Recap
Whitley Bay: Lister, Hall, Turnbull, Irons, Lowery, Day, Taylor, Morien, Orrell, Neary, Porritt
Bishop Auckland: Dixon, Elgie, Errington, Risbrough, Burlace, Mills, Gott, Weirs, Whitfield, Fairley, Johnson
Hillheads has not been the best of hunting grounds since our return to the Northern League, but this new look Bishops’ side continued the excellent start to the season with another emphatic victory.
It was done in the absence of the ever-reliable Nick Liversedge who was replaced between the sticks by debutant Dan Dixon, and on the rare occasion he was called into action he gave an assured display. In fact, his only save of note came early in the game as the home side settled the better of the two sides with Orrell getting away a low shot that was palmed out for a corner.
Bishops grew into the game and Johnson in particular was a threat in behind, the forward having an effort cleared off the line on 25 minutes. Just after the half-hour mark Burlace, as on Saturday, provided the assist for the opening goal, finding Johnson with a low pass which was side-footed home. Just 5 minutes later Gott hit the underside of the bar with a dipping free kick and Fairley couldn’t quite force the follow-up home with a combination of Bay defender and post saving the home side. HT 0-1.
A succession of chances was created at the start of the 2nd half with Risbrough, Weirs and Johnson all involved, with the latter striking just wide. On 60 minutes a lovely intricate move played in Fairley who thought he had scored but for the linesman’s offside flag. Just 2 minutes later and with Weirs clean through Day committed a foul which was adjudged to have begun outside the box. After a short deliberation between referee and assistant Day was sent off. Fairley stepped up to take the free kick and his effort was intercepted on the goal line by a well-placed defender.
With 15 minutes left Bishops needed another goal to kill off the game and it arrived courtesy of that man Johnson again, this time prodding in a Fairley cross. The goal sparked a flurry of substitutes from both sides but this did not stunt Bishops attacking threat, Johnson almost getting his hat trick as his close-range diving header rattled the post. In the space of a couple of minutes Risbrough and Whitfield added to Bay’s misery; the impressive full-back pouncing on a mistake and firing past Lister, followed by the forward sweetly converting a perfect cross from the right. Early days but Bishops sit top of the pile after two games! FT 4-0. ATT 372.
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