Northern League Division 1
7 November 2007
Bishop Auckland 1 : Shildon 2
Team: Nicky Farrell,
Liam Bramley, Dominic Gamble, Michael Coghlan, Paul Crager, Jason Newall,
Robbie Clarkson, Joe Fairish (Andrew Gilbert 90mins), Gavin Parkin, Ben Jackson
(Amar Purewal 58mins), Sean Joseph
Bishops somehow lost the groundshare derby, despite playing the final 30
minutes in the Shildon half. Nicky Farrell returned for his second
appearance of the season in goal with Chris Porter unavailable, and Sean Joseph
was introduced on the left side of midfield. Joe Fairish returned from suspension,
replacing the suspended Kevin Dixon.
Shildon made the early breakthrough when Gredziak lumbered into the box for a
free-kick which he deflected into the net over Farrell with a deft headed flick
on 15 minutes.
Parkin almost levelled immediately when he beat the 'keeper only to be flagged
offside as he was about to tap the ball into the unguarded net.
Sean Joseph looked dangerous down the right and put in a couple of decent
crosses, both of which evaded the forwards,
Shildon added a second on 56 minutes with their only attack of the second half.
A deep cross was misjudged by Farrell and his punch went straight to
Masters who sidefooted home into the open goal.
The introduction of Purewal to replace the quiet
Joseph won a free-kick on the edge of the area on 63 minutes. Coghlan's
initial shot was blocked by the wall, but the ball rebounded to the midfielder
who struck a steeply dipping volley which cannoned off the far post with Spence
beaten, and the ball bounced to safety.
Parkin was in the right place at the right time on 66 minutes and hit his shot
well as the ball came across the goal, but his six yard blast hit Spence in the
Shildon goal and he gathered at the second attempt. A foot either side and this surely would have been a goal.
Bishops were looking dangerous from a string of corners, and both Crager and
Newall were finding space for headers in the area, but without success. A
corner from the left on 78 minutes found Purewal
rising to head the ball over the bar from inside the six yard box.
Parkin again reacted well on 82 minutes when the ball was bouncing around in
the area, but again his shot hit the 'keeper when a ball either side of the
custodian would have narrowed the deficit.
Purewal was hacked down in the area on 83 minutes, but the referee had clearly
developed a high tolerance level after watching Shildon's robust play for the
duration, and waved play on.
A goal finally came on 86 minutes. Another free kick just outside the
box, from yet another Shildon foul, was curled over the wall. Keeper
Spence misjudged the shot and let the ball creep just inside the left hand
post. However, Bishops failed to create any further chances, and the away side
took the points.