Northern League Division 1
24 October, 2009
Bishop Auckland 1 : Benfield 2
Bishop Auckland – Peter Jeffries / Arjun Purewal / Jonathan Stokell (Jake Richardson 59 mins) / Chris Lawson (booked 62 mins) / Neil Wilkinson / Paul Moss / Mark Henson / Steven Salvin / Wayne Gredziak / Tyson Masters / Adam Emson
Subs not used – Carl Robinson / Ryan Graham / Darren Richardson / Steven West
Newcastle Benfield – Andrew Grainger / Paul Buzzeo (booked 71 mins) / Carl Paterson / Philip Lumsden / Kevin Leighton / Chris Carr / Stewart Morris (Dean Nicholson 84 mins) / Antony Paul / Stephen Young / Michael Chilton / Mark Atkinson (Adam Scope 71 mins)
Subs not used – Shaun Bell / Adam Rowntree / Alex Henderson
Bishop were unfortunate not to grab a share of the points with the current Northern League Champions whom played good football throughout the game. The match kicked off with the floodlights on, heavy rain and the Bishops kicking against the wind. Arjun Purewal returned to the side and played right back with Paul Moss moving in the centre of the midfield and he had an outstanding game that kept the structure of the 4-3-3 formation.
Benfield created the first chance of the game in the 6th minute, the excellent Stewart Morris on the right beat two players to let rip a powerful cross that was met by the unmarked Stephen Young at the far post, with his close range downward header hitting keeper Peter Jeffries full on in his chest and Neil Wilkinson was on hand to clear the danger.
After a quarter of an hour, the rain had stopped, the floodlights switched off and the Bishops went in front. Mark Henson crossed deep into the penalty area from the right, this eluded Wayne Gredziak and the Benfield defence, Adam Emson chased what looked a lost cause by winning the ball and turning the left back inside out then advanced into the box, edging round two on-coming defenders to drive the ball home from 10 yards out for what was a great individual goal.
Benfield kept playing their football and were nearly rewarded with an equaliser in the 21st minute, Morris again the provider setting up Philip Lumsden whose low drive from the centre of the edge of the Bishops box was brilliantly gathered by Jeffries outstretched hands with Young on hand for any rebound.
Two minutes later Benfield should have equalised, a Carl Paterson cross from the left found Morris at the far post and he shielded the ball and laid off to the advancing Michael Chilton whose six yard shot hit the Bishops post and Wilkinson cleared the danger.
Morris again applied the pressure on the right flank this time outwitting two Bishop players at speed then saw his full blooded cross headed out for a corner by Wilkinson with Young at the far post unmarked.
The Bishops then started to get back into the game, Gredziak split the Benfield defence with a superb square ball that was chased by Tyson Masters though the Benfield keeper Andrew Grainger won the race for the ball by sliding forwards to grasp the loose ball at the edge of his box, Masters proceeded to kick the ball into the net out of Grainger’s hands and the referee quickly disallowed the goal.
In the 37th minute, Moss passed to Masters whom advanced into the Benfield box and out-muscled the sturdy Kevin Leighton then with the goal at his mercy the referee blew for a foul to the disbelief of many at the game.
Benfield began to apply the pressure just before half time, Bishop gave away a needless free kick 25 yards out, with the referee lining up the defence wall, Young fired in at the wall and was ordered to retake the free kick and this time he found Mark Atkinson whose close range header was well parried by Jeffries.
In the 43rd minute, Atkinson broke down a Bishop attack to set up the advancing Anthony Paul whose 25 yard drive flashed past the post in what was scintillating move. From Jeffries goal kick Salvin on the left beat his marker and linked up with Masters who cleverly threaded a ball to Gredziak whose shot was beaten away by the keeper.
Into injury time Morris’s cross from the right was met at the front post by Atkinson whose close range overhead kick off the ground hit the Jeffries and the keeper cleared at the second attempt.
Bishops back four held the line very well throughout the first half catching Benfield off side a dozen times.
Bishop Auckland St Mary’s were represented at the game and provided the half time entertainment with a penalty shoot out at both ends this after being mascots leading the teams out for the start of the game.
Half Time – Bishop Auckland 1
Benfield came out determined for the 2nd half and equalised in the 47th minute, Bishop giving away another needless free kick in the last third of Bishops half. The resultant free kick inevitably found Morris at the front post whom again shielded the ball up for Young whose drive was cleared to Chris Carr whom made no mistake thumping in a 12 yard shot that Jeffries did really well to get in the way of though cruelly deflected off him into the net.
Two minutes later Carl Paterson was allowed to advance forward and his 25 yard shot just crept over the bar.
Still shell shocked at Benfield’s equaliser the Bishops fell behind in the 56th minute, Atkinson on the left chased a lost cause, won the ball and turned two Bishop defenders inside out and had made his way to the front post and his cross was back headed into his own goal inside the six yard box by the unfortunate Chris Lawson. Though this didn’t deter Lawson as he was on hand to make two last ditch clearances as Benfield continued to press forward.
Into the last 20 minutes and the Bishops began to search for an equaliser against a well organised Benfield side, whom were to substitute star performers, Morris and Atkinson.
A Henson free kick was volleyed by Emson on the edge of the box with the keeper punching clear for a corner. Masters continued to probe and created half chances though the Benfield defence held firm, he had the ball at his feet in front of goal after receiving a pass from Moss though the referee stopped play as he adjudged Moss had handled in controlling Lawson’s free kick.
Into injury time, Salvin played a superb cross field ball from the right to the unmarked Emson whom lost his marker and advanced under pressure to the bye line and crossed across the face of goal that eluded both Gredziak and Masters.
Moments later Henson broke down a Benfield attack to find Salvin again on the right and he made his way to the bye line with his cross being deflected for a corner that was taken by Henson and cleared by Carr for another corner.
With just about everybody up field it was Wilkinson whom took the second corner on the left and found his defensive partner Chris Lawson at the far post though his header was cleared off the line by Leighton to deny the Bishops an equaliser.
The Bishops acquitted themselves honourably in what was an encouraging performance, particularly in midfield.
Full Time – Bishop
Auckland 1
Adam Emson 15 mins Chris Carr 47 mins
Chris Lawson own goal 56 mins