2006/7 Northern League Division 1
Bishop Auckland 1: Consett 2
16 August, 2006
Team: John Collinson, Steve Larkin, Steven Baines, Richie Ward, Paul Griffith, Joe Fairish (Carl Winspear 66mins), Martin Robinson (Chris Lynch 57mins), Scott Richards, Stephen Winspear, Richie Storr, Bryan Stewart
Bishops second home game of the season was a game of two halves, with the result finally decided in the dying minutes in Consett’s favour.
Consett looked far from impressive throughout the first half with Bishops dominating play from start to finish.
On 11 minutes Martin Robinson crossed to Richards who pulled his shot wide of the far post with only the ‘keeper to beat.
Five minutes later, Robinson blasted a shot from long range, which Consett’s custodian did well to tip just over the bar.
Consett’s only chance of the half came on 40 minutes when a corner was flicked on towards the far post, but Collinson was able to palm the ball past the post.
Griffith almost gave Bishops the lead when he met a free kick with a header, which fell into the box. The centre half reacted first but was unable to capitalise when the Consett ‘keeper initially spilled the ball at his feet.
The second half Consett came out like a different side. Only minutes into the half they carved out a great chance and a fierce shot rebounded to safety off the face of the bar.
Bishops were on the attack in the 58th minutes and when Larkin chose to pass across the middle, rather than play the ball forward into the danger area, Consett intercepted and broke fast. The low cross was deflected into the path of Pounder who drilled the ball home.
On 67 minutes Consett missed a great chance to double the lead, but Collinson was able to unsettle the forward in a one on one situation and the chance was missed.
On 72 minutes, Consett’s captain, Johnson, gave Bishops the initiative with an embarrassing display of petulance when he shoved substitute Carl Winspear to the ground long after the ball had been cleared from the Consett area.
The linesman, only a dozen yards away, had little alternative but to flag for the penalty, and after a lengthy delay while Consett protested, Richie Storr fired in the equaliser with the ‘keeper diving in the opposite direction.
Consett continued to press but the winner came in the final minute when a shot hit a stray Bishops arm at close range, and the official leapt at the chance to even up the penalty count.
Pounder’s shot went in off the inside of the right hand post, to the dismay of the home supporters, and Consett were able to run the clock down through the injury time to secure the points.