Northern Premier League Division 1
Mossley 2 : Bishop Auckland 1
22 April, 2006
Team: Tony Davison, Simon Shaw, Dan Newby, Graham Low, Nicky Mohan, Martin Bowes, Paul Campbell (Paul Griffith 47mins), Graham Robinson (Paul Crager 5mins, Martin Barwick 56mins), Stephen Winspear, Richie Storr, David Wells
Bishops almost spoilt Mossley's relegation party in a thrilling end of season battle. Bishops started with a chance which should have given them the edge, but Robinson's tame shot in the first minute with a clear run on goal ended with the midfielder injured and Mossley broke to score at the other end through Morning.
Robinson was the first to leave the field on 5 minutes. On 8 minutes Winspear put the home 'keeper under pressure, but the referee awarded a soft free-kick when he dropped the ball with little contact made.
Simon Shaw curled a shot towards the top right hand corner on 11 minutes, but the 'keeper dived to tip the ball round the post.
On 28 minutes when Bishops failed to close him down, Bingham curled a shot in off the inside of the far post to give Bishops a mountain to climb. Davison made a fine block on 31 minutes to keep Bishops in the game.
As the half wore on, injuries to Shaw, Campbell and Newby impaired Bishops, and Campbell was replaced a minute after the break for Griffith.
On 52 minutes, Storr pulled Bishops back into the match with a well hit shot from outside the box which gave the 'keeper no chance. For the next 20 minutes, Bishops gave the league leaders a real scare.
Winspear produced an excellent cross which Storr sidefooted agonisingly inches over the bar. Two minutes later a deep cross was met by Storr in the air and his looping header beat the keeper and hit the inside of the post, but rolled back across the face of goal and was hacked to safety.
Storr was causing Mossley all sorts of problems, so it was little surprise when he was taken out of the game with a reckless tackle from behind which went unpunished by the match officials. Bishops played with 10 men for almost ten minutes whilst the veteran was patched up and thrown back into the fray.
Within minutes of returning to the field, Storr slotted a pass for Winspear, but the young striker fired just over the bar.
Mossley held out, with Bishops severely hampered by injuries to Storr, Shaw and Newby, but they battled to the end to ensure that the hosts were made to work for their three points which secured them promotion.