Northern League Division 1
4 April, 2009
Bishop Auckland 1 : Seaham Red Star 0
Team: Peter Jeffries, Arjun Purewal, Steven Bland, Martin
Langley, Steven West, Joe Grant, Joe Fairish (Luke Gilbert 73mins), Steven
Salvin, Gavin Barton (Adam Strong 45+6mins), Gavin Parkin, Amar Purewal
More selection difficulties, but Steven Bland came in for his
debut with Martin Langley, Steven West and Joe Fairish returning to the
starting line up. The match was played
on a breezy afternoon on a hard and bobbly pitch which made good football
difficult.
The first moment of note was a nasty injury to ex-Bishop Paul
Griffith who sustained a leg injury which resulted in him being stretchered off
the pitch, and an ambulance called.
The match continued but it was a scrappy affair. There were no real chances at either end, and then the arrival of the ambulance resulted
in a delay of nearly 20 minutes as the vehicle travelled across the pitch and
parked near the stand to receive the patient.
By the time a Seaham forward bounced off Peter Jeffries
requiring still more treatment time we had racked up well over 20 minutes of
added time.
Still in the first half, but in the 50th minute Joe
Fairish fired in a long free kick which almost caught out ‘keeper Moody at the
back post, but he scrambled back to touch the ball out for a corner.
In the 57th minute Adam Strong, on for the injured
Gavin Barton a few minutes earlier, pressurised Moody into scuffing a clearance
to Parkin who shot from 25 yards but missed the goal with defenders rushing
back to cover the line.
The first half ended after 69 minutes.
Ten iminutes into the second half and Bishops direct style was
working best with the elements. The ball
was clipped over the defence for an advancing Fairish but he pulled the shot
badly. A half clearance was edged to
Strong but his shot was blocked.
A minute later and Amar Purewal spun in the box to fire in a low
shot which Moody did well to save and gather at the second attempt.
Seaham had their best chance on the hour when an inviting cross
was headed by Martin Langley just over his own bar.
Joe Fairish was booked for a late challenge on the ‘keeper when
he tried to chase down a through ball but just arrived after the Moody had
gathered the loose ball.
On 70 minutes some great interplay between Strong, Parkin and
Fairish saw the ball returned to Strong at the far post but he failed to
control the cross and the ball dropped out for a goal-kick.
Inevitably given the difficult nature of the pitch, a mistake
arrived on 73 minutes when two Seaham defenders attacked the ball 35 yards from
goal. The ball was sliced to Strong who
raced onwards before slotting the ball past Moody from 15 yards. 1-0.
Bishops continued to press in the final 20 minutes and with
better shooting could have added to their single goal lead. Both Amar Purewal and Adam Strong both blazed
over from good positions.
Jeffries dealt with what little Seaham had to offer, but the
final whistle was still greeted with some relief. The result lifts Bishops off the foot of the
table and into 20th position.