Hughes goal hands Bowers crucial win at Waltham Abbey

(Hughes 62’)

From Capershotts

Isthmian North

A DEBUT goal from Charlee Hughes handed Bowers & Pitsea all three points against Waltham Abbey.

Bowers needed the victory in their bid to keep the distance between themselves and the chasing pack and they were the better side early on.

David Knight fired a strike down the throat of goalkeeper Hugo Rossetti but the elusive striker was the danger man.

Knight and then Callum Leahy had efforts fly inches past the post before Abbey threatened for the first time.

A good move ended with Darelle Russell blasting wide from 15 yards as Abbey took charge for the next passage of play.

Shad Ngandu shot over the crossbar but it remained goalless at the interval.

Into the second period and John Easterford hit the crossbar as he bid to continue his excellent recent scoring form.

Hughes was introduced for his debut with 30 minutes to go as Bowers looked for that all important breakthrough.

And the striker was to get the goal 60 seconds later, finishing neatly from close range after good work by Ryan Boswell.

Bowers pressed for a second goal but couldn’t find it – Ben Sartain missing the best chance as the visitors held out for the win.

Bowers & Pitsea: Chafer, Boswell, Thomas, Stokes, Easterford, Leahy, Pinto, Sartain, Knight, Dicks (Hughes 61’), Nyanja (Ashman 46')