Northern League Division 1
24 January, 2009
Team: Chris Porter, Gus Di Lella (Gavin Parkin 55mins), Kyle
Anderson, Kevin Dixon, Arjun Purewal, Martin Langley, Stephen Salvin, Joe
Fairish, Gavin Barton, Amar Purewal,
Mark Robinson
An unchanged Bishop Auckland side took on Benfield for the
second time in a fortnight in this first away game of 2009.
The first half was a lifeless affair. Bishops defended resolutely, and on their
rare opportunities at the other end failed to create much of note.
Benfield took the lead as a result of the first of a hat trick
of controversial and frankly wrong decisions by the referee each of which had a
direct impact on the result of the game.
Arjun Purewal jumped for a header on 19 minutes and slipped on
landing. The defender was on the floor
when a Benfield player fell over him and was gifted a ridiculous free kick on
the edge of the area. The problem was
compounded when the referee advised Bishops to organise their defences whilst
allowing a quick kick to be taken which was fired home by Lumsden as Bishops
looked on incredulously.
Porter’s only other activity of the first half was a low save on
32 minutes when a deep cross was headed down towards the back post but the
‘keeper was up to the challenge.
Both Bishops best opportunities of the first half came within
seconds of each other. Both involved
waist high crosses from Amar Purewal.
The first flew across the six yard box without anyone being able to get
on the end of the chance. The second was hooked clear by a Benfield defender
with Barton in a dangerous position on the far post.
The insipid first half gave way to a spirited second half. Bishops should have been level on 50 minutes
when Amar Purewal was fed in with a well slotted pass from Barton but Amar’s
one on one opportunity was saved. The
ball flew out to Barton whose follow up from 12 yards clipped the back of a
covering defender’s calf and spun agonisingly wide of the post.
Captain Stephen Salvin pinged a fierce shot on 51 minutes which
whizzed inches over the bar. Bishops
were back in the game.
Gavin Parkin came on for Gus Di Lella on 55 minutes as Bishops
went for the points.
A good move on 62 minutes when Fairish clipped a pass to Parkin
who fired low but the shot was comfortably saved.
The match looked over after 70 minutes when Benfield No.9 headed
home a corner from close range in a crowded six yard box.
Two minutes later and Bishops should have been back into the
game. Salvin with the ball at his feet
just outside the box pushed the ball through the advancing Benfield defensive
line and was running through straight on goal when scythed down 15 yards from
goal. A clear penalty which the referee
inexplicably missed. To compound his
error he then showed Salvin a yellow card.
The breakthrough came on 80 minutes when another good ball from
Fairish found Parkin goal-side and the striker slotted the ball under the
advancing ‘keeper’s body for his first goal since Bonfire Night.
Bishops were putting their hosts under real pressure and Parkin
almost scored the equaliser on 85 minutes when his shot from a tight angle
drifted just wide of the far post.
Approaching full time and Bishops continued to press. Porter was up front for a corner on 90
minutes which ultimately came to nothing, and another corner was won in injury
time so the ‘keeper wandered up again.
Bishops had nine men in a very crowded area when the ball was drifted
over. The ‘keeper spilled the cross with
men of both sides surrounding him and Parkin lashed the ball home for what
would have been a deserved equaliser but the referee awarded a free kick for a
push which only he saw.
A good second half performance which built on last week’s draw
with Consett, and without the three key decisions going against would have added
to their points total.
Morpeth on Tuesday will hopefully give another opportunity to
start a climb up the league.