Northern League Division 1

8 August, 2009

Billingham Town 2 : Bishop Auckland 1

Team: Peter Jeffries, Arjun Purewal, Liam Clough (Jake Richardson 60mins), Christopher Lawson (Chris Killeen 57mins), Paul Moss, Joe Grant, Mark Henson, Stephen Salvin, Wayne Gredziak, Amar Purewal, Gavin Parkin (Daniel Lennon 81mins)

Weather – hot sunny day

There was high drama even before a ball was kicked at Billingham Town’s newly named Rowneys Limited Arena Stadium, the goalposts and nets had been removed overnight to the astonishment of Town officials. Replacements were sourced though the acquired goal posts were of an unaccustomed grey colour which did camouflage with the perimeter sheeting directly behind both goals, the referee Mr Simon Clayton from Newton Aycliffe approved the replacements with no objections lodged from Bishop Auckland. The pitch looked in perfect condition though the grass was a shade long. Both sides fielded a number of new signings all making their debuts.

The Bishops kicked off the new season on the attack, Amar Purewal from the left wing weaved his way through the home defence only to see his drive from 10 yards out defected for a corner by an outstretched defender’s leg.

Billingham Town nearly opened the scoring after just two minutes, a long punt forward by goalkeeper Joshua Moody caught the Bishop’s defence out, as the lively unmarked Sean Kell managed to evade three Bishop defenders and was unlucky to see his 22 yard shot hit the bar. It was a feature of the 1^st half as the Bishop central defence struggled to cope with the long ball being floated over them which was backed up a winger on either side.

Bishop’s best move in the 1^st half came in the 5^th minute, excellent play by the Purewal brothers set up Wayne Gredziak whose header was brilliantly palmed away and fell to the feet of Gavin Parkin on the bye line, he passed across the face of goal to the oncoming Gredziak who unluckily blazed over the bar from 4 yards out though he was under pressure from two defenders.

The home side began to enjoy their best spell of the game in the middle of the 1^st half, on the half hour mark, Town captain Michael Dalton outpaced the Bishop defence on his breakaway run from the half way line only to be stopped by a well timed last ditch tackle by the young Joe Grant deep inside the Bishops penalty area. The Bishops came close to opening the scoring on the counter attack from the resultant corner, Amar Purewal linked up with Mark Henson whose shot from the edge of the box was tipped around the post by the agile Moody.

Disaster struck in the 37^th minute when Billingham Town deservedly took the lead. Ex Bishop winger Bryan Stewart tormented the Bishop defence, he picked out the unmarked Sean Kell deep inside the 6 yard box who in turn crossed to the unmarked Jonathan French and he easily headed home unchallenged giving keeper Peter Jeffries no chance. Four minutes later Stewart again combined with Kell whom dummied two defenders though narrowly shot wide from 15 yards.

Just before half time the Bishop’s against the run of play nearly equalised, Parkin’s diagonal pass found Amar Purewal on the left who volleyed across the face of the goal with Gredziak flying in though he was unable to fully connect with his outstretched foot.

Half Time – Billingham Town 1 Bishop Auckland 0

Wayne Gredziak’s persistence in closing down defenders nearly paid off in the 49^th minute, he robbed a defender and squared the ball to Parkin whose drive from the edge of the box was deflected for a corner by a desperate closing down outstretched Sean Boyton’s outstretched leg. The resultant corner saw yet another breakaway by Stewart whom ran at the stretched Bishop defence, picking out the unmarked Steven Baynes whose cross was slotted home by Kell in a breath taking move. Stewart came close to scoring himself on the hour mark, receiving the ball on the half way line he ran at the heart of the Bishop defence and created an opening for himself though brought to the ground by Killeen. Baynes floated the resultant free kick just wide from the edge of the penalty area.

Auckland Manager Colin Myers re-shuffled his defence taking off debutants Liam Clough and Christopher Lawson, replacing with Christopher Killeen and another debutant young Jake Richardson, Paul Moss reverting to the sweepers role. Killeen held French at bay, young Jake Richardson tracked Stewart and Joe Grant stayed tight Sean Kell. The Bishops got more and more into the game with the defence holding firm.

On 71 minutes, Town’s Howes gave away a free kick from 30 yards out, captain Dalton was booked for protesting the referee’s decision, the games only booking. Mark Henson throughout the game had passed well particularly with his diagonal passes, his clear free kick outwitted the home defence and aimed towards the unmarked Gredziak though the brave Moody raced out of his goal to collect the ball.

Seven minutes remaining Gredziak beat two defenders and passed to the unmarked Amar Purewal positioned just inside the penalty area, his turning strike hit the post and was cleared for a corner. In the 85^th minute Bishop’s third substitute Daniel Lennon tried his luck from 30 yards out firing over the bar, the Bishops continued to attack and were rewarded with a goal in the 88^th minute. Once again Amar Purewal involved in setting up the tireless hardworking Wayne Gredizak who deserved debutant goal by driving home just inside the Town area.

A vastly improved Billingham Town deserved their win though the Bishops could count themselves unfortunate in not sharing the points. There were some good individual Bishop performances and plenty of positives to take from the game, with in my opinion young Joe Grant the Bishops man of the match, his work rate was phenomenal as he just about covered every blade of grass on the field.

Billingham Town

1. Joshua Moody

2. Mark Osmond

3. Steven Baynes – replaced by 15 Chris Moore 89 mins

4. Sean Boynton

5. Martin Thompson

6. Shaun Howes – replaced by 12 Louis Whensley 72 mins

7. Bryan Stewart

8. Sean Kell

9. Jonathan French

10. Michael Dalton – captain

11. James Crossman

Subs not used

14. Lee Peachey

16. Charlie Gaffney

17. Anthony Abel

Fixtures and Results