Two late goals break Magpies’ hearts (14.09.04)

TWO late goals broke Magpies’ hearts on Tuesday night, giving Bishop’s Stortford an undeserved victory.
In an entertaining game between two teams struggling for form, frail defences meant chances were plentiful at both ends.
As early as the first minute Stortford nearly took the lead when Rob Gillman had a free header in the penalty area which went just wide.
The Magpies replied through Barrie Matthews, who had his shot palmed wide of the post on six minutes.
But the hosts went on to hit the inside of Michael Watkins’ right hand post on 22 minutes through Duane Jackman, a trick repeated by his strike partner Paul Hakim 10 minutes later.
At the other end Stortford keeper Rob Elliott continued to keep the Magpies at bay with some fine saves, notably from a long shot by Barrie Matthews and two close range efforts from Craig O’Connor.
United took the lead right on half time. A long shot by Lawrence Yaku was tipped round the post by Elliott and from the resulting Matthews corner, Andy Dugdale headed the ball onto the far post, where Yaku was waiting to fire the ball home. When the second half got under way the Magpies looked good value for their lead as they surged forward time and time again, keeping Stortford on the back foot.
Unfortunately the second killer goal never came, the best effort coming again from a Matthews corner which was headed on by Bryan Smith to
his defensive partner Dugdale, whose shot hit the post.
As the end of the game drew near Stortford sensed the opportunity for an equaliser and began throwing on the substitutes. Force to defend, United eventually conceded a corner, which was headed onto the far post where Hakim was on hand to score an 81st minute equaliser.
The winner came four minutes later, when a defensive mix up allowed Jackman a shot from outside the area which eluded the despairing dive of Watkins.