Northern League Division 1
18 April, 2009
Bishop Auckland 0 :
Team: Peter Jeffries, Martin Langley, Arjun Purewal, Paul Moss
(Craig Thorn 75mins), Steven West (Darren Richardson 57mins), Joe Fairish, Amar
Purewal, Joe Grant, Gavin Barton, Gavin Parkin, Mark Henson (Luke Gilbert HT)
Another big game, and more tough breaks as Bishops played their
penultimate home league game still clinging on to 19th place. With injuries and unavailability Paul Moss
and Steven West came back into the centre of defence and Joe Fairish and Mark
Henson started in midfield.
Bishops made the worst possible start when the ball was smashed
into Arjun Purewal’s face on the edge of the box. Hand ball was awarded and from the free kick
the ball was bashed into the net at the second attempt. 1-0 down after five minutes.
The first real chance at the other end came on 17 minutes when
Arjun Purewal clipped the ball into the area and Henson got too much on his
header from eight yards which went over the bar.
20 minutes on the clock and Bishops should have been level. A defensive error set up Barton clean on goal
but he pulled the shot wide of the right hand post with only the ‘keeper to
beat.
A cross from Amar Purewal on 22 minutes bounced up into a
defender’s arm, deflecting the ball away from Gavin Parkin at the far
post. Predictably, given our run in the
box this season, no penalty despite the obvious advantage.
Peter Jeffries made a good save with his feet on 29 minutes to
keep the score down.
Some great work from Joe Fairish and Amar Purewal on 38 minutes
with Purewal pulling over an excellent cross directly to Barton but he headed
fresh air from six yards with the goal at his mercy.
Bishops defence was fast asleep on 40 minutes when Nissan played
a short corner and with a free opportunity to cross, the ball was headed
against the bar, and a follow up header went over the top.
Joe Fairish missed a great chance on the stroke of half time
when Nissan ‘keeper Newton punched weakly to the midfielder on 25 yards from
goal, but his shot flashed just inches past the right hand post.
Luke Gilbert replaced Mark Henson at half time.
On 50 minutes Nissan’s Andrew Stephenson smashed Joe Grant to
the floor with a disgraceful tackle where the ball was superfluous to the
action. Grant needed some extensive
treatment. The yellow card received
seemed very lenient. Grant was barely
back on the pitch when Stephenson and Barton jumped for a high ball. The Nissan midfielder went down, and there
was general surprise in the ground when a free kick was awarded. Surprise
turned to complete shock when Barton was given a straight red for what looked
just like two players challenging for the ball.
Bishops had to go for the points, and Darren Richardson replaced
Steven West on 57 minutes.
Another decent handball shout in the Nissan area on 60 minutes
as Amar Purewal challenged for the ball but inevitably this wasn’t adjudged to
be worthy of a penalty.
A massive clearance up field from Jeffries broke to Darren
Richardson in front of goal on 61 minutes but he pulled his shot horribly wide.
Two good saves from Jeffries next, as Bishops pushed forward for
the equaliser, first on 63 minutes when he saved well with Nissan on a quick
break. Another decent save on 70 minutes
to pull away a cross, and the follow up flew high and wide.
Bishops substituted their second central defender on 75 minutes
with Thorn replacing Moss.
On 79 minutes the points were lost with a catastrophic
refereeing decision which cost Bishops a goal, and could well yet cost us a
place in Division 1. Amar Purewal
wriggled free of former Bishop Paul Collins and raced on goal. The defender fouled Purewal a number of times
and the referee busily waved play on before Collins finally grabbed him by the
shoulders and pinned him to the ground on the edge of the six yard box. No doubt that this had to be a red card, but
the referee ridiculously pulled play back to award a free kick an inch outside
the area, rather than the clear penalty.
The free kick came to nothing.
Nissan added a second on 82 minutes with Bishops pushing
forward.
All the bottom seven lost, so no change in the league, but the
pressure builds on the matches ahead.