Recap
Match Report by Gavin Hadden
Bishop Auckland: Liversedge, Lavery, Rowbotham, Callaghan, James, Miller, Whitfield, Mills, Waters, Garbutt, Coleman
Northallerton: Petrovic, Snook, Graham, Crust, Marron, Ryder, Bruton, Stephenson, Rae, Hopson, Hope
Bottom of the table Northallerton Town were the visitors as Bishops changed personnel and formation, switching to a back four with Jamie Poole missing out. The away side looked relatively comfortable in the early stages of the match but it was Bishops who had the games first meaningful attempt on goal when Garbutt picked up a loose ball on the edge of the box and forced Petrovic into a comfortable save. ‘Towns’ first attack of their own brough them a goal, Liversedge initially making a fine diving block and then Bruton lashing the follow up into the roof of the net after the ball rebounded off the cross bar.
Bishops didn’t have to wait too long before levelling the scores when Coleman headed in a deep cross from debutant James, who swung in the ball following a throw in down the right-hand side. Miller was the next player to break his Bishop goalscoring duck on 31 minutes, receiving a chipped Garbutt pass over the head of the last defender and finishing expertly as the keeper raced out of his goal area. The lead was deserved at the interval as the two blues had looked much the more fluent side after an unsettling start – this didn’t give any indication of what was to follow…. HT 2-1.
It took just 6 minutes after the re-start for veteran forward Rae to peg Bishops back, glancing a header past Liversedge from a pin point cross. Rae then had a hand in the visitors third goal on 63 minutes when his ball into the box was only partially cleared and Bruton with his back to goal laid it on a plate for Stephenson to side foot into the far corner. Things were to get worse for a shell shocked Bishop side as 6 minutes later Bruton grabbed his brace when he swept the ball in following a quick throw and cross into the danger area.
Inevitably Bishops tried to get back into the game but the clearest opportunity was a free header from a Mills free kick which was straight at the keeper. Northallerton had a great chance at the other end but Bruton inexplicably rolled the ball wide with an open goal in front of him following a challenge with Liversedge. Another quick break up field in the final seconds f the game saw Liversedge make a good save before the referee called a halt to proceedings and left the two blues looking dejected. FT 2-4. ATT 206.
v 