FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round

15 August 2009

 

Hall Road Rangers 2 : Bishop Auckland 6

 

Team: Peter Jeffries, Chris Killeen, Arjun Purewal, Chris Lawson, Neil Wilkinson (Andrew Richardson 57mins), Joe Grant, Mark Henson, Stephen Salvin, Wayne Gredziak, Amar Purewal (Adam Strong 72mins), Daniel Lennon (Gavin Parkin 62mins)

 

Bishops made a first visit to Dene Park to play Northern Counties side Hall Road Rangers in the Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup.  The day saw a series of rain showers, but by the time the match kicked off the weather was hot, sunny and a little breezy.  The match turned out to be a spectacular end to end encounter full of chances for both sides.

 

The home side made the early breakthrough when on four minutes McGarry was allowed to progress unchallenged before looping a speculative long range shot over Peter Jeffries and into the top right hand corner of the net.

 

However, after this early setback Bishops were soon back on level terms.  A low corner from Henson found its way to the back post and Salvin slotted the ball home from ten yards through a sea of legs on the goal line.  1-1.

 

On 20 minutes Hall Road had a great chance to re-take the lead when a low cross troubled the defence but was fired wide at the far post.  From the resulting goal kick the ball was swiftly cleared up field.  Daniel Lennon flicked a header into the path of Amar Purewal who took his time before slotting the ball past the ‘keeper for 2-1.

 

Hall Road missed another good chance on 22 minutes when some weak marking from a corner allowed a free header which flew just over the bar.

 

The next chance was a the other end when Amar Purewal curled a tantalising cross which Salvin stretched towards but was just unable to direct the ball goalwards.

 

Another chance for Bishops on 29 minutes when the home ‘keeper left the box to tackle a rampaging Gredziak.  The ball was partially cleared to Henson who chipped it over the stranded ‘keeper but unfortunately over the unguarded net.

 

The next chance fell to Amar Purewal with a routine ball over the home defence but the striker arrived just too late to deliver the final touch.

 

On 36 minutes it was 3-1.  Another corner and Arjun Purewal gained control of the ball before having a couple of close range shots blocked.  From the second the ball bounced to his brother Amar who side-footed powerfully into the net.

 

1st Half:  Purewals team up for Bishops third goal

 

An excellent first half of football, but with both defences looking suspect, there were clearly going to be more goals in the second half.

 

Hall Road should have been back in the game on 47 minutes.  Neil Wilkinson tumbled chasing his man, leaving Chris Lawson exposed and he conceded a clear cut penalty with a foul just inside the area.  Paul Palmer’s spot kick was well struck and heading for the bottom right hand corner, but Jeffries leapt full length to push the shot past the post.

 

2nd Half:  Jeffries dives to save a Rangers penalty

 

Just a couple of minutes later the game was effectively over as Henson clipped over a free kick and Arjun Purewal glanced a header just inside the far post to make it 4-1.

 

Amar Purewal missed a great chance for a hat-trick on 52 minutes when he lobbed a one-on-one chance just over the bar.

 

55 minutes and the goal of the game as Gredziak was felled on the edge of the 18 yard box.  Henson set up the ball for the free kick and unleashed a thunderbolt which blazed straight into the net for 5-1.

 

2nd Half:  Henson blazes in Bishops fifth

 

Andrew Richardson replaced the injured Neil Wilkinson on 57 minutes.

 

Chances came thick and fast.  Salvin scored on 61 minutes when his header glanced off the post and over the line, but a Rangers defender hooked the ball back out from the back of the net, and the officials failed to notice.

 

Gavin Parkin replaced Lennon on 62 minutes.  The striker came close on 65 minutes with a dipping volley which just missed the target.  Gredziak fired in a shot on 71 minutes which missed the goal but nearly uprooted a tree just behind the goal.

 

2nd Half:  Parkin challenges for the ball

 

Adam Strong replaced Amar Purewal on 72 minutes.

 

Gredziak set up Parkin to fire just wide on 78 minutes but the sixth goal came soon after when the home ‘keeper hit a goal kick straight to Adam Strong who knocked it back under his body for 6-1.

 

Paul Palmer fired in a consolation for Hall Road on 88 minutes with a low shot across the ‘keeper for 6-2.

 

Bishops play at Hebburn in the Preliminary Round in two weeks time.

 

 

 

Fixtures and Results