2006/7 Northern League Division 1
Bishop Auckland 4 : Jarrow Roofing 2
25 November, 2006
Team: Chris Porter, Steven Larkin, Max Applegarth, Richie Ward, Nicky Mohan, Scott Nicholson, Paul Campbell, Levent Yalcin (Brian Healy 89 mins), Jamie Clarke, Richie Storr (Gavin Parkin 61 mins), Bryan Stewart (Dale Mendum 74 mins)
Bishops picked up a comfortable three points at home to Jarrow Roofing, but how they managed to only score four goals in this one sided affair remains a mystery.
The match was given the go-ahead just before lunchtime but the pitch was very muddy for this first encounter between the teams in the Northern League.
Bishops took an early lead when Storr broke free on the left and pushed the ball across to Jamie Clarke who ignored the lazy defender and stroked the ball home to make it 1-0 in the 8th minute.
1st Half: Bryan Stewart on the charge Picture (c) FILMAR Photography
Jarrow had a "goal" ruled out for off-side on 15 minutes and Porter was called into action on 29 minutes with a diving catch from a free-kick by Hodgson.
On 34 minutes Bishops were two ahead when Yalcin ran solo through the centre of the park and beat three attempted tackles before firing home under the 'keeper's body from the edge of the area.
A minute later the ball ran to Clarke whose shot was well saved by the busy Carmichael. Jarrow fired the ball up the field and immediately had the Bishops defence stretched and passed the ball around to create the opportunity to narrow the gap to 2-1.
1st Half: Jamie Clarke unstoppable again Picture (c) FILMAR Photography
Stewart should have increased Bishops lead on 39 minutes when he missed a regulation one-on-one firing over the advancing 'keeper and the bar. Stewart chose to shoot again on 45 minutes from a tight angle, ignoring players in the middle, and had the shot blocked by the 'keeper's legs.
Bishops had superiority in the first half, but totally dominated the second. The first chance came on 48 minutes. Clarke beat his man and curled a shot over the 'keeper's head, but the ball was headed away by a fast retreating defender for a corner.
1st Half: Richie Storr takes a breather Picture (c) FILMAR Photography
The corner was swung in, and a low shot was somehow deflected over the bar by the sprawling 'keeper. The follow up corner was headed clear to Yalcin who powered in a 25 yard shot into the top corner of the net with the 'keeper rooted in the goalmouth mud.
On 57 minutes there was some incredible pinball in the Jarrow box with Campbell and Storr unable to get a clean strike on the ball from the edge of the six yard box. Storr was replaced by Parkin soon after.
Parkin had an amazing five seconds on 65 minutes when the ball broke to him inside the six yard box. His shot was saved by a leg, but the ball rolled to the striker again. Parkin's follow up shot was blocked by the 'keeper giving a third chance to the same player who again hit his shot well but found the 'keeper unbeatable. The rebound from this third chance was fired goalwards again by Mohan but the ball was hacked clear by a defender.
Clarke scored his second on 70 minutes with a perfectly weighted lob over the advancing 'keeper to make it 4-1.
Chanced continued to come, and on 75 minutes Parkin's flicked header was spilled by the 'keeper but into the side netting. A minute later, Mendum saw a decent opportunity blocked also from close range.
Jarrow pulled a goal back on 85 minutes. There was so little celebration when the goal was scored that it took some time to actually establish that it was in fact a goal. Even the referee had to consult his assistant who had been flagging for offside throughout much of the move, but the goal was given regardless of this trivial detail.
Yalcin was replaced by Healy on 89 minute to great applause for his fine two strikes and the team followed soon after to extend the unbeaten home run to nine games.