Bishop's Stortford1

Bedford Town1

(Ryman League Premier Division)

THE Blues returned to Premier Division action after a three-year absence and can consider themselves unlucky not to have picked up three points in their first game back in top flight.

Al-James Hannigan was still injured, but Mark McGibbon was recalled after injury and Martin Hayes elected for the centre half pairing of Danny Wolf and Andy Keepence, with Ray Taylor sitting on the bench in case the going got too much for McGibbon.

Trevor Paul was also absent from injury so Hayes drafted in new signing Roy Essandoh, who famously scored a winner for Wycombe against Leicester in the FA Cup, to partner captain Vinnie John up front.

Stortford started brightly and it therefore came as something of a surprise that it was Bedford who scored first.

A ball from Robbie Miller was flicked on by Kevin Slinn but the ball apparently hit Alex Riches' hand and the assistant referee immediately flagged up for a penalty.

Slinn tucked the ball home from the spot, but the irony was not lost on Stortford's supporters as just minutes earlier Slinn had handled the ball in the Bedford area in similar circumstances, but no penalty was awarded.

The second half again saw Stortford dominate the possession stakes. Hyatt had an early chance when a corner was not cleared and the ball fell to him inside the area, but he blazed over.

Stortford got a deserved equaliser as Hyatt laid the ball off to Rob French and with a neat piece of skill, the Blues' new midfield signing delicately flicked the ball over Wilson and into the back of the net.

The Blues will have been pleased to have got their first point on the board and should gain confidence from an assured and dominant display.

Stortford's first away game of the new season could not be a harder one as they make the trip to Premier Division championship favourites Canvey Island next Tuesday. The Islanders are rumoured to have a massive wage bill and are likely to include former Blue Scott Forbes in their line-up.

August 22, 2002 13:00