Northern Premier League Division 1
Bishop Auckland 2 : Warrington Town 3
20 April, 2006
Team: Tony Davison, Paul Crager, Chris Lynch, Graham Low, Nicky Mohan, Sonny Parker (John Barker 45mins), Dan Newby, David Spence (Graham Robinson 81mins), Stephen Winspear, Martin Barwick, Dale Mendum
Bishops ran out of steam late into the Shildon night to lose again to a Warrington Town team fighting for their survival in the UniBond League.
Warrington were delayed en route and finally arrived at Dean Street at 8.20pm after a nightmare journey. The match officials allowed them a generous 25 minutes to get ready as the spectators stood freezing in the gloom.
The game eventually kicked off at 8.50pm with Bishops much changed line up including St.Mary's David Spence, Chris Lynch, Nicky Mohan, Sonny Parker, Dan Newby and Martin Barwick all changes from Monday's team.
Although Warrington had much of the early play, Bishops had the first real chance when Newby ran one on one with the 'keeper on 19 minutes. As he rounded Warrington's No.1, the 'keeper got fingertips to both the ball and Newby's leg. Newby stayed on his feet but blasted the ball over the bar with defenders racing back onto the line.
Warrington had a one on one on 25 minutes but a weak shot beat the advancing Davison, but was collected by Crager well in front of the goal line. Three minutes later Davison pulled off a fine diving save deflecting the ball up onto the top of the bar and out for a corner.
On 31 minutes Bishops led when Winspear used his pace to intercept a horrendous back pass. The 'keeper forced him wide, but a low shot from an impossible angle just inches away from the goal-line perfectly bisected the posts to make it 1-0.
On 38 minutes a deflected clearance almost made it 2-0 to Bishops but the ball spun agonisingly wide of the goal. Parker was injured on the stroke of half time, to be replaced by a second St.Mary's junior, John Barker.
Mohan did well to clear off the line on 54 minutes, but Warrington drew level on 71 minutes when Davison was beated by a shinned lob from long distance by Graham Mitchell as Bishops started to run out of steam.
On 82 minutes things went from bad to worse when Graham Mitchell pulled the ball down with his arm, and shot low into the right hand corner as Bishops defenders claimed the obvious offence.
Bishops were back level on 85 minutes when Winspear beat his man to cross for substitute Robinson to glance a header home.
But at 10.35pm, Latham forced the ball home to give Warrington an undeserved three points.