Northern Premier League Division 1
Shepshed Dynamo 0 :Bishop Auckland 0
4 February, 2006
Team: John Mohan, Sonny Parker, Sean Davies, Paul Collins, Paul Griffith (Brian Healy 80mins), Robbie Clarkson, Simon O'Shea (Steven Winspear 74mins), Martin Bowes, Martin Barwick, Richie Storr, Daniel Newby
Preparations for the return game with Shepshed hardly looked ideal when Mark Sheeran left the club in unusual circumstances on the eve of the game, and with Robinson and Baynes returning "home" after loan spells, Brian Healy was forced to re-arrange the team, and named himself on the bench. Paul Griffith, newly signed from Peterlee, came into the centre of defence to replace the injured Matt Hysen
There was little between the two teams in the early exchanges. The first incident of note came on 18 minutes when a high ball over the Bishops defence caused problems. Griffith flung a leg past the Shepshed forward and knocked the ball to safety and the man to the ground. The referee waved to play on, but the assistant stopped play. Bishops feared the worst, but after consulting the linesman, the referee indicated a drop ball which was returned to Bishops uncontested.
1st Half: Simon O'Shea on the ball Picture (c) FILMAR Photography
Newby became the first of five Bishops bookings on the half hour when he protested after a free kick was awarded for high feet, despite the Shepshed defender stooping to head at just over waist height.
1st Half: Newby defies the lunge Picture (c) FILMAR Photography
Bishops best chance of the half was just on half time. A high ball forced Shepshed's custodian out of the box and his clearance went to Clarkson. His pass found Newby, but by the time the shot was delivered, the danger had been covered.
1st Half: Storr received treatment Picture (c) FILMAR Photography
The first half was punctuated by numerous injuries to Bishops players, and at one point Bishops were briefly down to nine men. In the fifth minute of injury time Davies became the second Bishops player booked for dissent.
1st
Half: Debutant Griffith in control - Picture (c) FILMAR Photography
On 51 minutes an accidental clash of heads somehow saw Sonny Parker penalised.
From the resulting free kick, the ball was glanced by a Shepshed forward onto
the top of the bar.
It wasn't long before the card was out again, as Storr was noted down for throwing the ball away.
The Bishops defence was doing a solid job in restricting Shepshed, but few real opportunites had been made at the other end. The best came on 72 minutes when Barwick beat his man down the left and crossed into the 18 yard box. Clarkson's dummy allowed the ball to run on to O'Shea whose shot on the turn looped over the bar.
1st Half: Bowes glides into the box - Picture (c) FILMAR Photography
Shepshed immediately went up the other end and the forward was forced wide by Mohan. Once clear of the 'keeper, and inaccurate shot went across the face of goal to safety, as Bishops rode their luck.
Bowes was next in the book on 76 minutes, again for dissent.
On 78 minutes, substitute Winspear, back on defensive duty, was harshly adjudged to have handled out on the goal line. The resulting cross pinged around the six yard box for several seconds, but eventually landed on the roof of the net.
An injury to impressive debutant Griffith forced Brian Healy to make his first appearance in the Two Blues for over 14 years on the 80th minute. His first action of note was to get booked on 88 minutes. The offence, apparently, was "for being clever".
1st Half: Sharp exchange of views from the manager - Picture (c) FILMAR Photography
Manager Healy then had the chance to steal the glory when Newby raced up the line and fed a ball over the last defender, but Healy snatched his shot wide of the goal.
Bishops survived another five minutes of injury time with one or two scares, but were full value for their first point in months.
If the team can re-create this performance in the weeks ahead, the first win under Brian Healy is surely within sight now.