Little Oakley 2-0 Stow

Stow returned empty handed from their longest away trip of the season. Unbeaten in four, Little Oakley made Stow pay for missed opportunities, scoring two goals on the break.

Stow were given an early warning, when Michael Brothers shot over early, and then had an effort well saved by Amarildo Cekrezi.

But the opening quarter of an hour was end-to-end, and Stow soon had their first chance; Ryan Wade forcing a good save from Dan Joyce, connecting well with a volley from a Connor Scully cross.

Charlie Cole then made his way into the Oakley box, but his cross-shot was just out of the reach of Ryan Wade at the back post. Moments later Samir Bihmoutine also made progress, but the ball was nicked away from him just as he was about to pull the trigger.

With Stow looking more likely to score, it was a bit of a surprise when the home side took the lead, Harry Mann finishing brilliantly after holding off a Stow defender.

Charlie Cole went close twice more before the half was up, firing just over from Bihmoutine’s cut back, and then volleying Pinto’s flick over too.

The second half started as the first had ended, with Stow dominant. Cole and Bihmoutine both went close, as did Tim Ogunrinde who had a great chance to finish one-on-one, but again Joyce was up to the task.

Stow’s job got all the more difficult when Tommy Fletcher was shown a second yellow card for an innocuous tackle on half-way.

And despite having ten men, Stow continued to press but couldn’t find a way through a determined Oakley defence.

In the 93rd minute a throw-in was cleared up field and Harry Cooke finished coolly under pressure to give the home side a 2-0 victory.