Northern League Division 1

2 February 2007

Bishop Auckland 1 : West Auckland Town 4

Team: Chris Porter, Steven Larckin, Richie Ward, Paul Collins, Nicky Mohan, Richie Storr, Adam Clough (Joe Fairish 89 mins), Paul Campbell (Matthew Coad 89 mins), Jamie Clarke, Gavin Parkin, Lev Yalcin (Justin Hutchinson 45 mins)

Bishops made a good start to this game and were unlucky to be still level when Parkin beat the lumbering Bell to the ball, but his header was hacked off the line. A couple of half chances followed, but it was no real shock when a long punt over the top found the Bishops defensive line all at sea and a low cutback allowed ex-Bishops veteran Ellison to fire home from 10 yards.

Yalcin provided two half chances. First on 17 minutes he beat his man and fired in a fierce shot which was parried by Bell. Clarke was unable to force the rebound home from what turned out to be an offside position.

On 20 minutes Yalcin had another chance but rushed a shot and fired into the side netting.

Ellison made it 2-0 on 33 minutes with a drive which evaded Porter but it was the third goal which sealed Bishops downfall.

The ball was clearly punched into the net on 35 minutes, and in the disruption that followed Bishops ‘keeper Porter was sent off for disputing the decision. Midfielder Campbell took over in goal. Within five minutes Captain Storr was chopped by a shocking tackle, and still clearly incensed by the earlier dismissal, Storr lost his cool and joined Porter in the dressing room.

Hutchinson took over from Campbell in goal at half time. Surprisingly in the second half West sat back and allowed the nine man Bishops team to compete. Hutchinson was beaten only twice when the post was struck on the hour, and when a fourth goal was added on 80 minutes.

Clarke was unlucky not to win a penalty on 85 minutes when hacked down. In injury time, however, there was not option for the referee to award a penalty when Clarke was taken from the back after rushing past the final man. No red card this time ! But Clarke rolled the ball home to make it 4-1.

Fixtures and Results