Northern League Division 1
13 October, 2009
Bishop Auckland 1 :
Bishop Auckland – Peter Jeffries / Carl Robinson / Jonathan Stokell (Joe Grant 46 mins) / Allan Reid / Paul Moss / Simon Ord / Mark Henson / Stephen Salvin / Wayne Gredziak / Tyson Masters / Adam Emson (booked 90 mins)
Subs not used – Ryan Graham / Darren Richardson / Adam Strong / Jake Richardson
Billingham Town – Joshua Moody / Brian Fairurst / Steven Baynes / Daniel Wray / James Crossman / Graham Harrison (Nicholas Harrison 20 mins) / Sean Boynton (Louis Whensley 88 mins) / Stewart Bath / Sean Kell ( Jonathon French 78 mins)/ Shaun Clarke / John Maddison
Only one sub not used – John McKie
Allan Reid an Army Sergeant made his debut in the centre of defence in place of Neil Wilkinson whom had work commitments. A lacklustre Bishops were second best for most of the game and this was definitely a point gained. In a first half dominated by defences it was Billingham whom ran the show in midfield with Bishop striking on the counter-attack though few clear cut chances were created by both sides.
Bishop started the brighter in the opening minutes, Simon Ord in midfield swung a pass that was back headed by Wayne Gredziak on the edge of the box which Tyson Masters latched onto and his powerful shot from 12 yards out was beaten away by the keeper.
On eight minutes Ord tried his luck from 25 yards out though his dipping drive was straight at the keeper. Billingham settled into a rhythm controlling the midfield with intricate passing and movement off the ball. Notably Shaun Clarke causing the Bishops all sorts of problems linking up with John Maddison, Sean Kell and Graham Harrision though the Bishops defence held out stopping the critical through balls on numerous occasions.
Right on half time the Bishops sprung to life and created three decent chances. Town’s Kell weaved his way through the Bishops defence to set up Clarke whose shot was well saved by the in form Peter Jeffries. From Jeffries long goal kick into the last third of Town’s area, Masters held the ball up and superbly found the advancing Mark Henson whose powerful low drive on the left was brilliantly pushed round the post by the agile keeper.
The resultant corner taken by Henson dropped deep inside the 6 yard box with Sean Boynton making a desperate last ditch clearance whilst under pressure from Steven Salvin. Deep into injury time Masters saw his close range shot hit the inside of the far post to bounce agonizingly out back into play which Steven Baynes cleared, this after great link up play between Gredziak, Salvin and Henson.
Half Time – Bishop Auckland 0
Bishop made an immediate tactical substitution at the start of the second half, on came Joe Grant into midfield replacing defender Jonathan Stokell thus reverting to three at the back. It was Grant who showed grit, determination and desire on his entry into the game, indeed in the 51st minute it was Grant’s looping cross from the right that led to the opening goal of the game as the keeper failed to catch with centre half James Crossman slicing the loose ball towards the goal and it was the alert Tyson Masters whom nipped in to score from two yards out.
Two minutes later Gredziak on the right beat two players and shot narrowly wide across the face of goal from the edge of the box, though once again Town settled into the game and dictated the play for long periods. Jeffries pulling off good saves from Kell, Clarke and Harrison, Carl Robinson made a wonderful goal line clearance stopping Clarke’s 12 yard volley on the hour. Maddison three minutes later found the unmarked Boynton on the left whom advanced to into the box though curiously shot wide with only the keeper to beat.
In a rare Bishop attack, Salvin’s cross-field pass from the right found Masters whom advanced whilst under pressure from two defenders though floated his shot just wide from 15 yards out with the keeper stranded.
Billingham got a deserved equaliser in the 66th minute, Clarke on the left wing left three Bishop players for dead and his cross was powerfully headed home from 8 yards out by the unmarked Sean Kell giving Jeffries no chance in what was a superb piece of football.
It was Town whom looked the more likely to score again and win the game, in the 78th minute Kell made a dazzling run into the heart of the Bishop defence which was ended by a Paul Moss tackle with appeals for a penalty voiced though denied by the referee.
Jeffries again on hand to save shots from Harrison and Kell. The biggest scare came in the 84th minute, Clarke linked up with Harrison and Maddison to put substitute Jonathon French through though fortunately he mis-cued his 10 yard lob with Jeffries slipping at the vital moment though the ball hit the side netting.
Some disappointing performances by Bishop players in a game between two sides in the lower reaches of the division though new signing Allan Reid had an encouraging game which was a plus for the Bishops.
Full time – Bishop Auckland 1 Billingham Town 1
Tyson Masters 51 mins Sean Kell 66 mins