Frankie Merrifield scores as Bishop's Stortford beat Margate 1-0 at home in Isthmian League, Premier Division
Frankie Merrifield came off the bench to get the only goal of the game as Bishop's Stortford beat Margate 1-0 at home on Saturday.
The striker, who replaced the injured Archie Jones after 18 minutes, netted early in the second half to earn the Blues maximum points at the R&D Advisors UK Stadium.
The victory has moved Steve Smith's men up to ninth in the Pitching In Isthmian League, Premier Division ahead of Tuesday night's (October 19) trip to East Thurrock United.
Like many Blues matches this season, there were plenty of goal chances in the first half but no goal to be found.
Jake Cass had the first shot of the match after Archie Edwards' run and pass, but Patrick Ohman saved the low effort with his feet. Cass then miscued wide with a half-volley from Jones' right-wing cross.
At the other end, James Bessey-Saldanha turned and struck a low, powerful effort from the edge of the box that flashed wide of the post before Daniel Thompson saw his header go over the crossbar.
Jonny Giles saw his low effort saved by Ohman, Merrifield had a header blocked and cleared off the line and Ryan Charles and Cass both forced last-ditch blocks from defenders with powerful shots as the Blues ended the half strongly.
Two minutes after the restart, Stortford took the lead. Johnville Renee turned defence into attack with a long ball down the right for Cass who chased it down and crossed first time to Merrifield and the striker's excellent first touch helped him calmly place the ball beyond Ohman.
Cass could have doubled the lead with a great turn and shot from the edge of the box, only to be denied by a good block from a defender.
Margate nearly equalised in the most remarkable fashion. Stortford goalkeeper Jack Giddens rushed out to tackle Thompson, leaving an open goal which Ben Greenhalgh attempted to find from nearly 40 yards and hit the post. Bessey-Saldanha should have found the target with the rebound but he skied his shot.
Giles drew a good save from Ohman before Renee had a great chance to get his first goal since returning to Stortford, but he could not find the target from a tight angle at the end of a counter-attack led by Merrifield.
Blues: Giddens, Edwards, Church, Robbins, Giles, Cass, Renee, Thomas (booked, 6min; Marlow, 58), Jones (Merrifield, 18), Charles, Haines. Not used: Wallace, Chandler, Baker.
Margate: Ohman, Palmer, Anderson, Agyemang (booked, 45min; Gurung, 76), Knight (Hatfull, 80), Swift, Bessey-Saldanha (Embery, 63), Blackman, Bola, Greenhalgh (booked, 90), Thompson. Not used: Kallmeier, Lamb.
Attendance: 406.
