Northern League Division 1

14 April 2007

 

Jarrow Roofing BCA 1 : Bishop Auckland 2

 

 

Team:  Chris Porter (Adam Clough 45mins), Paul Collins, Paul Crager, Craig Winter, Paul Griffith, Robbie Clarkson, Bryan Stewart, Lee Johnston, Daryll Evans, Gavin Parkin (Joe Fairish 67mins), Dale Mendum

 

Bishops completed their third “double” of the season, but had to do it the hard way, coming from behind and without a goalkeeper for the second half.

 

The away side had been in the ascendancy and Jarrow’s opening goal on 8 minutes was agains the run of play.  A free-kick into the danger area was fired home low to Porter’s right by Nelson.

 

Bishops continued to dominate play on a bumpy pitch but were unable to make the breakthrough during the first half.  On 14 minutes Evans had a good header saved, and the rebound fell to Mendum whose shot was also blocked.  Five minutes later, Evans fired in a deep cross to Clarkson whose sidefoot back across goal was deflected out for a corner.

 

On 21 minutes Mendum created space down the left and his cross beat goalkeeper Carmichael but hit the face of the bar and rebounded to safety.

 

Hopes were high for the second half, but only 21 players took to the field for the start of the second.  Bishops had no ‘keeper.  After a short delay, and some confusion, only the ‘keeper’s jersey emerged from the dressing room.  Porter was unable to continue after suffering a knee problem in the first half.  Griffith donned the gloves for the second consecutive game.

 

Despite this obvious  disadvantage Bishops were right in the game as the second half started.  Mendum crossed to Parkin’s feet on 49 minutes and the striker turned and shot low past the Roofing ‘keeper to make it 1-1.

 

A minute later substitute Clough crossed for Parkin whose looping header cleared the ‘keeper but hit the underside of the bar, bouncing down just in front of the line before being hacked to safety.  There was a third chance inside three minutes when Mendum’s curled cross bounced just wide of the far post.

 

Bishops were ahead on 55 minutes when Stewart anticipated a header back to the ‘keeper.  The ball fell into the gap, and Stewart kneed it over the advancing custodian and into the net to make it 2-1.

 

Parkin was again in the thick of the action on 60 minutes as Bishops looked to press home their advantage.  The striker flicked the ball over his marker on the corner of the box and raced on to lash a first time volley which Carmichael leapt to save.  The ‘keeper’s fingertip save pushed the ball onto the bar and out for a corner.

 

Griffith in the Bishops goal was having a relatively quiet time but he was called into action when Crager failed to deal with a high ball over the top.  The central defender dived spectacularly to his left to make the save and keep Bishops ahead.

 

After an inspirational 20 minutes, Parkin was injured challenging the ‘keeper and was down receiving treatment for some time.  Although he returned to the pitch briefly, he was replaced by Fairish on 67 minutes.

 

Stewart almost added a third with fifteen minutes remaining when he cut in from the right and shot low, but again the home ‘keeper made the save.

 

Under the circumstances a very useful three points against a team adjacent in the league.

 

 

Fixtures and Results