Bishop's Stortford 2

Leyton Pennant 0

(Ryman League

division one)

SCOTT WILLIAMS' second-half brace rounded off Bishop's Stortford's season in fine style with a 2-0 win over Leyton Pennant at Woodside Park on Saturday.

The three points lifted Martin Hayes' side to 11th in the final Ryman League division one table, their highest position of the campaign.

The clash with already-relegated Pennant, however, was marred by the sending off of Vinnie John for the home side and Brad Brotherton for the visitors.

A difficult first year at Woodside Park saw the Blues struggle through the first half of the season but they then found excellent form in their last 11 matches, losing just one in a superb run-in.

They were applauded off the pitch at the end of the game by the home fans who can look forward to next year with renewed optimism.

Hayes gave second half debuts to two members of the successful youth team, 19-year-old Ben Ford and 18-year-old Ryan Gunn who both made a positive impact on the contest.

John's dismissal was the only significant incident of the first half.

The striker had been involved in an ongoing struggle with Pennant's Darren Knox from the off and tempers boiled over on 37 minutes. John elbowed his marker in the face and the referee immediately sent him off.

Three minutes into the second half Pennant's numerical advantage was nullified when Brotherton threw a punch at Carl Fannon after a touchline tangle.

Stortford took the lead on 66 minutes when Danny Foot's pass found Williams who skipped past a defender and fired in from 18 yards.

Three minutes later it was 2-0 as Gunn beat two men and found Fannon whose cross was smacked in by Williams with a deflected shot.

The visitors, who have not won a league game since January, offered little in response.

On May 2 the Blues entertained Staines Town, losing 3-2.

Because Stortford were playing their third game in four days, Hayes made several changes to the line-up and that affected the momentum the Blues had built up in recent weeks.

Mark Harman replaced Craig Tucker in goal, Gavin Dawes made his debut at left back and Danny Wolf played in the centre of defence.

Staines took an early lead through Rocky Baptiste then the home side equalised as Tony Comerford's free kick was headed home by John.

Stortford went ahead on 57 minutes with a shot from Trevor Paul but the visitors equalised through Mark Butler then grabbed an injury time winner through Craig Reilly.

The reserves finished off their campaign with a 0-0 draw at Baldock Town on Saturday, a result which leaves them fourth in the Essex & Herts Border Combination League.

The youth team have a chnace to win the Southern Counties Floodlit League as they top the table with three games to go.

STORTFORD: (v Pennant) Day, Fannon (sub: Comerford 69min), Kimble, Sedgwick, Bowen, Foot, Leary (sub: Gunn 58), Williams, John, Paul, Braham (sub: Ford 58).