Northern League Division 1
10 August, 2010
Esh Winning 0 : Bishop Auckland 2
Bishop Auckland –Peter Jeffries / Chris Lawson / Tom Blackett / Wayne Clarke / John Hutton / Mark Henson / Arran Wearmouth (Simon Ord 60mins) / Stephen Salvin / Gavin Barton / Wayne Gredziak / Adam Emson (Darren Richardson 84mins)
Mark Henson made his return after months off with injury, replacing Simon Ord in the starting line up as Bishops travelled to Esh Winning with both sides looking to bounce back from opening day defeats.
A late start but the game began on a bright evening with Bishops kicking up hill. Bishops were in defensive action early on and Esh had a half chance on seven minutes with Blackett hacking the ball clear.
12 minutes and Bishops were on the attack with the ball cleared to Wearmouth who blazed a shot from thirty yards which landed on the roof of the net.
Suddenly it was all Bishops and a minute later Henson unleashed a low shot which was well saved by Spence.
Next it was Barton who raced onto a one on one, prodding the ball over the advancing Spence but was unable to beat a defender to the loose ball for the tap in.
26 minutes and Esh were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box. A decent shot which looked like it was heading for the top corner before Jeffries leapt to tip over. Bishops broke quickly and Wearmouth delivered an excellent cross which Barton headed goalwards, but Spence pushed the ball over with his wrist.
Ten minutes later and Esh had another chance which was lashed just past the corner of the metalwork.
The end to end nature of the game continued as just on half time Barton chased down a ball over the top. Spence blasted the ball clear but straight at a defender, but fortunately for the Esh ‘keeper the ball rebounded wide of the goal.
Salvin and Lawson both picked up yellows as the half ended, before Esh were denied what looked like a decent penalty shout when a Bishops defender climbed to clear in the area.
HT: Esh Winning 0 : Bishop Auckland 0
Bishops started the second half on top and Emson’s cross found Barton who headed vertically under pressure. The forward got underneath the ball again but this time the header slotted between the far post and Gredziak’s outstretched leg.
Esh were straight up the other end and after the ball broke through from a blatent hand ball Jeffries had to rescue the situation with a good block. Esh missed another good chance a minute later when a Jeffries collected a weak lob which should have given him more trouble.
51 minutes and again it was Esh attacking with Blackett beaten down the right, but Jeffries again made the difference tipping a shot over from 12 yards.
Simon Ord replaced Arran Wearmouth on the hour mark.
Both ‘keepers were performing spectacularly. 63 minutes on the clock and after a Bishops attack was cleared to Lawson the defender lashed a superb dipping shot from 30 yards which Spence tipped over for a corner.
Esh missed an unbelievable opportunity on 73 minutes when the offside trap was beaten but the Esh substitute blazed wide with Jeffries struggling to make up his ground.
The decisive goal came on 74 minutes. A ball over the top fell between Barton and Spence. Bishops forward went in hard but fair, and as the ball was bobbling away from the challenge Barton reacted first to get back up and fire the ball home into the empty net. 1-0 to Bishops.
82 minutes and Henson opted not to pass and surged through before firing a shot just wide of the left hand post.
Darren Richardson replaced Emson on 84 minutes.
Bishops sealed the game on 88 minutes. A free kick awarded for a yellow carded foul on the half way line was clipped towards the penalty spot by Ord and Gredziak positioned his body below, guiding a header expertly just inside the right hand post.
Overall an even game with numerous chances for both sides, and both ‘keepers in outstanding form. However, Bishops strikers finishing proved decisive.
FT: Esh Winning 0 :
Bishop Auckland 2