Bowers & Pitsea 5 Stansted 1 A young Stansted side suffered a heavy defeat at Bowers and Pitsea on Saturday. The Airportmen were missing seven senior players and didn t have the strength in depth to cope with a strong Bowers side who currently sit in four

Bowers & Pitsea 5 Stansted 1

A young Stansted side suffered a heavy defeat at Bowers and Pitsea on Saturday.

The Airportmen were missing seven senior players and didn't have the strength in depth to cope with a strong Bowers side who currently sit in fourth place in the Essex Senior League.

"We had some major players out and had to bring in more youngsters and it showed," said manager Terry Spillane.

"It was a combination of inexperience and playing them at the wrong time for us. Bowers will be there at end of the season, they have brought players in on loan from Grays and have a big budget and that's the big difference.

"We played decent football at times, but we lacked a cutting edge."

Stansted gave themselves an uphill task at The Len Salmon Stadium, going 2-0 down after 15 minutes.

However, they held their own for the rest of first half, without creating too much, although Sam McCarthy did shoot narrowly over from 10 yards.

The Airportmen started the second half strongly, but were hit on the break as they pushed forward trying to get themselves back in the game.

Stansted didn't let their heads drop and reduced the deficit when Ross Crabtree netted his first goal for the club, firing in a screamer from 25 yards that nestled in the top corner.

For the next 10 minutes the visitors put pressure on the hosts and Casey Clarke shaved a post, and McCarthy came close with a half chance.

The Airportmen thought they had reduced the hosts' advantage further, when Danny Driscoll found the net, but his effort was ruled out for offside.

Bowers then hit Stansted with a sucker punch, scoring twice in the last five minutes to make sure of the points.

Manager Spillane wasn't too disheartened following the defeat and looked for the positives.

"Casey Clarke was a major plus for us," he said. "He is only 18, but they couldn't deal with him.

"I'm sure this time next year playing the youngsters will pay dividends and they are learning all the time."

The Airportmen face a difficult test on Saturday when they host third-placed Barking in the Essex Senior League.

"Their manager is one of my best mates so I would like to put on a good show," said Spillane.

"They are a very experienced side with a big budget and have a massive history so it will be one of our tougher games.

"We like being the underdogs and we hope to pull off a surprise. We upset them at their place 2-0 and we want to do that again."

Danny Dobson and Tony Barnes are still out injured, but Michael Palmieri, Danny Dow, Adam Syrett, Steve Brown, Paul Seymour will all return.

-Stansted were due to visit Eton Manor last night (Wednesday) in the Gorden Brasted Memorial Trophy.

- Stansted Reserves were held to a draw by bottom club Basildon on Saturday.

Ricardo Allured was on target for the hosts in the Essex Herts & Bordering Counties Combination.