Northern League Division 1
23 January, 2010
Bishop Auckland 3 :
Bishop Auckland – Peter Jeffries / Chris Lawson (booked 61mins) / Simon Ord / Wayne Clarke, Arjun Purewal / Harry Drummond (Steven Turnbull 88 mins – debut) / Amar Purewal (Adam Strong 88 mins) / Stephen Salvin / Wayne Gredziak / Tyson Masters / Adam Emson
Substitutes not used – Ryan Graham / Jake Richardson
Chester-le-Street – Ian Aitkin / Luke Gilhespy / Ben Johnson / Scott Donaldson / Andrew Armstrong / Ian Dixon (booked 59 mins) / Nicholas Kane / Craig Price / Nathan Fisher / Robert Draper / Robbie Bird
Substitutions not used – Colin Wake / Robert Palmer / Kyle Bird / James Ellis / Damian Maw
Tyson Masters the Bishops forward was given a standing ovation before the game started to thank him for his efforts and goals as the young Australian returns to his home land and he will be truly missed by everyone connected with Bishop Auckland Football Club.
Missing from Tuesday night’s fabulous display against South
Shields was youngster Joe Grant whom was playing today for
The Bishops started the game the stronger, left back Simon Ord in the 13th minute advanced from the half way line, allowed to by pass the Chester-le-Street midfield and he placed a low shot to the bottom left hand corner of the Chester goal from the edge of the box with the experienced Ian Aitkin diving full stretch to gather with Masters lurking for a rebound.
Four minutes later and the Bishops were in front, once again the young attacking left back Ord pounced on a loose ball on the half way line and punted a high ball forward that was chased by Wayne Gredziak though Aitkin won the chase by punching out on the edge of his box. The ball fell to Adam Emson whom controlled and then clinically chipped the keeper from 30 yards out, to the delight of the home contingent.
The Bishops maintained the tempo. On 26 minutes Drummond won
a 50/50 challenge in midfield and advanced diagonally forward along the right
wing, his inch perfect cross found Masters in-between three
A minute later Ord played a one two with Amar Purewal and his cross was met by Gredziak whose powerful header cannoned off the unfortunate Emson in a crowded penalty area with the visitors clearing the danger.
In the 34th minute, Arjun Purewal broke free from his marker to meet his brothers Amar’s corner at the front post though failed to connect properly allowing Aitkin to punch clear though the keeper felled Masters with one of his out stretched hands and curiously no foul was given by the referee after which Masters had to receive treatment.
Right on half time the Bishops created two good chances, the first with Emson turning his marker inside out on the edge of the box to advance forward and fire over the bar. From Aitkin’s goal kick, Drummond again won the ball in midfield and played a superb diagonal ball towards Gredziak whom was placed on the left at the edge of the box though with the heavy pitch was cutting up the visitors full back completely miss timed his clearance allowing Gredziak to run at goal and his powerful low shot from 12 yards out was superbly parried by Aitkin with the visiting defence clearing the danger.
Simon Ord had an excellent first half, attacking whenever possible and his distribution was faultless along with his duties in a measured back four unit. The league’s leading goal scorer Nathan Fisher was a constant threat with his pace and link up play though the Bishop’s back line help firm and anticipated the danger well.
Half Time Score – Bishop Auckland 1
Chester-le-Street started the second half much stronger willed and had the Bishops on the back foot, Craig Price, Robbie Bird and Nathan Fisher dictating play in their efforts to find a equaliser though the Bishops defence held firm.
It was the Bishops whom doubled their lead against the run of play in the 65th minute, Stephen Salvin courageously won a challenge in midfield and passed to Gredziak who magnificently split the home defence with a piece of sublime skill by flicking the ball square to the advancing Tyson Masters who coolly rounded the out coming Aitkin and lob home to the sheer delight of the Bishop fans as this was his 13th goal in only his 20th and final appearance for the club.
In the 71st minute, midfielder Price split the Bishops defence by sending Robbie Bird through whose lightening pace put him on a one to one with Peter Jeffries, the Bishops keeper, who just cleared the danger. A minute later Price again the threat set up Fisher whose shot was clawed clear by Jeffries and this signalled the end of the visitor’s onslaught.
The last quarter of an hour was all Bishop. Ord and Gredziak combined to tee up Drummond on the edge of the box whose drive was desperately deflected for a corner. Drummond was again involved in setting up Masters whose 12 yard header was just caught by the back tracking Aitkin.
Bishops sealed the game in the 76th minute. As good as what left back Simon Ord was in the first half this was equalled in the second half by right back Chris Lawson’s performance. His long throw on the right found Gredziak whom once again produced a piece of sublime skill by flicking the ball over the top of the Chester defenders to the unmarked Emson whom made no mistake heading home from 12 yards out with Aitkin stranded in no mans land which was rough justice for the evergreen 40 year keeper.
The Bishops searched for another goal and were nearly rewarded in the 82nd minute, Salvin beat two players and passed to Emson whom weaved across the edge of the box to fire in a low drive that Aitkin at full stretch gathered at the foot of the post.
Four minutes later, Lawson on the right played Gredziak through whose turn of pace left his marker standing though his powerful drive agonizingly hit the side netting as the centre forward deserved a goal in what was a man of the match performance as he had a hand in all three Bishop goals as the team completed a league double over the Cestrians.
Final Score – Bishop Auckland 3
Adam Emson, 17 mins & 76 mins
Tyson Masters 65 mins