Pre Season
2010/11
31 July, 2010
Bridlington Town 0 : Bishop Auckland 2
Bishops final pre-season friendly, and the toughest away at NPL side Bridlington Town.
Honours even, but Gavin Barton scored twice in the second half to give Bishops the win.
29 July, 2010
Richmond Town 2 : Bishop Auckland 4
Bishop Auckland
–Starting Team: Ryan Graham / Chris Lawson / Scott Bassell
/ Wayne Clarke / John Hutton / Steven Turnbull / Arran Wearmouth / Chris
Ord / Gavin Barton / Wayne Gredziak / Tom Blackett
With the cancellation of Bishops proposed game at Whitby Town, Bishops instead made a Thursday night trip to Teesside League Division 1 side Richmond Town.
Wayne Gredziak opened the scoring inside ten minutes and Gavin Barton doubled the lead on 20 minutes.
After conceding a goal soon after, Arran Wearmouth made it 3-1 before the half hour.
Again the goal was quickly followed by conceding another but
Wayne Gredziak’s goal just after half time made it
4-2.
24 July, 2010
Tadcaster Albion 1 : Bishop Auckland 1
Bishop Auckland –Starting Team: Peter Jeffries / Steven Turnbull / Tom Blackett / John Hutton / Jordan Wymer / Toman / Simon Ord / Stephen Salvin / Arran Wearmouth / Wayne Gredziak / Adam Emson
An away trip to Northern Counties East side Tadcaster Albion on the penultimate Saturday of pre-sason.
A strong opening line up with former Bishops legend Andy Toman’s son in midfield, but with a familiar look to the rest of the starting line up.
Adam Emson opened the scoring on 25 minutes converting a penalty to give Bishops the lead. The equaliser came just before half time.
Both sides had chances to win the game in the second half but both ‘keepers were in good form, and no further goals were added.
20 July, 2010
Brandon United 1 : Bishop Auckland 0
Bishops took on Brandon United at Maiden Castle, Durham, on a dismal summer evening on the astroturf.
The match saw the first appearance of John Hutton in a match played in heavy rain.
Brandon took the lead with a long range shot midway through
the second half and held on for the win as the weather finally cleared.
17 July, 2010
Edinburgh City 5 : Bishop Auckland 2
Bishop Auckland –Peter Jeffries (Ryan Graham HT) / Steven Carew (Anthony Philipson HT) / Tom Blackett / Wayne Clarke / Jordan Wymer / Mark Henson / Michael Fort / Harry Drummond / Arran Wearmouth / Wayne Gredziak / Adam Emson (Darren Richardson 21mins)
Bishops charted new territory as they headed across the border to take on East of Scotland league Premier Division side Edinburgh City at Meadowbank Stadium.
The match was played on a windy afternoon with patches of sunshine and heavy rain in front of a crowd of around 75 in the massive former Commonwealth Games stadium. Close to 40 supporters had made the trip from County Durham by train or car.
Bishops created the first chance on four minutes when Wearmouth turned his man to cross but Gredziak’s glancing header went wide.
With just 16 minutes on the clock Emson rose to challenge for a header and fell awkwardly injuring his back. Bishops played with ten men as the midfielder received treatment. He hobbled back on for a couple of minutes of immobile activity before being replaced by Darren Richardson.
There was a scare on 28 minutes when a quick throw bounced up and over the defenders but fortunately over the forwards too.
Peter Jeffries was in the action on 29 minutes when he blocked a deep through ball then dived to save the rebound shot. A minute later and what looked like a huge offside was missed and Jeffries was again forced to save twice.
A corner on 32 minutes and Blackett cleared off the line with Jeffries beaten. Kicking into the wind was proving to be a real challenge for the Bishops inexperienced defence.
However, there were chances at the other end too and Bishops broke soon after but Fort’s shot across the ‘keeper trickled agonisingly wide of the far post.
