21 October, 2009
Norton & Stockton
Ancients 2 : Bishop Auckland 0
Bishop Auckland – Peter Jeffries / Chris Lawson / Jonathan Stokell / Neil Wilkinson / Paul Moss / Simon Ord / Mark Henson / Steven Salvin / Wayne Gredziak / Tyson Masters / Adam Emson
All Subs not used – Arjun Purewal / Ryan Graham / Darren Richardson / Carl Robinson / Jake Richardson
Norton and Stockton Ancients – James Briggs / David Alderson (Richard Gaston 71 mins) / Stephen Larkin / James Middleton / Dale Mulligan / Marcus Laing (David Hillerby 73 mins) Nathan Mulligan / Alan Cossavella / Anthony Ormerod (Richard Storr 71 mins) / Sonny Andrews / David Wells
Only one sub named not used – Chris Dunwell
Norton and Stockton Ancients desirably beat a hugely disappointing Bishop Auckland side to book their place in the 2nd round of the Durham Challenge Cup. It had rained constantly all day and thus all the way through the match, particularly heavy in the 2nd half. The pitch never the less was in great condition despite the weather conditions.
Bishop started and somehow stayed with a 4-3-3 formation that was ineffective against a lively, skilful and well organised, Norton side. For long periods in the game the front three forwards were detached from the rest of the side, the midfield three were totally pushed aside by numerous sweeping Norton attacks and the Bishops had to thank the back four along with the goal keeper that kept the team in the game until the last 12 minutes.
Though it was the Bishops whom had the first attempt on goal in the 2nd minute, a Paul Moss free kick from the left dipped perfectly inside the box for Wayne Gradziak whom for once in the game turned his marker to see his 15 yard drive pushed around the post by the keeper, indeed Gradziak was very well marshalled throughout the game by Norton central defender, James Middleton.
From then on it was all Norton whom camped in the Bishops half, Peter Jeffries brilliantly tipped a 20 yard Alan Cossavella shot over the bar, and then saved a David Wells 8 yard shot whilst closing in on the winger with his legs.
On 12 minutes Jeffries dropped a 35 yard high swirling Nathan Mulligan free kick though recovered to clear the danger. Paul Moss, Neil Wilkinson and Chris Lawson all made a number of last ditch tackles and clearances with Lawson in particular enjoying his best game for the club since joining at the start of the season.
In the 23rd minute, Norton left back Stephen Larkin ghosted through to the edge of the box from the half way line only to powerfully fire his shot just over the bar.
Fifteen minutes later centre forward Anthony Ormerod unleashed a 25 yard volley that was deflected for a corner just missing the post.
In a rare Bishop attack in the 41st minute, Wilkinson broke down yet another Norton attack and passed to the advancing quick thinking Stephen Salvin whom turned Cossavella inside out on the left and played a superb square ball to Tyson Masters inside the box as he had made the space to have a unchallenged shot at goal though he saw his effort flash past the far post with the keeper beaten in what was the best chance of the 1st half for either side.
Half Time – Norton and
The Bishop contingent were hoping a better 2nd half and did start the brighter, Masters on the right found Mark Henson whose dipping 20 yard shot just went over the bar. Henson one of the midfield trio caused Norton problems when advancing though he spent most of the game supporting the back four.
On the hour mark the Bishops again created another clinical chance that should have put the Two Blues ahead. Salvin again linked up with Masters, this time splitting the home defence which Masters latched onto and he tried to lob the advancing keeper just inside the box though magnificently the Norton keeper James Briggs somehow managed to jump up and catch the ball with his out stretched hands.
Though it was Norton whom seem to be running out of ideas by not capitalizing on their supremacy, the Bishop midfield started to bridge the gap between the defence and the forwards; Henson came close with two 20 yard efforts. A Simon Ord free kick found Gredziak whom lost his marker and advanced forward to be crudely brought down by Stephen Larkin whom received the games only booking.
With extra time looming, it was Norton whom gambled by bringing on their last two substitutes, Richard Gaston replacing right back David Alderson in the 71st minute and two minutes later former Bishop player Richard Storr replaced Anthony Ormerod. The fresh legs certainly inspired Norton and broke the deadlock in the 78th minute, a Nathan Mulligan right wing cross was held up by Richard Storr whom laid the ball on for the first Norton substitute, David Hillerby whom fired home from 12 yards out giving Jeffries no chance.
Four minutes Norton doubled their lead, an advancing Wells tore through the Bishop resistance and set up Sonny Andrews whom fired past the advancing Jeffries in a carbon copy of the first goal strike, Andrews was a constant threat all game and he deserved to be on the score sheet.
In the 84th minute, Wells again tried his luck from 20 yards though Jeffries was equal to it and Jeffries was again in the thick of the action with a brilliant one handed save from a James Middleton close range drive.
Bishop didn’t give in and created chances in the last five minutes, Salvin driving in midfield passed to the advancing Lawson whose shot was spilled by the keeper and cleared by the home defence.
Into injury time and Henson had a shot spilled by the keeper with Gradziak picking up the loose ball though he couldn’t find space to turn and shoot. Moments later Gradziak on the left beat two players though his high cross to the far post found Salvin whom couldn’t head cleanly at goal.
The positives from the game was the back four whom played very well individually and collectively as a unit and this defensive improvement is significant since Colin Myers arrival as manager.
Full Time – Norton and
David Hillerby 78 mins
Sonny Andrews 82 mins