Northern League Division 1
3 November 2007
Dunston Federation 1 : Bishop
Auckland 1
Team: Chris Porter, Liam
Bramley, Dominic Gamble, Kevin Dixon, Paul Crager, Jason Newall, Robbie Clarkson, Michael Coghlan,
Gavin Parkin, Neil Maddison (Andrew Gilbert 87mins), Darren Richardson
Bishops came close to grabbing a first victory at Dunston
but ultimately a draw was a fair result.
Michael Coughlan made his first start for two seasons as Bishops bade
farewell to Dale Mendum and Dane Wilson.
Dunston had the first good chance on 14 minutes and ‘keeper
Porter made a fine save, diving low to his left to keep the ball out.
Bishops first decent chance came on 25 minutes when Parkin
crossed. Maddison drew the two defenders
ten yards from goal and the ball evaded all three, bouncing to Richardson who
steadied himself before firing over the bar.
Dunston were on top for much of the first half and Porter
was again in action making a point blank save on 32 minutes. A minute later a mis-hit cross fell to a
Dunston midfielder who made the most of Porter’s challenge to win a
penalty. However Preen’s spot kick was
saved by Porter, diving to his right to push the ball out.
A minute later the unsuccessful penalty taker’s luck evened
out when back defending, Preen blocked a shot with his arm, knocking the ball
out for a corner. The linesman thought
the offence unintentional and the Fed survived.
Coghlan swung the corner in and the ball curled over the ‘keeper and
into the net off the inside of the far post to make it 1-0 to the visitors.
Bishops had a great chance to double the lead just after
half time when Richardson’s shot was well saved, the ball flying up into the
air and with the ‘keeper struggling the ball landed on the roof of the net.
Both sides missed chances as the minutes ticked on. First Dunston’s No.8 fired over from close
range. Then Newall shot straight at the ‘keeper
from
Dunston’s pressure was intensifying and the equaliser
finally came on 71 minutes when ex-Bishop Kevin Devine was left unmarked and
headed home despite Porter’s best efforts.
Dunston looked the more likely winners and with only three minutes left
Porter was again forced into a good save after a good dummy from Preen split
the Two Blues defence.
But it was Bishops who ended the game thinking what might
have been when Coghlan dinked a quickly taken free kick over the Fed defence to
Crager whose header hit the angle of post and bar.