2006/7 Northern League Division 1
West Allotment Celtic 2 : Bishop Auckland 2
14 October, 2006
Team: Jon Collinson, Stephen Larkin, Steven Baynes (Paul Griffith 55 mins), Paul Collins, Richard Ward, Matthew Coad, Dan Newby (Brian Healy 77 mins), Nicky Scaife (Andrew Fletcher 71 mins), Gavin Parkin, Levent Yalcin, Paul Campbell
An even game played on an immaculately manicured allotment exploded in the final five minutes but there was still nothing to separate the two sides.
Bishops struggled at the start with West dominating possession without creating any real danger. Bishops first chance came on 16 minutes when Yalcin ran down the right and shot low. The 'keeper spilled the ball but recovered with the attackers bearing down inches away.
Yalcin was involved again when the Two Blues took the lead on 22 minutes. Parkin made space down the right and put in a cross behind Yalcin who stretched and managed the knock the ball into the path of the onrushing Campbell who blasted home from 12 yards.
On 27 minutes a free kick was cleared out of the area to Yalcin who crossed for Ward who was just unable to force the ball past the advancing 'keeper.
A deep cross from Yalcin on 33 minutes found Newby in space, but the midfielder blazed his first time effort well wide.
1st Half: Newby blazes wide from Yalcin's cross Picture (c) FILMAR Photography
West came back into the game and on 42 minutes a cross shot was blasted straight across the face of goal with no one present to apply the finishing touch.
1st Half: Scaife bursts through the cuddling defenders Picture (c) FILMAR Photography
Campbell's improvised 40 yard lob almost doubled Bishops lead on 48 minutes but with the 'keeper beaten the ball sailed inches wide.
West were level on 51 minutes when a close range header was powered in by the No.10. The late arriving Griffith replaced Baynes on 55 minutes.
A deep cross on 58 minutes from Newby allowed Yalcin to pull the 'keeper out of position, and Coad almost caplitalised with a shot which stretched the allotment 'keeper.
Collinson struggled to deal with a 60th minute long range shot, but saved the rebound bravely and took a knock for his troubles. The game was end to end at this point, and more goals looked likely.
Healy and Fletcher brought them selves on for the final few minutes, but West nearly scored on 80 minuteswith a low shot which struck the outside of the post. On 82 minutes a Collinson clearance was charged down and rebounded back past the 'keeper, and although it broke to West, Collinson recovered.
Yalcin hit a beautiful low shot on 83 minutes which the 'keeper saved diving to his right. Three minutes later a clip over the defence found Parkin in space but his shot from eight yards was dragged wide with only the 'keeper to beat.
2nd Half: Parkin shoots wide Picture (c) FILMAR Photography
Time was up when Bishops scored for a second time, but incredibly for the second time a fortnight, Bishops were denied a clear goal by an official's inability to look along a line. Ward rose to head the ball in off the underside of the bar. A West defender hacked the ball out from the back of the net, but the linesman deemed that the ball hadn't crossed.
The sense of injustice hung in the air, and when manager Brian Healy fired in a legitimate second on 92 minutes the points were surely heading Bishops way.
But a minute later West equalised from another corner. Healy was shown red on 95 minutes for retaliating after avoiding a flying elbow. The game finished seconds later, but the action did not. A difference of opinions after Andy Fletcher was head-butted saw the Bishops assistant manager join the manager with a red card for violent conduct. A West player also received his marching orders after the final whistle.
Another point, but having got so close and still further suspensions to come, the result was not a good one for Bishops.
2nd Half: Manager sees red Picture (c) FILMAR Photography