Northern League Division 1
14 March, 2009
Billingham Synthonia 3 : Bishop Auckland 3
Team: Peter Jeffries, Martin Langley, Arjun Purewal, Luke
Gilbert (Adam Strong 60mins), Steven West (Kyle Anderson 75mins), Paul Moss, Gavin
Parkin, Stephen Salvin, Gavin Barton, Joe Grant, Craig Thorn (Amar Purewal 60
mins)
Another windy Saturday in
Billingham. Bishops this week travelled to Synthonia’s
Bishops made a great start and on two minutes a defensive error
let in Barton but he was forced wide enough to limit the damage to a cross
which was hacked clear.
Two minutes later and it was Bishops defence struggling as West
underhit a backpass but Jeffries saved the shot at close range.
Six minutes into the game and Bishops took the lead. A deep free kick was brought down in the area
by Arjun Purewal who fired home with ‘keeper Escritt rooted to the spot.
Bishops were penned back in their own half for much of the
remainder of the half with Synthonia looking dangerous down the wings, but
Bishops did defend well. On 25 minutes a
curling cross was toed by West which was just enough to force Magowan to head
wide.
Gilbert won a header on 35 minutes which set up Barton, but the
prolific striker blazed wide with only the ‘keeper to beat.
Just when it looked like Bishops would hold out until half time,
a deep cross found Yale who first home at the first attempt. The half time whistle blew immediately
after. 1-1.
The second half started with Bishops again on the back foot. On 51 minutes a surging run from Salvin
relieved the pressure and won a corner, but it came to nothing.
The match exploded on 54 minutes when West was penalised for a
foul 25 yards from goal. As the players
lined up for the kick, Magowan elbowed West in the face. The referee saw the offence and immediately
issued a red card. After a long period
of treatment, West was required to leave the field. Before he was allowed to come back on Yale
powered the free kick into the net.
A double substitution on the hour as
Amar Purewal and Adam Strong came on to replace Thorn and Gilbert.
Bishops were level on 65 minutes as Amar Purewal knocked over a
corner for West to head home for 2-2.
With 15 minutes to go Kyle Anderson replaced West
and a minute later he played a ball over the top of the Synthonia defence which
Barton raced on to and hit home from eight yards to give Bishops the lead
again.
However, on 81 minutes Synthonia equalised when Stephen Salvin
inadvertently headed into his own net from a Synthonia corner.
So, honours even and opinions divided as to whether this was a
point gained or two points lost.