Northern League Division 1
25 April 2007
Bishop Auckland 1 : Shildon 2
Team: Paul Griffith,
Adam Clough, Paul Crager, Paul Collins,
Daryll Evans, Paul Harvey, Joe Fairish, Robbie Clarkson (Scott Richards
73mins), Gavin Parkin, Lev Yalcin, Dale Mendum
A second midweek game of the week for Bishops and the
unavailability of all registered ‘keepers didn’t assist Peter Mulcaster’s
efforts to put a competitive side out against Shildon. Yalcin arrived back after a spell at
Griffith was immediately tested with a deep cross in the
early minutes which he collected at the second attempt but a second attempt
minutes later was cleanly taken and his confidence visibly grew.
Bishops Mendum had a decent shot deflected into the side
netting on eight minutes , but chances were few and
far between in the early exchanges.
After a brief delay during which a spectator was ejected
from the ground at the request of the referee Bishops were again on the attack
and on 35 minutes Joe Fairish fired over the bar from the edge of the area.
The score remained 0-0 after a disappointing first half.
Shildon opened the scoring early in the second half when
Emson took advantage of a weak clearance by
However, it was Bishops who made all the running in the
final third of the game. Mendum twisted
and turned twice before curling in a beauty past Spence on 63 minutes to make
it 2-1, and it was game on.
Mendum should have brought Bishops level on 71 minutes but
fired his one-on-one chance into Spence’s legs and the rebound high and wide.
Parkin almost scored with an angled drive with ten minutes
remaining which flew just a foot over the bar with the ‘keeper stranded. Bishops were piling on the pressure with some
sustained possession, although gaps were left at the back which Shildon tried
in vain to exploit.
Parkin fired home an “equaliser” from close range on 87
minutes but the “goal” was ruled out for offside, and despite their best
efforts Bishops were unable to grab the point their performance deserved.