Northern League Division 1

15 September, 2009

West Auckland 1 : Bishop Auckland 2

Bishop Auckland – Peter Jeffries / Arjun Purewal / Jake Richardson / Neil Wilkinson Paul Moss (Carl Robinson 74 mins) / Simon Ord (Joe Grant 60 mins) / Mark Henson / Steven Salvin / Wayne Gredziak / Daniel Lennon (Andrew Richardson 51 mins) / Gavin Parkin

Subs not used – Darren Richardson and Ryan Graham (goalkeeper)

West Auckland – Gareth Young / Jonathon Gibson / Kyle Anderson / Adam Gell / Matty Hyson / Richard Ward / Lewis Hardman / Kevin Dixon (Adam Croft 81 mins) / Anthony Hume / Martin Young / Stuart Irvine

Subs not used – Stephen Manson / David Manson / Kevin Bromley / Graham Kime

A sensational last couple of minutes saw the Bishop Auckland score twice to win the 103^rd Northern League Auckland Derby, the game hinged on two penalties that subsequently divided the teams. West Auckland managed by Brian Honour the previous Bishop Auckland boss and he fielded six former two blues players in his starting line up.

Bishop started brightly in the opening minutes with Mark Henson’s probing runs prominent in attack, West’s central defender Matty Hyson was booked in the 6^th minute for a clumsy challenge on Henson, and Wayne Gredziak took the resultant free kick from just outside the box though his shot was easily saved by Gareth Young.

West Auckland began to find their rhythm and were rewarded with the game’s opening goal in the 16^th minute, Martin Young’s unchallenged cross from the right found the unmarked Stuart Irvine whom skilfully turned two oncoming defenders inside out and clinically drove his powerful low drive into the far corner of the goal from 12 yards out. Two minutes later West nearly doubled their lead, Martin Young’s speculative 25 yard shot, bounced in front of Peter Jeffries whom could only parry the shot and he had to thank central defender Paul Moss who reacted instinctively to block the space right in front of goal and force Anthony Hume to shoot narrowly wide right in front of goal. West Auckland continued to control the game for the remainder of the 1^st half and the Bishop’s were limited in creating very few chances in what was a disappointing 1^st half for the Bishops.

Half Time – West Auckland 1 Bishop Auckland 0

Bishop started the 2^nd half on the attack, Henson drove just over the bar from 30 yards out, Gredziak came close with two attempts at goal, and Andrew Richardson replaced Daniel Lennon in the 51^st minute. More Bishop pressure a minute later, Salvin split the home defence with West keeper Young clearing the ball from the feet of the oncoming Gredziak whom had made up so much ground though his momentum carried him on and he was booked for his late challenge on the keeper, this one of eight bookings in the game. Immediacy on the counter attack Hardman weaved his way through the Bishop defence and passed to the unmarked Martin Young whose shot was well blocked by Jeffries and he gathered Young’s second strike at goal.

Simon Ord was replaced by Joe Grant in the 60^th minute and the youngster produced a magnificent performance that was the catalyst in what was to come as he was in the thick of the action, bossing the midfield and supported the attack at every opportunity. Andrew Richardson’s 63^rd minute right hand side free kick found Salvin whose header was punched clear by the on coming outstretched keepers hands. Three minutes later Kevin Dixon was booked for a challenge on Grant just outside the box. Andrew Richardson resultant free kick from the left to the far post found Salvin who in turn crossed to Gredziak though the centre forward could not find enough power in his header which went straight to the keeper.

West keeper Gareth Young was again called into action moments later, Grant robbed Dixon to find Gavin Parkin on the left, who beat his marker to find the unmarked Gredziak at the front post and his powerful downward header was brilliantly saved by the keeper’s right hand two yards out.

In a rare West attack, Hardman pumped a high ball into the Bishops penalty area, Moss was adjudged climbed all over Martin Young and the referee awarded West a penalty in the 69^th minute. Crucially the turning point of the game as Hume blasted the penalty well and truly over the cross bar.

Two minutes later Jonathon Gibson felled Parkin and was booked, the free kick taken by Andrew Richardson was blocked and he saw his second attempt saved by the keeper. Moments later Andrew Richardson again involved in the action as his cross caught out the home defence with Salvin evading his marker though the Bishops captain saw his header flash wide across the face of the goal.

Bishops continued to dominate and forge ahead for the equaliser, in the 82^nd minute, Neil Wilkinson’s long throw to the front post found Gredziak whom had timed his run to perfection in a crowded goalmouth though headed just wide.

More determined pressure from the Bishops saw Salvin and Gredziak go agonizingly close though the Bishops were rewarded with a deserved equaliser in the 88^th minute as defender Arjun Purewal shrugged off his marker to drive home from 8 yards out in amongst a crowed goalmouth.

Bishop sensing West’s despair continued to attack, Salvin tried to thread a shot on the blind side of the keeper which was deflected for a corner. Parkin floated the resultant corner to the edge of the box, Grant left the ball for Henson whose volley was handled by the unlucky Hardmen deep inside the crowded penalty box and the referee awarded a 90^th minute penalty which was converted by Salvin to the jubilant celebrations of the Bishop players, supporters and the bench for this was Bishop’s first league win of the season and lifts the club out of the bottom three.

Final Score – West Auckland 1 Bishop Auckland 2

Stuart Irvine 16 mins Arjun Purewal 88 mins

Steven Salvin 90 mins

Bookings –

Matty Hyson 12 mins Arjun Purewal 35 mins

Martin Young 23 mins Wayne Gredziak 52 mins

Kevin Dixon 66 mins Neil Wilkinson 75 mins

Lewis Hardman 68 mins

Jonathon Gibson 71 mins

Fixtures and Results