Northern League Division 1
14 November, 2009
Bishop Auckland – Peter Jeffries / Jake Richardson / Paul Moss booked 31 mins (Darren Richardson HT) Wayne Clarke (Carl Robinson 55 mins) / Arjun Purewal / Harry Drummond / Joe Grant booked 58 mins (Adam Strong 60 mins) / Steven Salvin / Wayne GrEdziak / Tyson Masters / Adam Emson
Subs not used – Ryan Graham / Jordan Tomlinson
South Shields – Nicki Lawson (Simon Parkin 62 mins) / James Oates / David Graham / Richard Paxton (sent off 23 mins) / Simon Fitzpatrick / Craig Ellison (David Meechan 61 mins) / Anthony Coe / Lee Paul Scroggins (booked 11 mins) / Stephen Ramsey / Jonny Wightman (Duncan O’Brien 25 mins) / Craig Armstrong
Subs not used – Michael Rodenby / Chris Feasey
Bishop Auckland were well and truly
beaten by an in form
Indeed
Though the Bishops didn’t help themselves curiously playing the front three forwards all game in what is a luxury the side cannot afford to have against good opposition away from home. The back four started with youngster Jake Richardson at right back, Paul Moss at left back with Wayne Clarke and Arjun Purewal in the centre of defence, and this quartet struggled individually and collectively as a unit though with injuries and players absent with work commitments the formation should have supported the defence, the midfield trio of Stephen Salvin, Joe Grant and Harry Drummond were all over the place trying to stop the sweeping Shields attacks.
Bishops kicked off against a cross field wind and the first half had spells of rain on a pitch which was very soft and cut up quite easily.
A shell shocked Bishops found themselves 3-0 down in just 8 minutes. Left back David Graham put Shields ahead in the 3rd minute, Stephen Ramsey doubled their lead a minute later and further dismal defending when Arjun Purewal sliced a Jonny Wightman cross past the helpless Peter Jeffries.
Bishops first decent effort at goal came in the 14th minute, a Paul Moss header was parried by the Shields keeper with Tyson Masters nipping in at the bye line by the front post and he laid the ball back out for the oncoming Wayne Gradziak whom curled his 10 yard shot just wide of the far post.
Shields were down to 10 men when Richard Paxton was sent off for pulling down Wayne Gradziak on the edge of the box in the 23rd minute. Harry Drummond took the resultant free kick which he floated agonizingly wide of the upright. Shields tactically took off the effective forward Jonny Wightman, with his replacement the towering Duncan O’Brien going into the centre of the home defence to cover Paxton’s role.
The 10 men continued to control the game and they were rewarded with a fourth goal in the 36th minute, Ramsey skilfully outwitted two Bishop defenders to set up the unmarked Anthony Coe whom drilled in his shot from 10 yards.
Four minutes before half time the Bishops created their best chance of the first half, Gredziak whom was the most effective Bishop forward forced his way past two Shields defenders to square the ball to Adam Emson who disappointingly shot wide from 8 yards out with the goal at his mercy.
Half Time –
Darren Richardson started the 2nd half at left back in place of Paul Moss whom struggled in the said position, the strong wind had dropped. There was hint this half was going to be better for the Bishops when in the 48th minute Gradziak intercepted a Graham back pass with the keeper brilliantly cutting out his cross to the unmarked Masters. Though any thoughts of a fight back were short lived, Ramsey had a goal disallowed two minutes later before Craig Armstrong put the Mariners five up in the 51st minute after a sweeping move involving, Ramsey, Coe and Ellison.
On 53 minutes, the hardworking Gredziak again evaded his marker and superbly split the home defence with a pass to the unmarked Joe Grant whom had two yards on his marker though the young Bishop midfielder unluckily placed his 12 yard shot just wide of the top corner of the goal.
Two minutes later the frustrated Jeffries felled Craig Ellison inside the box and the Shields captain Lee Paul Scroggins converted the resultant penalty with Jeffries really fortunate not to be booked for the blatant foul.
Two minutes later the injured Wayne Clarke was replaced by Carl Robinson whom played at right back with Jake Richardson going into the centre of what was a youthful Bishop defence.
The game was stopped for 5 minutes in the 57th minute when a high Masters right wing cross was challenged by Gredziak whom was adjudged to have innocently fouled the keeper as both went up for the cross with the keeper landing awkwardly and after receiving treatment he was replaced by substitute keeper, Simon Parkin.
Both sides made all their available substitutions during this stoppage, Adam Strong replaced Joe Grant and the home side brought off the excellent Ellison with David Meechan coming on.
More inept defending saw Anthony Coe with time and space to put Shields 7 up in the 65th minute. A minute later and the Bishops pulled a goal back, Gredziak lost his marker to superbly drive home a left wing Emson cross and the Bishop forward thoroughly deserved his goal.
The Bishops created a few half chances with the best of these coming in the 89th minute, Gradziak driving towards goal was upended 25 yards out. Harry Drummond took the resultant free kick which hit the cross bar and the home defence cleared the danger with Scroggins finding Ramsey on the counter-attack and the Mariners centre forward tore two defenders to shred’s and easily drove home the home sides eight goal.
Into injury time and Ramsey should have scored another to give him a hat-trick though in a rare mis-strike of accuracy he blazed over 12 yards out in front of goal.
Last season the Bishops effectively played with a
Full Time Score –
David
Graham 3 mins, Wayne Gradziak 66 mins,
Stephen Ramsey 4 mins & 90 mins
Arjun Purewal own goal 8 mins,
Anthony Coe, 36 mins & 65 mins
Craig Armstrong 51 mins,
Lee Paul Scroggins 55 mins (penalty)