Bishop's Stortford 2

Harlow Town 1

(Ryman League

division one)

A LAST-GASP own goal from John Nicholson gave Bishop's Stortford a 2-1 victory in the derby game against Harlow Town at Woodside Park on Monday.

As the game rolled into injury time spoils seemed certain to be shared, but then a low cross into the Harlow box was met with a bullet volley by Trevor Paul, and keeper Darryl Trigg could only push the ball upwards.

Nicholson tried to clear under pressure from Vinnie John but could only head the ball over his own line.

John claimed the goal but the defender admitted he had the last touch. Stoppage time goals in the two derby games have cost the Hawks three points this season and they are still hovering just above the relegation zone.

A lively start saw both teams with a chance in the first five minutes, John forcing a diving save from Trigg then Carl Drew shooting against the legs of Craig Tucker from 12 yards.

There was little room for fluent football on a sandy pitch with 775 fans creating an intense atmosphere. The first half was quickly reduced to a physical contest and tempers threatened to boil over when a fierce tackle on Marc Salmon by Trevor Paul initiated a 15-man fracas, the referee deciding to leave his cards in his pocket.

The Hawks took the lead three minutes before the break when Salmon's delicate cross found Wade Falana unmarked six yards out to steer his header past the diving Tucker.

Drew should have doubled the lead on the hour when he was put clean through but he shot straight at Tucker and Salmon's rebound effort was cleared off the line by Justin Bowen.

Within five minutes the Blues were level as Paul's cross was turned back by John to Tony Comerford and the home skipper cracked in a shot from 15 yards.

Substitute Danny Cowley hit a long-range drive just wide, and with the last kick of the game Salmon scuffed his shot when well placed, leaving the home fans to cheer the final whistle.

Harlow boss Ian Allinson, who brought Nicholson into his side at the expense of Cowley, said: 'John is gutted in the dressing room. All the players are but we have to pick ourselves up for the next game.

'We didn't deserve to lose, we looked happy at 1-0 up but we didn't take our chances. Both teams struggled with the pitch and there wasn't a lot of good football.'

Stortford manager Martin Hayes agreed that a draw might have been the fair result. He said: 'It was an even match. We had more possession but they were dangerous on the break.

'We managed to take the chances we had. Neither myself nor Ian (Allinson) are happy with the referee. He spoiled the game at times.'

Harlow entertain Oxford City on Saturday while Stortford visit Bognor Regis Town.

STORTFORD: Tucker, Fannon, Kimble, Sedgwick, Bowen, Foot, Comerford (sub: Waldron 68min), Williams (sub: Leary 68), John, Paul, Braham (sub: Hayes 83).

HARLOW: Trigg, Samuel, Parkyn, Moore, Nicholson, Cook, Young (sub: Kelly 88min), Howell, Drew (sub: Cowley 69), Falana, Salmon.