Northern League Division 1
17 January, 2009
Bishop Auckland 1 : Consett
1
Team: Chris Porter, Gus Di Lella, Kyle Anderson, Kevin Dixon,
Arjun Purewal, Martin Langley, Stephen Salvin, Joe Fairish, Gavin Barton, Amar Purewal, Mark Robinson (Darren
Richardson 82mins)
After Wednesday’s performance, the visit of Consett was met with
some trepidation. Manager
A grey afternoon and not a great start as Consett carved out a
first minute chance which Porter saved. The visitors had the benefit of a strong
breeze in what was looking like being a long first half.
However, Bishops were in the game and on eight minutes Robinson
fired in a deep cross which Fairish sliced well wide.
On ten minutes Consett were awarded a free kick on the edge of
the area. The kick was blocked by the
wall and cleared to Robinson who raced up the field. He ignored a much better placed Amar Purewal
and put in a weak shot which bobbled into the side netting.
Bishops were defending without any real scares, and some tough
tackling and spirited midfield performances were giving Consett some issues in
the soft centre of the park.
Another free kick to Consett on 32 minutes which was curled just
wide of the far post. A minute later and
Bishops best chance of the game to date when the inspirational Fairish chipped
the ball over to Barton who turned well but his shot was weak and comfortably
saved by Gilmore.
On 40 minutes Di Lella clipped in a cross which Barton prodded
just wide of the post. Seconds before
the half time whistle ex-Bishop Michael Coulthard curled a 20 yard shot just
wide of the far post with Porter struggling.
An excellent first half performance, and with the advantage of
the elements, hopes were high for the second half.
Bishops were on the attack from the start of the second
half. On 49 minutes Amar Purewal should
have done better when he blazed wide when clear in on goal. Two minutes later and another chance
squandered. A deep cross was headed back
across goal by Arjun Purewal but his brother failed to react when the ball flew
past him with the goal wide open.
54 minutes and Kevin Dixon went past his man thirty yards from
goal before advancing and firing in a good shot which the ‘keeper spilled. Not for the first time, and certainly not for
the last time, the custodian was lucky to find the ball spinning back into his
arms at the second attempt.
On the hour and another fantastic chance for Bishops to take the
lead.
Ten minutes later and Fairish put a free kick into a crowded
box. Gilmore punched the ball up and
into the wind which blew the spinning sphere back over his head, but a defender
was on hand to hack it onto the post and it rebounded out.
Consett had a couple of half chances but Porter seemed to be in
the right position for every one.
75 minutes and Amar Purewal beat his man to the right of the 18
yard box and blasted a near post shot which Gilmore saved with his wrist.
The goal finally came on 77 minutes. A corner evaded all the Bishops players in
the box but Consett’s defender tried to dribble the ball out. Barton dispossessed him on the edge of the
area before turning and firing a shot which nestled in the top left hand corner
of the net.
Consett turned up the pressure and with nothing to lose threw
everyone forward. Bishops were still
defending well but on 83 minutes Moffatt beat the defence and fired in across
Porter and into the far corner to make it 1-1.
A tough final few minutes but Bishops held on for a point which
was the minimum they deserved.