Northern League Division 1
7 August, 2010
Bishop Auckland 2 : Penrith 3
Bishop Auckland –Peter Jeffries / Chris Lawson / Tom Blackett / Wayne Clarke / John Hutton / Simon Ord (Steven Turnbull 71mins) / Arran Wearmouth / Stephen Salvin / Gavin Barton / Wayne Gredziak / Adam Emson
Bishops began the Northern League season on what started out as a very sunny afternoon at Darlington Road. John Hutton and Arran Wearmouth made their competitive debuts for the club, with Gavin Barton making a return after a year away.
A nightmare start as James Earl finished off a decent move with a strong finish across Jeffries and into the far corner on 14 minutes.
Bishops came closed to equalising on 19 minutes when Hutton powered in a header from a corner from 15 yards which clipped the top of the bar.
The game swung from end to end with Bishops playing some decent football. Barton and Gredziak combined well on 33 minutes but Gredziak’s shot slipped just wide of the far post.
40 minutes gone and Bishops defence was caught out with a ball over the top. Hutton looked to have made an excellent last ditch tackle, but was penalised with a yellow card, and Jeffries picked up a needless yellow for kicking the ball away in frustration.
Another good chance for Bishops on 43 minutes but Barton headed wide.
Bishops were two behind on 45 minutes. Blackett raced to clear wide on the touchline but instead just kept the ball in for Penrith to continue an attack. A ball into the centre to Robinson – a player whose only previously exhibited skill had been to bawl obscenities at the top of his voice across the County Durham countryside in an embarrassing and disgraceful fashion - managed through a combination of luck and judgement to turn both Bishops central defenders and slot home low to make it 2-0.
Bishops were denied one back when Penrith ‘keeper Holland missed a cross and instead punched Salvin in the head. Presumably because the ball fell to Emson the whistle wasn’t blown, but Emson’s shot was cleared off the line by some sharp defending.
HT: Bishop Auckland 0 : Penrith 2
The second half started with rain, and Bishops hopes of a second half recovery were dealt a serious blow soon after play resumed. Blackett headed a cross straight to a Penrith forward who found Wilson and he fired home with little trouble for 3-0.
Three goals down but Bishops certainly weren’t throwing in the towel. 48 minutes and again Bishops came close. The impressive Wearmouth shot across goal and Gredziak at full stretch just failed to apply a finishing touch.
55 minutes and Hutton mis-hit a back pass from near the halfway line, but some atrocious finishing saw the ball blazed over the bar.
Penrith’s timewasting which had been apparent from the start of the second half reached a new level on 58 minutes when Lawson was denied the opportunity to take a quick throw in by a member of the Penrith management team who grabbed and held onto the ball. When Lawson attempted to retrieve the ball he was struck by the Penrith official. Despite the referee having a clear view of the incident, he only wasted further time by administering a stern lecture.
Bishops grabbed a goal back on the hour. Emson, having a relatively quiet game on the left lifted in a deep cross which Barton struck well on the volley into the opposite side of the net for 1-3.
The Two Blues lifted the pressure with Wearmouth firing in a low free kick on 64 minutes which was parried by Holland but just away from the advancing Lawson.
A yellow for Penrith’s Hoolickin when his attempt to pick up and replace the ball for a third time for a meaningless free kick tested even this referee’s patience.
Turnbull replaced Ord on 71 minutes as Bishops moved almost to a five man attack with Salvin and pushing forward to join Gredziak, Barton, Wearmouth and Emson to try to force a second goal.
However, that left gaps at the other end and Penrith sub Allinson should have settled the game on 78 minutes but Lawson capitalised on some hesitancy and redeemed the situation.
A worthy yellow for Penrith ‘keeper Holland with five minutes remaining as he again delayed a goal kick.
Emson was felled in the box just on 90 minutes but no penalty.
Still, with four substitutions, two yellow cards for timewasting and a long lecture for the attack on Lawson, there would surely be plenty of time to add on.
Emson struck in a well taken second for Bishops in the final of the three added minutes.
All in all there were some bright points at the front end of the field, but defensive errors left Bishops with nothing to show for their efforts.
FT: Bishop Auckland 2 : Penrith 3