Phoenix Sports 1-0 Bowers & Pitsea

(Probets 90’)

From the Mayplace Ground

Ryman North

BOWERS & Pitsea missed a penalty and conceded in the last minute to lose to Phoenix Sports.

The 90th minute winner from Ashley Probets has seen Rob Small’s side drop out of the Ryman North play-off places.

Callum Leahy shot just wide after good play involving Sam Cross and Brad Warner midway through the first half.

Warner then linked up with strike partner David Knight, who tested home goalkeeper Steve Phillips.

Phoenix Sports were reduced to 10 men after 63 minutes after Jack Hopkins was shown a straight red for lunging in on Bowers captain Martyn Stokes.

It looked as though Bowers’ pressure was going to pay off as with just over 10 minutes to play, the visitors were awarded a penalty.

But Warner missed the chance to put his side in front as he drove his penalty just wide of the top corner.

With the game ticking over into injury time, Bowers gave away a free kick on the edge of the penalty area.

Probets stepped up and curled his effort into the top corner, giving Bowers goalkeeper Rhys Madden no chance.

With no time to react to going a goal behind, Small’s side fell to their first defeat in three Ryman North games.

Bowers will be looking to break back into the play-off positions when they take on struggling Waltham Abbey at the Len Salmon Stadium on Saturday.

Bowers & Pitsea: Madden, Clark, Cross, Stokes, Salmon (Adams 78’), Sartain (Johnson 90’), Manor, Leahy, Knight (Nash 82’), Warner, Hilton