Bishops Stortford1

Crostyx2

(Printwize East Premiere A League)s=10CROSTYX, who were third going into this top of the table clash, climbed to second after this 2-1 win, with Stortford dropping to third, leaving Harleston Magpies heading the table.o

s=9Considering that Stortford and Crostyx were the two leading scoring sides in the league, the fact that only three goals were scored was indicative of how close the game was.o

After a tense start from both sides, Crostyx looked the better of the two. Some slick passing movements down the left started to open up the Stortford defence and it was not long before Gareth Ingram put Crostyx ahead following a goalmouth scramble which resulted in the ball hitting the back of the net.

Crostyx were perhaps a little lucky for the opening goal as the ball had struck John Shepherd a couple of feet off the ground and fell to a Crostyx player to tap in as all around him stopped expecting dangerous play to be called.

Immediately from the re-start Stortford forced a penalty corner, and although the injection was wide, Vernon Brown improvised and fired low to the keepers left to level the scores.

Despite this, Crostyx always looked the more likely to score, and sure enough after a period of pressure on the Stortford goal James Duck drove into the D and was awarded a penalty corner. Gareth Ingram fired the ball into the far corner for his second, bringing his tally to 12 goals in eight games.

Stortford had a string of penalty corners towards the end but they couldnt find a way through.

Stortford skipper John Shepherd was disappointed with the performance: "Weve now lost at home to the two sides above us by the odd goal, and we simply have to win away against both Crostyx and Magpies in the New Year.

"Weve missed our chance to stretch out a lead before the Christmas break and that puts the pressure firmly on us."

Mention should be given to Crotsyx's Nick Stoneham who worked industriously in midfield to keep the Stortford playmaker at bay and Pete Ware at left back, who gave the Stortford forwards no chance to open the defence.