Bishop’s Stortford 6-1 Aldershot Town Match Report

14.01.2024 18:28

13/1/24

Isuzu FA Trophy Fourth Round

Hamish Arnold

Kane Crichlow’s five goals contributed to Bishop’s Stortford’s biggest win of the season as the Blues progressed to the last 16 of the Isuzu FA Trophy with a 6-1 win against Aldershot Town in the Fourth Round on Saturday. Crichlow scored his hat-trick in 19 minutes and went on to become the first Bishop’s Stortford player since August 2009 to score five goals in a match, when Charlie Sheringham did so in a 2-6 win at Weymouth in the National League South. The Blues were able to put their National League North relegation concerns on hold with their biggest FA Trophy win since the 8-0 success over Canvey Island in 2007-08, defeating the team placed 10th in the National League.

Jack Barham could have given the Shots an early lead, but Jack Giddens was on hand to save his chipped effort from Coby Rowe’s long pass. At the other end, Osman Sow slide a through ball to Crichlow who slotted home under Jordi Van Stappershoef. Aldershot Town were unhappy that Stuart O’Keefe was down injured after a foul by Mark Haines, but Stortford played to the whistle and took the lead. Sow was involved once more in the build-up, he passed it wide for Aaron Greene who fizzed in a low cross for Darren Foxley to stab home inside the six yard box. Ryan Charles’ strike took a deflection off Rowe for a corner, which the Shots managed to defend, but Sow’s high pressing own the ball back, and he set up Crichlow’s second as he fired in off the post into the bottom left corner from a tight angle. But his hat-trick goal was the best of the lot, Sam Robbins’ clearing header was touched into Crichlow’s path by Foxley, and the half-volley from 20 yards was past Van Stappershoef and into the bottom corner before he knew about it. O’Keefe’s chipped pass towards Barham was overhit and Giddens claimed the loose ball. Kwame Thomas won a near post header froma right wing corner but glanced it wide, before Olly Scott’s header was easily claimed by Giddens.

HT 4-0

Aldershot Town turned up the pressure in the second half, dominating the ball and the chances, Thomas fired wide from 20 yards, and Barham’s header also went wide, with Thomas unable to apply the finishing touch. Theo Widdrington’s long range strike was comfortable off target, before the Shots did manage to test Giddens, forcing him into a great double save, first pushing away Barham’s cross and then the follow-up shot from Josh Stokes was palmed away for a corner, which Thomas headed wide. Giddens’ next save was even better, reacting to a header from a yard away, he palmed away a header from a free kick and Haines headed clear. Substitute Lorent Tolaj did give Aldershot Town a consolation goal when he scrambled hom from inside the six yard box, but any hope of a comeback was quashed immediately when Greene slid through Crichlow who fired into the back of the net for his fourth. Tolaj headed over the bar from a left wing cross, Tyler Frost’s curling shot was straight at Giddens, and Stokes fired over the bar. Andre Godfrinne came off the bench to set up Crichlow’s fifth, playing him in one-on-one with Van Stapperhoef once more, and sealing a remarkable win.

FT 6-1

TEAMS

Bishop’s Stortford XI

1 Jack Giddens (c)

2 Mark Haines (Yellow card 7’)

3 Riccardo Di Trolio

4 Jack Thomas (Yellow card 89’)

5 Sam Robbins

6 Harry Beadle (Yellow card 83’)

8 Kane Crichlow (Goal 6’, 19’, 25’, 75’, 88’)

10 Darren Foxley (Goal 12’) (Falase 77’)

14 Osman Sow (Assist 6’, 19’) (Godfrinne 76’)