2006/7 Northern League Division 1
Bishop Auckland 2 : Bedlington Terriers 0
23 September, 2006
Team: John Collinson, Chris Lynch, Steven Baynes, Paul Collins (Dan Newby 70 mins), Nicky Mohan, Matthew Coad (Joe Fairish 70 mins), Levent Yalcin, Nicky Scaife, Gavin Parkin, Richie Storr, Bryan Stewart
Bishops finally recorded their first win back in the Northern League with a comfortable victory over Bedlington Terriers. Nicky Scaife and Gavin Parkin, both signed from Whitby Town, came into the starting line up, with Scaife now in his third spell at the club, and both made a difference.
The attacking edge was there as Bishops pressed early on and a low cross from Yalcin went through a crowd of players inside the six yard box and away to safety.
Storr put his head in where others fear to go and took a punch from the 'keeper which left him requiring a lengthy spell of treatment on 18 minutes.
Bishops led on the half hour when Yalcin crossed for Coad to head home from six yards. Four minutes later Stewart broke through after some good interplay on the edge of the area. His first shot was blocked but the rebound fell kindly and he slotted past the defender on the line to make it 2-0.
Collinson pulled off a good save with his legs just before half time to leave Bishops with a solid first half lead.
Bedlington had more of the play in the second half, but looked disappointing up front, and a great chance went begging on 60 minutes when Bainbridge dragged a shot wide of the post with just the 'keeper to beat.
Fairish and Newby added some spark to play when they came on with 20 minutes and Bishops looked more likely to add to their lead after that. The best chance fell to Scaife with minutes remaining but his low shot was well saved by Dryden in the Terriers goal.
The win lifts Bishops up the table above Bedlington and with Horden next week there's a great opportunity now to move away from the foot of the table.