Northern League Division 1
7 November, 2009
Bishop Auckland 3 : Penrith 3
Bishop Auckland – Peter Jeffries / Jake Richardson / Paul Moss / Wayne Clarke / Arjun Purewal (Adam Strong 74 mins) / Harry Drummond / Amar Purewal / Stephen Salvin / Wayne Gredziak / Tyson Masters / Adam Emson (Darren Richardson 74 mins)
Subs not used – Richard Jeffries / Ryan Graham / Jordan Tomlinson
The rain started at 2pm and continued unabated until long after kick off. Bishops gave a debut to Harry Drummond in midfield with Stephen Salvin back from injury and Amar Purewal making a first start since mid August.
Within seconds of the start Bishop Auckland had carved out a great chance with Amar Purewal shooting low but weakly and Wills in the Penrith goal diving to save comfortably.
Six minutes on the clock and
The rain eased slightly as Bishops pushed on. Twelve minutes on the clock and Gredziak flicked the ball through into the path of Masters but his shot from a wide angle was well svaed.
Three minutes later and Gredziak bundled through past Thornton who pulled the striker down and picked up a yellow card for his troubles. The resulting free kick came to nothing.
With 17 minutes on the clock Bishops should have been one up. Wayne Gredziak made the run beyond the Penrith defence but his one on one chance was blocked by Wills. The bell rebounded to the striker but before he could get a second shot off Wills dived at his feet knocking the ball away and the striker to the ground. Emson curled the ball back in but just round the far post.
Soon after Stephen Salvin collected an Amar Purewal pass 25 yards from goal. He advanced a couple of yards before firing in a shot which a Penrith defender “saved” with his arm at full stretch.
Adam Emson took the penalty and fired the ball home straight down the middle to make it 1-0 to Bishops.
Two minutes later and Bishops should have doubled the lead. A corner was half cleared and Amar Purewal shot the ball through a crowd of players. Wills did well to save, parrying the ball out to his left. Gredziak turned the ball back in and Moss hammered a shot which again Wills saved with a defender clearing the ball from just in front of the line.
On 28 minutes another fantastic chance for Bishops as a ball deep into the Penrith area caused chaos and ended with Masters shooting over his shoulder. Wills parried the ball out for what should have been a corner, but curiously the officials failed to spot the obvious save.
Penrith equalised on 41 minutes. A doubtful free kick after a Penrith player stumbled over on the wet pitch was pushed forward to Davidson who ran across the edge of the 18 yard box before firing home a strong shot which flew in low to Jeffries right.
The final incident of the first half came on 42 minutes when Emson put the Penrith defence under pressure and his shot was handled then cleared, but no penalty was awarded.
Half Time - Bishop Auckland 1 Penrith 1
The rain had eased a little as the second half began and Bishops again began on the attack. Just as in the first half Amar Purewal had a great chance in the opening seconds but his shot was deflected wide.
From the resulting corner Amar skewed his shot but Masters deflected it back on target but the chance was blocked by a defender.
56 minutes and Salvin advanced from midfield but his low shot flew just wide.
Just after the hour and Gredziak used his strength to hold off a defender but was forced towards the goalline. A superb cut back left the defender for dead but with only the ‘keeper to beat Gredziak fired his shot against the outside of the post.
Penrith made a rare foray into the Bishops area on 68 minutes and ended up taking the lead. Jeffries made a good save initially but found himself out of place when Graham Anthony dipped a shot into the far corner of the net to give Penrith an undeserved lead.
74 minutes and Bishops were just about to throw on some substitutes when Gredziak was fouled wide on the right. Adam Emson curled in a wicked free kick which evaded a number of stretching bodies and flew straight into the net to make it 2-2.
Before the restart Emson and Amar Purewal were replaced by Darren Richardson and Adam Strong.
Strong had only been on the field a minute when he received a yellow card for having a free kick blasted into the back of his legs as he retreated.
Bishops were back ahead on 79 minutes when Masters crossed. Penrith defender Alan Gray chested the ball down beautifully for Gredziak who crashed an unstoppable volley into the roof of the net from six yards. 3-2.
The rain poured as Penrith hunted for an equaliser and after the giant substitute Robertson headed wide from close range. However, on 88 minutes another substitute Pattinson headed home from a long throw from the left.
Debutant Drummond picked up Bishops final card of the day in injury time.
A pulsating game which Bishops should have won, but excellent entertainment and a very useful point.
Final Score – Bishop Auckland 3 Penrith 3
Adam
Emson (pen) 22 mins Grant
Davidson 41 mins
Adam Emson 74 mins Graham Anthony 68 mins
Wayne Gredziak 79
mins Paul Pattinson 88 mins