeish saw a gap open up at the top of the opposition D,
where a pinpoint pass was swept into the top corner of the MBDA net by Tatchell in what has
to be a strong contender for goal of the season!
A rare foray into our half saw MBDA draw level shortly before half time as their dangerous
speed on the break shook off the dogged determination of Gill and Wood – which for the
vast majority of the first half had been solid as a rock.
The second half became more attritional as MBDA found their way back into the game,
despite flashes of brilliance from Maxwell, Pettit and K McLeish. Stortford seemed to be
more nervous as they lost the ball in possession a few times, allowing the opposition to gain
in confidence. A string of short corners were somewhat mysteriously awarded to the home
side, and despite heroics from the defenders putting their bodies on the line and the ever
dependable Allardyce in goal, the eventual result was an almost inevitable equaliser.
Despite sustained pressure from Jones and Lowe finding space, the second half seemed to
race away very quickly and the final whistle went to seal a 2-2 draw, which on balance was
probably a fair reflection of the game overall.
Player of the match was Gill for his dogged determination in marking the key oppo danger
man, with honourable mentions for Maxwell, Pettit, and K McLeish.