Bishops took the lead on 34 minutes when Arran Wearmouth turned his man and raced to the line to pull a cross in. Parried into the air by the ‘keeper, Gredziak beat Richardson to the ball and bundled it over for 1-0.
The lead was short lived and a low cross saw Drummond make a mess of the clearance and fouled while trying to recover the situation. Jeffries went the wrong way with the penalty so 1-1.
The end to end play continued and Jeffries saved with his legs on 39 minutes. A minute later and it was Wearmouth’s shot being pushed past the post.
City took the lead on 42 minutes with a ball over the top on the wind beating the offside trap and Jeffries was beaten with a delicate chip.
Bishops remaining two substitutes were used at half time.
52 minutes and City increased the lead when a long ball again found the defence wanting and a low shot under Graham made it 3-1.
The fourth was a touch controversial as Bishops lined up for a throw in just inside the City half. The officials suddenly changed the decision and City took a long throw with Bishops players in the City half waiting to mount an attack. Blackett raced back trying to recover but a light tap resulted in a second penalty which was converted for 4-1.
Wearmouth had another good shot parried on 73 minutes but a minute later City broke and a shot deflected wildly off Jordan Wymer’s back to give Graham no chance.
78 minutes and Darren Richardson reduced the arrears, but after a clash of heads Richardson struggled to shake off the knock and Bishops finished the game with ten men.
A difficult afternoon but some good experience for some of the less established players, and a great day out for those supporters who made the trip North.
13 July, 2010
Marske United 1 : Bishop Auckland 1
Bishop Auckland –Peter Jeffries (Ryan Graham 50mins) / Steven Turnbull / Jordan Wymer (Anthony Philipson 77mins) / Wayne Clarke / Chris Lawson / Joe Grant / Harry Drummond (Darren Richardson 50mins) / Stephen Salvin (Jake Richardson 77mins) / Arran Wearmouth (Adam Strong 58mins) / Wayne Gredziak / Adam Emson
Second pre-season game against Northern League second division opposition – this time the Marske United who just missed out on promotion last season.
A strong start for Bishops but no breakthroughs until 26 minutes when Adam Emson dispossessed a defender and raced towards goal before squaring to the unmarked Wayne Gredziak to fire in.
The lead was short lived when a stretching Bishops defensive header flew out wide to the left. Turnbull had two men to deal with and they fired in a shot which Jeffries parried but the ball dropped into danger at the far post and was bundled in.
Bishops threw on five substitutes in a disappointing second half played in extremely gloomy conditions. Three times the referee asked for the lights to be switched on, three times he was ignored.
Darren Richardson missed a late chance to give Bishops the win in the half light of the final minutes as the rain started to pour down, but all in all a draw was probably a fair result.
10 July, 2010
Newton Aycliffe 2 : Bishop Auckland 3
Bishop Auckland – Starting Team Peter Jeffries / Chris Lawson / Jake Richardson / Steven West / Wayne Clarke / Darren Richardson / Harry Drummond / Stephen Salvin / Adam Emson / Joe Grant / Michael Fort Various Substitutes in second half
A sunny afternoon for Bishops opening pre-season fixture against the lowest ranked of their various pre-season opponents.
Aycliffe took a fourth minute lead and held it until the midpoint of the half.
On 26 minutes Adam Emson headed home an equaliser from a Salvin cross. Just two minutes later a free-kick was won on the edge of the box. Harry Drummon lifted the ball deep into the box and a home defender sliced it expertly into the top corner to give Bishops the lead.
Colin Myers threw on some young substitutes just after half time.
Aycliffe equalised on 67 minutes and missed a couple more chances to take the lead.
More substitutes with Marathon Trekker Anthony Philipson and ‘keeper Ryan Graham getting twenty minutes.
The winning goal came on 82 minutes when Chris Lawson chipped in a free kick for Stephen Salvin to head home from close range and give Bishops the win.