Northern Premier League Division 1
Bishop Auckland 1 : Ossett Albion 2
22 March, 2006
Team: Gary Riches, Simon Shaw, Chris Lynch, Paul Collins, Graham Low, Martin Bowes, Sonny Parker (Paul Griffith 74mins), Dan Newby, Stephen Winspear, Richie Storr, Dale Mendum (Martin Barwick 74mins)
In a season full of negative records, Bishops introduce three new players to take the total to 66 used this season, and Gary Riches became the ninth keeper used this term. The match was played in front of possibly Bishops lowest ever home league attendance of 65.
After a brief scare when the floodlights went out at 7.30, the match kicked off on time on a cold night on a rutted pitch which hampered both sides attempts to play any football throughout the evening.
Bishops made the early running and Winspear had a chance in the first minute which was spooned over the bar. The Two Blues took the lead on 12 minutes when Shaw's corner was knocked to Winspear whose low cross was diverted in by an alert Newby for his sixth goal of the season.
Mendum almost added to the lead on 19 minutes when he raced clear but his low cross shot went past the far post, and just out of reach for Newby and Winspear in the middle.
A nasty injury to an Ossett player caused a long delay in play on 20 minutes and this allowed Ossett to regroup. But the equalising goal was all of Bishops making, as Parker deep in the Ossett half on the wing overhit a pass back to Shaw, and the Oranges broke fast and in numbers to with Toronczak finishing the job for 1-1.
A minute later Ossett hit the post with a drive across goal which struck the foot of the far post and rebounded to safety.
Bishops should have led on 41 minutes when Newby won the ball on the edge of the area. He poked the ball through Ossett's keeper's legs and required only to run round the helpless custodian and tap into an unguarded net. The already booked 'keeper had other plans and hauled Newby to the deck with two arms around Newby's body. Rather than giving the penalty, and inevitable red card, the referee chose to turn his back when the decision had to be made.
The second half was a dire affair. Ossett defended high up the field, forcing Bishops forwards to remain almost in their own half to avoid the attentions of the linesman who responded to every utterance from the adjacent Ossett bench with a raised flag.
Winspear was unlucky when after rounding the 'keeper on 81 minutes he was chopped to the ground. Inevitably, as has been the pattern in the last three games, Ossett scored on 85 minutes. Griffith was felled on the half way line and a feeble shot was parried by Riches to the prolific Toronczak who tapped home.
Brian Healy was ordered from the bench soon after for voicing his opinions of the referee's performance, and Ossett hit the post again deep into injury time.