2006/7 Durham Challenge Cup Round 1
Consett 3 : Bishop Auckland 2 aet
18 October, 2006
Team: Jon Collinson, Paul Crager, Dan Newby, Paul Collins, Richard Ward, Joseph Fairish, Bryan Stewart, Levent Yalcin, Gavin Parkin, Paul Campbell, Dale Mendum (Andy Fletcher 111 mins)
A combination of injuries and work commitments deprived Bishops of the services of Baynes, Coad, Griffith, Healy, Larkin, Mohan, Newham, Scaife, Storr and Winspear for the switched Durham Challenge Cup tie at Consett which meant a first start of the season for Dale Mendum and returns to the side for Crager and Fairish.
Minutes before kick off a thick fog descended on Consett and obscured much of the Belle Vue ground. Visibility remained poor for much of the night, and on three occasions discussions were led to deterimine if the match would continue.
Consett opened strongly and missed a great chance on 5 minutes when an unmarked man headed over from ten yards at the far post. On 17 minutes, Collinson made a good save to his right to deny the Steelmen.
Bishops first real chance came on 27 minutes when Fairish broke through the gloom to fire a shot wide from just outside the box.
Consett took the lead on 36 minutes. From the far end, the only indication of a goal was that there was some gentle applause from the stand, and Bishops kicked off from the centre spot soon after.
On 40 minutes a good low shot from Yalcin produced a good save from Consett’s ‘keeper who also advanced to smother Mendum’s follow-up shot.
After a long delay at half time while Consett changed from their red shirts to a scruffy white kit, the second half was allowed to start.
Bishops were into their stride straight away, and on 47 minutes were level when Newby crossed for Parkin who controlled the ball and slotted it under the ‘keeper.
Five minutes later Bishops were ahead. Campbell crossed and the ball was deflected by a defender to Yalcin who calmly stroked the ball in from 15 yards.
The lead was short lived and on 64 minutes a deep Consett corner was headed home from the back post by an unmarked forward.
Consett almost took the lead on 75 minutes but Bishops finally managed to clear the goalmouth scramble. On 84 minutes Stewart crossed the ball hard into the area. The ball rebounded off Parkin but the fortunate ‘keeper was in the right place for the ball to hit his arm and bounce to safety.
Extra time saw Consett in the ascendancy as Bishops tired. Collinson made two vital contributions to keep the scores level when on 101 minutes he flew full length to his left to keep out a fierce shot, and on 106 minutes raced out of his area to head the ball away from a charging attacker. But the inevitable happened on 107 minutes when Bishops defence failed to deal with a corner and the ball found its way into the net at the second attempt.