Northern League Division 1

11 August 2007

Durham City 2 : Bishop Auckland 1

Team: Chris Porter, Paul Crager, Michael Hillary, Paul Griffith, Craig Winter, Scott Richards, Bryan Stewart, James Crossman, Dane Wilson, Daryll Evans, Dale Mendum (Darren Richardson 78mins)

Bishops gave a good performance but ultimately fell just short against big spending Durham City. After some even early exchanges Durham took the lead when Andy Bowes headed home a twice taken corner. Porter’s brave diving attempt to save just parrying the ball into the inside of the side netting.

Bishops should have been level when Bryan Stewart broke from deep inside Bishops half to run up the right and deliver a pinpoint cross to the feet of the unmarked Evans who blazed over the bar 20 yards.

Another chance to the visitors on 27 minutes when Crossman fired a shot through a crowd of legs from the edge of the area and Mohan, last seen making a petulent half time exit from the Brewery Field in February 2006, blocked the shot well.

Stewart dribbled round three defenders to fire in a great shot across Mohan on 31 minutes but the keeper dived to his right to save well.

Bishops ascendancy in the final fifteen minutes of the half was stunted when Dane Wilson was kicked in the head, and the final five minutes of the half were played with a man short.

Durham were on top after the restart but Bishops weathered the storm until the home side were gifted a second goal. Jamie Clarke trod on the ball in the box and fell outrageously and inexplicably a penalty was awarded. Clarke converted this one easily to Porter’s left. Durham hit the bar on 63 minutes and it was starting to look like Bishops were beaten.

The ball was in Durham’s net on 71 minutes but Wilson’s final touch was with his hand so the goal was disallowed. But Bishops were back in it on 80 minutes when Richards was fouled in the area and he converted the penalty to make it 2-1.

Durham had another penalty on 84 minutes. Clarke went right again, but Porter beat the ball out.

Stewart had the only real chance to grab a point but failed to connect inside the six yard box but Durham hung on for the points.

Player of the Year Points:

Porter 9, Crager 8, Hillary 6, Winter 7, Griffith 8, Richards 7, Stewart 7, Crossman 6, Wilson 8, Evans 6, Mendum 7

Fixtures and Results