Northern League Cup Round 1
15 September, 2010
Stokesley 5 : Bishop
Auckland 1
Bishop Auckland – Peter Jeffries / Chris Bell / Thomas Blackett / Darren Atkinson / Chris Lawson / Joe Grant / Adam Strong / Stephen Salvin (capt) / Arran Wearmouth / Steven Turnbull / Darren Richardson (Simon Ord, 63mins)
Bishops met Stokesley for the very first time at the Lotus Electrical & Mechanical Stadium in the First Round of the Northern League Cup.
Weakened by injuries, unavailability and no-shows, the teamsheet showed four changes from the starting line-up for Saturday’s win at Ryton. Chris Bell, Thomas Blackett, Joe Grant and Darren Richardson all came into the side in place of Wayne Clarke, Wayne Gredziak, John Hutton and Simon Ord. The latter two were named on the substitutes bench alongside Craig Toman and manager Colin Myers.
The match kicked
off under clear skies as the sun was setting on a lovely autumnal evening and
as the Two Blues supporters made their way behind the far goal, Bishops took
the lead.
In only the second minute of play, a cross into the box from Adam Strong eventually fell to Arran Wearmouth, who beat the keeper low to his right.
Four minutes
later and it could have been two. Stephen Salvin won a header in the box and
the ball again fell to Wearmouth, but his curling shot was met with a flying
save from keeper Binks.
Five minutes later, Strong was fouled and although the free kick was partially cleared, the ball was floated back over the home defence only for Stephen Salvin’s header to go inches wide.
Arran Wearmouth was looking lively up front and was attracting some unwanted attention from the Stokesley defenders. Whilst off the field for treatment and with 15 minutes on the clock, the home side equalised when a pass over the Bishop’s static defenders was met by Bryan Stewart, who calmly went around Peter Jeffries before rolling the ball into an empty net.
Bishops went in search of the lead again and a ball over the top on 20 minutes gave Wearmouth a chance to run at goal with Strong in support, but the young centre forward struggled to control the ball allowing the defenders to get back and crowd him out.
Five minutes later, a nice passing move down the right wing involving Strong, Salvin and Wearmouth led to a low cross along the six yard line, but Darren Richardson could not get on the end of it.
On the half hour, a long ball from Strong found its way to Wearmouth, who was alone in front of goal with the Stokesley defenders appealing for offside. After taking time to steady himself, his curling shot was well saved by Binks.
Just before half-time, a long clearance from the Bishops defence found Strong who ran on towards goal as the keeper hurried out, but the winger’s shot clipped the outside of the right-hand post as the defenders again appealed in vain for an offside flag. Baynes was rightfully booked by referee Peart for his protest and for the language hurled unnecessarily at the official.
HT: Stokesley 1, Bishop Auckland 1
In the second half, Bishops were left to rue their profligacy in front of goal as the home side notched up four further goals without reply.
On 54 minutes, a free kick awarded on the left wing for a niggling foul was floated into the box where Close netted low down at the near post.
After Jeffries pulled off two good saves both from Liley, the Bishops keeper was at fault for the third goal when a long cross by Honeyman into the box was overhit, but as the custodian collided with the far post, the ball was fumbled into the net.
The late arriving Simon Ord came on for Richardson and Bishops tried to get back into the tie. Salvin won the ball and passed it out to Wearmouth who made his way to the byline, but once again no one could apply the finishing touch to his low cross along the six yard line.
From a corner taken by Chris Bell on the right, Bishops put the home keeper under pressure, but an unchallenged Salvin could only head wide.
With ten minutes to go and as Bishops tired, Close put the game beyond any doubt and completed his hat-trick by chipping Jeffries twice within two minutes.
Just two more incidents to note as the clock slowly ticked down to the final whistle. Chris Lawson was unfortunate to be booked when he clearly won an aerial challenge and a Salvin header which was on target was cleared off the line in the dying moments.
So Stokesley progress and face a midweek trip in the next round to either Whitehaven or Seaham. Bishops must hope for better in the FA Vase on Sunday against Chester-le-Street Town.
FT: Stokesley 5, Bishop Auckland 1