Stow pick up both April league awards

Stow’s excellent final month of the season has been recognised by the Isthmian League.

Vinny Murphy picked up the Manager of the Month award. April started with victories and clean sheets against Enfield and Stowmarket Town, and next up were Heybridge Swifts, who were demolished five-one. Next on the horizon were promotion-chasing Bury Town and Bowers and Pitsea, a rather daunting end to the campaign, but a point was taken from Town and the trip to Bowers, who needed victory to clinch second place, was a marvellous day which saw the East Londoners come from two goals down to win four-two.

On the final day of the season, Stow travelled to, Bowers & Pitsea aware that victory could see them top the table if Lowestoft lost at New Salamis. Bowers had also won nine in a row, so were looking for a tenth consecutive win. They went ahead eight minutes before the break, and they quickly added a second, making it two-nil just five minutes later; but if they thought they could relax, Stow had other ideas, an own goal getting them back into the match deep in added time at the end of the half.

Stow may have had only pride to play for having already secured sixth spot, but they levelled two minutes into the second half, Jonville Renee with the equaliser, and then stunned the home fans by going ahead on sixty four minutes, Bilal Sayoud making it three-two. Two minutes from time Stow added a fourth, Kymani Thomas leaving the home faithful scratching their heads.

Stow were also nominated for their five-one hammering of Heybridge Swifts, but the judging committee decided that the win at the Len Salmon was even more impressive.