Soham Town Rangers 2-0 Bowers & Pitsea

(Mulready 45’, Brown 64’)

From Julius Martin Lane

Ryman North

BOWERS & Pitsea’s hopes of making the Ryman North play-offs took a major hit as Rob Small’s side were defeated by relegation threatened Soham Town Rangers.

Goals from Sam Mulready and Luke Brown helped the hosts to claim all three points, which were enough to allow them to climb out of the drop zone.

A win for Small’s men would have seen Bowers climb up to sixth in the standings and level on points with Haringey Borough, who currently occupy the final play-off place.

Brad Warner hit the crossbar early on before strike partner David Knight sent his close range effort over the crossbar after good work by Fahad Nyanja.

It looked as though both sides were going to go in at half time without breaking the deadlock.

But Mulready pounced on an error from goalkeeper Rhys Madden to head Soham in front two minutes into first half stoppage time.

An inswinging free kick from Ryan Horne bounced up in front of Madden and the Bowers number one could only parry the ball into the path of the unrushing Mulready to head home from four yards.

Brown doubled the home side’s lead after 64 minutes as his drilled effort found the bottom corner.

Warner came close to reducing the arrears soon after, but his shot cleared the crossbar after beating two Soham defenders.

Bowers & Pitsea: Madden, Clark, Nyanja, Stokes, Wilson (Salmon 75’), Sartain, Manor, Leahy (Cross 67’), Knight, Warner, Hilton (Coley 75’)