Gallen’s debut strike fails to lift gloom at Stortford (06.09.03)

THE Magpies went to the bottom of the division with this defeat – made even less palatable as Stortford played 77 minutes with just 10 men.
The visitors started well with Craig Farley firing a free-kick at Micky Desborough in the Stortford goal, but soon after the Blues’ custodian was dismissed by referee Jason Murfitt for handling outside the area after he raced out to foil striker Lawrence Yaku.
Stortford sacrificed Michael Black for substitute keeper Kenny Addai.
Yet within a few minutes it was Stortford who had taken the lead.
Glen Southam’s run into the box was halted by Adam Durrant and referee Murfitt pointed to the spot in what many saw as an evening-up of affairs after the dismissal of Desborough.
Southam confidently despatched the penalty sending Phil Wilson in the visitors’ goal the wrong way.
The Magpies responded immediately when Addai flapped at a cross and Brendan Gallen lofted the ball back into the net.
The Magpies almost took the lead on 34 minutes when Williams headed over from a Farley cross.
From the resulting goalkick Stortford regained the initiative.
Anthony Allman crossed the ball into the danger area, and as the Magpies’ defence stood still Tim Langer was on hand to control the ball and prod past Wilson.
The second half was end-to-end stuff with the Magpies’ best opportunity to score falling initially to Currie, whose shot was blocked and then rebounded going to Yaku, but he headed wide.
The Blues’ Roy Essandoh had a great early chance but fired at Wilson with just the keeper to beat, and Gary McKeown then headed over from a Gareth Gwillim cross.
The Blues increasingly got a hold on the game as Essandoh blasted wide and Southam produced a good save from Wilson.
Phil Gray drilled wide late on and Aaron Barnett made a goal-saving tackle as the Magpies rallied in stoppage time, but the Blues held on for the three points.

Bishop’s Stortford: Desborough, Allman, Gwillim, Rainford, Cooper, Barnett, Langer, Southam, Essandoh, Black, McKeown. Subs: Addai (for Black, 13), Williamson (for Langer, 82), Wiltshire (for Southam, 84), Renner, Parker (unused).
Maidenhead United: Wilson, Cruse, Connor, McIntosh, Durrant, Gallen, Farley, Williams, Yaku, Lee, Currie. Subs: Ashe (for Willams, 55), Gray (for Cruse, 68), Paxton, Dreyer, Hart.