Northern League Division 1

5 March 2008

 

Bishop Auckland 1 : Durham City 2

 

 

Team:  Peter Keen, Lee Foster, Dominic Gamble, Luke Ball, Paul Moss (Martin Langley 13mins), Paul Crager, Joe Fairish, Lee Ellison (Bryan Campbell 70mins) Gavin Parkin, Carl Chillingsworth, Andrew Harrison (Gus DiLella 46mins)

 

Bishops almost grabbed a point with a positive late show at Dean Street left Durham City desparately running the clock down to hang on to the win that consolidates their top spot.  Results elsewhere left Bishops just goal difference outside the relegation places.

 

Paul Moss lasted just over ten minutes before being replaced by Martin Langley after a recurrance of his hamstring injury.

 

In an even first half Durham made the first decent chance which was blocked by a defender, then on 14 minutes Joe Fairish’s chip beat the stranded ‘keeper Caffrey but was hooked off the goalline by a recovering defender.

 

Peter Keen pulled off a fantastic flying save on 37 minutes to keep the scores level, and Caffrey was lucky to survive spilling a high ball which fell over his head but the ‘keeper was again saved by his covering defenders.

 

The injured Andrew Harrison was replaced by Gustavo DiLella at half time.

 

Durham took the lead on 53 minutes when John Toft was allowed to turn and his speculative shot from just outside the area flew into the top corner.   A minute later, Peter Keen palmed a close range shot over the bar to keep Bishops in the game.

 

The lead was doubled on 73 minutes when Keen saved low, but Richardson turned in the rebound, and that looked to be that.

 

Keen was forced into another low save on 80 minutes before Bishops late charge.  Paul Crager joined the forwards up front and Bishops had a go for it.

 

Durham tried to run the clock down by kicking the ball away, making substitutions and taking the ball to the corner flag.  Bishops attacked, and got some reward when Carl Chillingsworth won the ball on the right and crossed.  DiLella miscontrolled the ball before firing in a shot which found the top corner.

 

Inevitably there was one further chance for the blues when Crager attacked the ball down the left wing and crossed to Parkin who turned, spun and shot from a tight angle.  The ball hit Caffrey and deflected inches wide of the post, and that was that.

 

 

 

 

Fixtures and Results