Northern League Division 1

4 March, 2009

Bishop Auckland 2 : Chester le Street 2

Team: Peter Jeffries, Arjun Purewal, Kyle Anderson, Joe Grant, Martin Langley, Paul Moss, Amar Purewal, Stephen Salvin, Gavin Barton, Gavin Parkin, Craig Thorn (Adam Strong 63mins)

A quick return fixture with Chester le Street after late February’s thrashing at Chester Moor. With Darren Richardson suspended for March, manager Colin Myers introduced new signing Craig Thorn to the starting line up with Arjun Purewal replacing Steven West in defence. The game was played on a crisp evening with the occasional snowflake spiralling down in the Darlington Road floodlights.

Bishops opened strongly and Parkin had a close range effort blocked by Carmichael in the Chester goal. The ball bounced out for a corner but the flag kick was cleared comfortably.

There were no further chances at either end before Chester took the lead on 26 minutes when a left wing corner was headed home by Robert Draper.

Bishops were back on top after that setback and a defensive error on 30 minutes handed Parkin another decent chance when he wriggled the ball through a defender and tried to round the ‘keeper but Carmichael managed to get a hand on the ball and the danger was gone.

Two minutes later and Gavin Barton played a great ball forward to the charging Salvin who placed a shot inches wide of the right hand post.

The only booking of the night came on 35 minutes. Gredziak sharpened his elbow against another Bishops skull and Craig Price picked up the yellow for protesting.

A good start to the second half and Bishops started to build some pressure. Arjun Purewal won the ball near the corner of the 18 yard box and squared for Salvin who fired a strong shot just over the bar.

Bishops were level on 59 minutes. Bishops attacked in numbers and Amar Purewal pushed the ball past the last defender for Barton to race on to. The striker calmly rounded the ‘keeper and slotted home for his tenth league goal of the season.

Adam Strong replaced the tiring Craig Thorn on 63 minutes as Bishops pushed for the win.

On 65 minutes Bishops took the lead. Kyle Anderson ran down the left wing and lifted in a deep cross which the unmarked Barton hit first time. The shot was well struck, but Carmichael got an elbow to it, but the ball crawled goalwards and squirmed over the line for 2-1.

Three minutes later and Bishops were unlucky not to extend the lead. Strong won the ball wide on the right and hit a low cross which defender Andrew Armstrong somehow scooped over the bar from his position facing goal six yards out.

Bishops looked secure at the back, and strong up front, but couldn’t grab the cushion of a third goal. On 84 minutes Parkin beat the fouls and cut the ball in from the goalline but Strong’s shot was well saved. A minute later and Barton produced a great shot which Carmichael saved at full stretch.

With just two minutes to go, Chester grabbed an equaliser when they broke down the left and the low cross evaded the defence and Anthony Watson had the easy task of tapping home.

Two points dropped, but a good point gained which lifts Bishops off the foot of the table for the first time in months. Saturday’s game at Billingham Town is another big one.

Fixtures and Results