Northern League Division 1
24 August, 2010
Sunderland RCA 0 : Bishop Auckland 3
Bishop Auckland – Peter Jeffries / Chris Bell / Tom Blackett / Wayne Clarke / Chris Lawson / Simon Ord / Arran Wearmouth (Gavin Barton 25mins) / Stephen Salvin (Darren Richardson 80mins) / Wayne Gredziak / Steven Turnbull / Adam Emson
Bishops made a return to Meadow Park after more than two decades and welcomed new signing Chris Bell into the starting line up.
The visitors were immediately on the attack and Emson saw a cross deflected high but dipped just over the bar.
Inside two minutes and Bishops were ahead. A corner was partially cleared but Simon Ord fired a forceful low shot which took a slight deflection before nestling in the bottom corner of the net for 1-0.
16 minutes on the clock and Bishops doubled the lead. Wayne Gredziak flicked a high ball to Emson who held off a defender before passing the ball under the ‘keeper from a tight angle and into the net. 2-0.
Two minutes later and another chance to Bishops when Wearmouth ran through and passed to Emson but the midfielder just failed to take the ball in his stride.
Arran Wearmouth was replaced by Gavin Barton on 25 minutes, with the young striker feeling unwell.
Bishops continued to attack and a low cross from Blackett on the half hour just evaded the advancing Barton.
39 minutes and a huge clearance from Jeffries struck Barton on the back of the head as the striker jostled for position on the edge of the 18 yard box but flew wide of the posts.
Lawson played a superb defence splitting pass to Barton who fired in a shot which deflected off the ‘keeper’s ankles and out for a coner. From the corner Bishops won another corner and from that corner Barton headed Bell’s kick back into the danger area and Lawson’s header was gathered by the ‘keeper.
HT: Sunderland RCA 0 : Bishop Auckland 2
Bishops defended the bottom of the hill in the second half but were still on the attack as the half started with Emson spinning to shoot, but the ball was tipped round the post.
After that initial flurry, Bishops defended deep and allowed RCA to dominated territory. On 58 minutes Jeffries was in the right place at the near post to stop a ball with his feed after the ball bounced around the right hand side of the box.
From a quick break Emson slotted to Barton whose low shot again hit the ‘keeper’s ankle and flew wide.
A minute later and another Bishops quick break with Jeffries throwing out to Emson whose crossfield pass reached Bell who raced forward from the half way line, turned his man and let off a shot which was comfortably saved.
Bishops were denied a very clear penalty on the hour when Barton was grabbed by the shirt and swung round through 360 degrees before being deposited on the floor in the box, but remarkably the referee missed the offence.
66 minutes and a corner from Bell found Lawson and the defender’s header went across goal before being back-heeled towards the goal but the ball was cleared from the line.
Darren Richardson replaced Stephen Salvin on 80 minutes.
RCA continued to press throughout the half and their closest chance came on 85 minutes when a header hit the foot of the post but rebounded clear.
Just on 90 minutes and Darren Richardson got in the right place to block a clearance after a free kick following a foul by former Bishops player Joe Fairish and the ball ran free into the gap behind the defenders. The midfielder raced on and hit a shot across the ‘keeper and into the net for 3-0.
Wayne Gredziak fired over into the cemetery seconds later before the final whistle blew.
FT: Sunderland RCA 0
: Bishop Auckland 3