Bishop's Stortford Town 0 Elsenham 1 Under-16 Division Two TONY Hogg's first half goal was enough for Elsenham to extend their unbeaten start to the season and take over from Town at the top of Division Two. The visitors didn t make the best of starts, wi

Bishop's Stortford Town 0 Elsenham 1

Under-16 Division Two

TONY Hogg's first half goal was enough for Elsenham to extend their unbeaten start to the season and take over from Town at the top of Division Two.

The visitors didn't make the best of starts, with Town working hard to deny their opponents time and space. However, Michael Jarvis and Ed Beanland were proving rock solid at the back and allowed the hosts few real opportunities.

Gradually, the Elsenham midfield began to function more smoothly and the threat on the Stortford goal started to increase.

A double substitution midway through the opening period was to prove an inspired move as Jack Gumble's long throw from the right fell to fellow sub Hogg, who shot beneath the 'keeper to give Elsenham the lead.

The visitors were now gaining the ascendancy and could easily have doubled their lead before half time. Two long-range efforts from Mason Duckett were saved by the Stortford 'keeper, while Josh Daniel's great run and cross from the right almost provided an opening for Mitchell Seaman, but the striker was unable to turn the ball goalwards.

The second half started in similar fashion with Elsenham striving to get the all important second goal. Duckett saw his shot bounce back off the bar, while a corner caused all sorts of confusion in the Town defence only for a home defender to head against his own bar.

Another set-piece was met firmly by Dean Clayden, but his header was straight at the 'keeper. Elsenham right back Jack Gumble had to be carried from the field midway through the second period with a nasty ankle injury and his absence appeared to boost Stortford, who started putting more pressure on the visiting defence.

However, Elsenham appeared to have made the game safe when Clayden's ball across the goal was turned in by Adam Mace, only for the ref to rule it out for offside, despite having had no flag from the linesman.

Elsenham were so nearly made to pay for all their missed opportunities deep into stoppage time when the Stortford striker hit a great shot that cracked against the bar.

However, the away team managed to hold on to deservedly take the points and have now gone more than 200 minutes of football without conceding a goal.