Northern League Division 1
22 August, 2009
Billingham Synthonia 3 :
Bishop Auckland 1
Team: Andrew Stocks, Arjun Purewal, Liam Clough (Carl Robinson
70mins), Christopher Lawson, Neil Wilkinson, Joe Grant, Mark Henson, Stephen
Salvin, Wayne Gredziak, Daniel Lennon (Adam Strong 90mins), Darren Richardson
(Gavin Parkin 69mins)
Bishops introduced young inexperienced goalkeeper Andrew Stocks to the team to cover for the suspended Peter Jeffries in what turned out to be a difficult afternoon. Neil Wilkinson was available to make his first start with Darren Richardson also coming into the side and Liam Clough reverting to his usual position in defence. Amar Purewal’s injury left Lennon and Gredziak up front as Bishops reverted to a 4-4-2 formation.
A bad start when on eight minutes a high ball into deep into the area saw Bishops ‘keeper Stocks fail to collect the ball under extreme pressure from the Synthonia forwards. Hollingsworth headed the loose ball against the face of the bar but it rebounded straight back onto his head and back into the net.
The next chance on 17 minutes fell to Bishops with Henson firing in a 25 yard shot which swerved wide of the right hand upright with Porter beaten.
Bishops were level on 31 minutes. The move started on the left when Darren Richardson was hacked to the ground the ball fell to Salvin who slotted a pass which Gredziak dummied and Henson picked up the ball on the right just inside the area. Initially it seemed to get stuck under the midfielders feet, but despite this he hammered it past Porter to make it 1-1.
It should have been 2-1 after 34 minutes when a Henson free kick from out near the right hand corner flag found Salvin on the near post but Bishops captain failed to direct his header on target.
On the stroke of half time Wilkinson chipped the ball over
the defensive line and Gredziak crossed from the right. The ball was partially cleared but only to
There were danger signs on the hour when Stocks hesitated before advancing on a punt over the top. Eventually the ‘keeper did well to force the forward wide before saving with his feet.
However, Synthonia did take the lead on 67 minutes when Earl capitalised on some indifferent defending and fired in a low shot which disappointingly flew in at the near post. 30 seconds later and the same player latched onto a hump over the top and chipped home to make it 3-1.
Parkin replaced Darren Richardson on 69 minutes and Liam Clough limped off a minute later to be replaced by Carl Robinson.
Bishops needed a goal back desperately, but it wouldn’t come. 73 minutes and Lennon set up Pakin but Porter held onto his low shot from a tight angle.
77 minutes and Lennon fired in a shot which Porter fumbled horribly, but the ball fell kindly for the former Bishop.
With five minutes left, Gredziak chipped and chased the ball over the top but his shot hit Porter’s knees.
A minute later Grant made a surging run but as he attempted to round Porter but the ball somehow stuck under the ‘keeper’s feet.
So, a tough start to the season and with