Northern League Division 1
20 March, 2010
Bishop Auckland – Peter Jeffries / Chris Lawson / Tom Blackett / Wayne Clarke / Arjun Purewal / Joe Grant / Adam Strong / Stephen Salvin / Wayne Gredziak (Amar Purewal 18 mins) / Steven Turnbull / Adam Emson
Subs not used – Ryan Graham / Darren Richardson / Harry Drummond
Bishop Auckland named an unchanged team for the trip to league champions Newcastle Benfield. A wet day, but the rain at least stopped as the match began.
Bishops made the first great chance on nine minutes when Adam Strong dispossessed Atkinson 40 yards from goal. He raced on towards the target but Atkinson got back to block the shot.
Wayne Gredziak, who had earlier received treatment, was substituted on 18 minutes with Amar Purewal coming off the bench.
Four minutes later and Emson pushed the ball past Buzzeo just over the half way line and raced on before firing in a superb low hard cross. Amar Purewal was on hand to sidefoot home from close range for his first league goal of the season.
Just over the half hour and Bishops doubled the lead when Salvin headed the ball into the danger area and Emson rifled a volley home from 12 yards.
With 34 minutes on the clock Benfield lost the ball deep in the Bishops half and a quick ball forward found Amar Purewal but his weak shot was easily gathered by Grainger in the Benfield goal.
Half Time Score –
The first chance of the second half fell to Bishops as Emson stabbed a shot which was deflected towards the near post but pushed out for a corner by Grainger.
Benfield then hit back.
49 minutes and the usually prolific Chilton headed over when
unchallenged just yards out. A minute
later and
Nicholson earned the first yellow card of the game with a cynical hack of Joe Grant after the Bishops midfielder had dribbled past him on the touchline.
62 minutes and a Bishops corner saw the ball under Emson’s feet, but the Bishops player was unable to get the ball free to shoot and the chance disappeared.
Steven Turnbull picked up a harsh yellow card on 63 minutes.
After the early scares Bishops were now back into the game and on 69 minutes a free kick 25 yards from goal was hot low by Emson but the shot deflected wide of the post.
Bishops ‘keeper Peter Jeffries made a crucial save as
78 minutes and with Benfield attacking Emson almost caught the home side with a long range lob, but his shot wasn’t strong enough to find the net as Grainger recovered.
Adam Strong picked up Bishops second yellow of the game on 83 minutes.
The game was deep into injury time when Benfield pulled a goal back. Young applied the finish after a scramble left Jeffries and a defender both on the floor. The ‘keeper required treatment but was able to continue.
After several minutes of injury time the match ended with Bishops the deserving victors.
Full Time Score –
Stephen Young 90+2mins Amar Purewal 22 mins
Adam Emson 31 mins