2006/7 Northern League Division 1
Darlington RA 1 : Bishop Auckland 4
13 January, 2007
Team: Chris Porter, Steven Larkin, Steven Baynes, Paul Collins, Nicky Mohan, Richie Ward (Dale Mendum 62 mins), Joe Fairish, Richie Storr, Jamie Clarke (Andrew Fletcher 86 mins), Gavin Parkin, Paul Campbell
Not for the first time, Bishops played well against the elements at Brinkburn Road to comfortably defeat a Darlington RA side which looked a shadow of the one that fought so hard at Dean Street three months ago.
Without the influential midfielders Yalcin and Stewart, Bishops were at least able to welcome back Jamie Clarke and the striker's great finishing allowed Bishops to stroll to their first double of the season.
With the win at their backs, Bishops were unable to make much headway in the first half. Storr tried a couple of long range shots early on, and also had a confident penalty shout turned down, but RA broke up the game with a series of "injuries", and there were also some long delays as balls were retrieved from nearby roads, gardens and the adjacent cricket pitch.
The RA 'keeper had a couple of lucky escapes when he first saved a weak Larkin shot with his face, and a low Parkin shot with an outstretched boot. Clarke was also a yard off target with a lob from 25 yards from a tight angle. The only goal came when Clarke broke down the right and stretched to cut the ball back into the area. The ball fell to Parkin who finished clinically from 12 yards on 25 minutes.
Despite being against the strong wind, Bishops played much better in the second half and were unlucky not to add to their lead on 50 minutes when Storr's header from a corner bashed against the post and rebounded to safety.
Another corner on 55 minutes saw Clarke head home, beating a defender on the line with a decent header.
Five minutes later, Clarke beat the offside trap and raced on to fire in an inch perfect shot which went in off the inside of the far post.
After a series of challenges in the box, Darlington RA were awarded a soft looking penalty on 71 minutes which was fired down the middle to narrow the lead to 3-1. However, there was no sign of a revival from the home side. Bishops supporters even had to ironically celebrate the RA goal, as it was greeted with a funereal silence.
Clarke was unlucky not to complete his hat-trick on 79 minutes when he met a dipping cross with a first time volley which crashed against the underside of the bar. The 'keeper was lucky to see the ball come down, hit him on the back, and roll to safety. However, Clarke's third strike came on 85 minutes when Campbell touched the ball through to the prolific striker who clipped an expert lob into the net for his ninth in nine league games for the Two Blues.