Northern League Division 1
5 April, 2010
Bishop Auckland 0 :
Bishop Auckland – Peter Jeffries / Chris Lawson / Simon Ord / Wayne Clarke / Arjun Purewal (Amar Purewal 67mins) / Joe Grant / Darren Richardson / Stephen Salvin / Wayne Gradziak / Steven Turnbull (Adam Strong 67mins) / Adam Emson
Bookings – Salvin, Grant, Clarke
Sending off - Emson
Subs not used – Harry Drummond / Ryan Graham / Jake Richardson
West Auckland – David Lanning / Neil Pattinson / Andrew Green / Chris Beckett / Ian Maddison / Jonathan Gibson / Shaun Ross (Paul Garthwaite 86mins) / Tom Berj (Martin Young 74mins) / Matty Moffat (Kevin Bromley 79mins)/ Daniel Olusoga / Adam Nichols
Bookings – Berj, Moffat, Green
Subs not used – Billy Hanson / Steven Brown
West Auckland fully deserved to win this 104th Northern League Derby between the Auckland clubs, their intimidating tactics proved decisive in undoing the Bishops as the match officials clearly failed to support fair play with a number of poor decisions that one can only feel as frustrated as the players and Bishops management team.
The game hinged on a shocking refereeing decision in the 23rd minute, quite obviously West’s left back Andrew Green had been under strict instruction to hustle and hassle Adam Emson at every opportunity, this time on Green grappled with Emson and Green flung a wayward elbow at the Bishop player which brought out a number of heated exchanges. The referee incredibly booked the pair and gave the Bishops the free kick when Emson had been the victim of blatant assault, the inconsistency of the interpretation of guidelines and rules in place to discipline offenders was sadly missing from this referee’s perception of what he should have done the booking of Green as he got more than the rub of the green in later encounters throughout the game.
Six minutes later and Adam Emson received his second yellow card and thus sent off for a reckless challenge on you guess, Andrew Green, this was justifiably a booking no argument though simply no justice from the referee’s decision to book the unfortunate Emson six minutes earlier.
Though the Bishops had fallen behind in the 12th minute, West were fired up for the encounter and attacked the Bishops down the flanks with wingers Shaun Ross and Adam Nichols causing the Bishop defence all kinds of problems early on. It was Nichols on the right whom advanced deep into the Bishops area and his close range shot was blocked by Jeffries at the front post though the rebound fell straight back to Nichols whom cleverly passed across the face of the goal with Matty Moffat on hand to tap in the opener from 3 yard out unmarked.
Indeed Moffat should have scored 4 minutes earlier, Nichols again the provider splitting the Bishops defence with Moffat running on to fire wide from 12 yards out when it looked certain he would score.
The Bishops started to settle after a quarter of an hour, an advancing Joe Grant fired just wide from the edge of the box in the 21st minute. Jeffries raced out of his box five minutes later to bravely win the ball from the advancing Moffat and Tom Berj whom took the brunt of Jeffries momentum.
Down to ten men and the Bishops created their best effort of the game so far in the 32nd minute, Simon Ord and Darren Richardson combined to set up Steven Turnbull whom headed wide from close range at the far post though he was under pressure from the right back.
Another controversial decision from the referee in the 38th minute, youngster Grant was taken out by a late follow through by Moffat whom was fortunate to only be booked as his reckless assault could have broken the youngster’s leg.
On the stroke of half time the Bishops had Arjun Purewal to thank for ushering away Moffat whom seemed destined to score and then Turnbull hit the side netting for Bishops from close range deep into injury time.
Half Time Score – Bishop Auckland 0
The second half proved to be as full blooded with more controversial decisions from all the match officials. It was the Bishops whom created the first decent goal scoring opportunity in the 54th minute. Ord’s cross from the left found Darren Richardson deep inside West’s box and his directed cross towards Wayne Gradziak though this was cut out by Beckett as I’m sure if he hadn’t the Gradziak would have equalised.
A minute later Jeffries was again on hand too brilliantly block Ross’s close range shot this after being set up by Moffat and Nichols whom had carved open the Bishops defence.
West though did double their lead in the 58th minute, keeper David Lanning’s long goal kick caught out the advanced Bishops back line with Ross at full speed pelting down the field, Chris Lawson and Wayne Clarke in hot pursuit, Jeffries closed down the space and Ross’s shot was cleared by Lawson though unfortunately for the Bishops and Clarke in particular as Lawson’s clearance rebounded off him and into the goal, much to the despair of them both.
Another altercation a minute later which saw all 21 players in the centre of the pitch, in what one can only describe as sickening scenes. Stephen Salvin and West’s Tom Berj were again involved in another keenly fought tussle for which Berj came off second best and whilst lying on the ground, West’s captain Moffat immediately remonstrated with Salvin and caused a riot with a number of players at each other throats in truly hostile heated exchanges.
Once calm was restored the referee showed his inconsistency as he had done in the first half by booking Salvin and Berj and gave West the free kick though only had a word with Moffat clearly indicating one more altercation then he would be dismissed. Its incredible how two players can be booked for a tussle with each other and a player whom brings the game into disrepute and causes a mass brawl only gets spoken too, such was the inconsistency of this inept referee whom had failed from the outset to be in control of this derby match.
More controversy in the 63rd minute, in the space of 30 seconds both Grant and Green were involved in a couple of challenges which resulted in Grant being harshly booked. Whilst the break in play, a linesman whom had missed a number of incidents and had been quite vocal in letting people know he was right throughout the game spoke to the referee and Bishop’s manager Colin Myers was sent to the stands, this after the pair had had words moments earlier.
The Bishops made a double substitution in the 67th minute, on came Adam Strong whom was making his 50th appearance for the Bishops in place of Steven Turnbull and Amar Purewal replaced his brother Arjun as the Bishops changed their formation to three at the back, four in midfield and two up front.
Minutes later and West went three up thanks to a Moffat penalty this after Jeffries had brought down the West captain down, Moffat was substituted in the 79th minute though he had been really fortunate not to have been sent off earlier in the game.
Amar Purewal saw his close range strike cleared off the line by Beckett in the 75th minute and Jeffries made another couple of vital close range blocks from Ross and Bromley.
Wayne Clarke was booked in the 90th minute for what I can only think of something said to the other linesman on the far side. At this point I was quite intrigued as to what the conversation the respected former football league referee, Mr George Courtney and the referee’s assessor trainer were having in the stand, clearly a number of talking points to discuss of the officials performances.
Deep into injury time, and the Bishops never gave up, Salvin lined up with Gredziak whose shot was handled in the box by Maddison and you just knew the referee didn’t want to give what should have been the resulting penalty.
One thing I’m sure of after the after match celebrations of the West players this will indeed serve as motivation to the Bishops when these two sides next meet.
Full Time Score
Bishop Auckland 0
Matty Moffat 12 mins & 71st min pen,
Wayne Clarke – own goal – 58 mins,