CHARLES ON TARGET AS BLUES EDGE DRAB AFFAIR

BISHOP’S STORTFORD 1 AFC HORNCHURCH 0

A GOAL credited to the Blues’ Ryan Charles two minutes before the break was the difference between the two sides in a very low-key encounter.

The hosts maintained their good home form so far this season but both teams tended to cancel each other out in a generally dull affair.

One of three new signings for Stortford, Luke Callander, had a shot parried away by keeper Callum Chafer but it was a tentative start by both sides.

Stortford stopper Calum Kitscha tipped a far-post header from Leon McKenzie on to the bar with George Purcell tucking the rebound wide. Chances were few and far between, but the deadlock was broken however when Charles and Nick Brown gained possession on the right by-line and the former’s low cross at the near post deflected into the net off a couple of Urchin defenders.

In the second period, Brown, twice, had shots well-saved by Chafer and Jamie Cureton hit the bar but the visitors had more of the game territorially and McKenzie found the net in the 76th minute but was ruled offside.

Substitute Alfie Mason missed a good chance to double the score five minutes from time and Stortford safely saw out five added minutes to claim a vital victory. STAR MAN: Ryan Henshaw (Bishop’s Stortford) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★