UniBond League Premier Division
Wakefield & Emley 0 : Bishop Auckland 2
23 April, 2005
Team: Corbett, Coulthard, Ward, Bell, Hall, Foster, Damon Robson, Salvin, Sheeran, Craig Robson,
Irvine (Woodhouse 69mins)
Bishops named an unchanged starting X1 for this make or break game at a sparsely populated Wakefield Wildcats Stadium. The game was played in bright sunshine with a cool wind blowing against Bishops in the first half.
Chances were few and far between in the opening 20 minutes but as the half wore on Bishops burst into life. On 28 minutes a deep Irvine cross was headed back across goal by Damon Robson but Sheeran was unable to force the ball in from just inside the six yard box.
Damon Robson then came close when he volleyed across the face of the goalkeeper only to see the shot rebound off the post and back into play just past an advancing Salvin on 31 minutes.
On 34 minutes Craig Robson drove the ball just past the corner of the goal from 18 yards out.
Emley's best chance came on 61 minutes when a free kick just outside the area was curled towards the top corner but Corbett clawed it wide.
Woodhouse replaced Irvine on 69 minutes and within two minutes he was involved in the move which gave Bishops the lead. Bell won the ball on the half way line and fed Woodhouse who played in Damon Robson. Damon's head across goal found Sheeran who looped a header over the stranded keeper.
After a nervous 20 minutes during which Bishops defended decisively, Salvin settled the game on 89 minutes when he drove home from long range. The ball flew across the turf and into the bottom corner of the net.
It's still a long shot, but Bishops still have hope, but nothing less than two wins will be enough in the final week.