Bishop Auckland v Newton Aycliffe

Recap

Bishop Auckland: Harry Flatters, Liversedge, Jamie Marshall, Lucas Pilling, Stephen Oakley, Jordan Emery, El Haj, Olly Hotchkiss, Chris Emms, Lewis Murphy, Alfie Pearn, Chris Winn

Newton Aycliffe: Adam Pickford, Callum Munro, Marc Costello, Alex Walker, Jack Naylor, Ben Dibb-Fuller, Lewis Walton, Ethan Wood, Adam Burnicle, Sonni Coleman, Jack Petitjean

A warm, clear early August evening was the perfect setting for the 406 in attendance as Bishops kicked off their home season with the visit of local rivals Newton Aycliffe, who are heavily fancied as league challengers.

The opening 20 minutes of the game were very subdued with both sides struggling for any cohesion.  The visitors were let down on several occasions by overhitting their final pass as they threatened at least to advance on the Bishops goal but Harry Flatters who was deputising for No.1 Nick Liversedge was quick off his line to collect.  When he was beaten after a quick one two between the Aycliffe front men the offside flag was already up.

Arguably, as the half progressed Bishops were looking the more likely to edge ahead and after forcing a number of corners, on 40 minutes Jordan Emery almost took advantage of Pickford being caught out as a deep in-swinger found him at the back post but his instinctive scissor kick attempt was narrowly over the top of the bar.  El Haj then had a goal bound effort easily saved on the line minutes later from another Hotchkiss corner.

Just prior to the break Pearn was involved in an aerial collision and had to be replaced with a nasty looking gash to his head.  HT 0-0.

The tempo of the 2nd half was markedly more frantic but the early stages were again absent of any significant goalmouth action.  This would be to change as Aycliffe started to gain the upper hand.  After a couple of harmless efforts off target Burnicle ran at Marshall on the right hand side and drove in a low shot which was well held by Flatters.  Shortly after the young Bishops keeper was to make his first excellent point blank save when a left hand side cross found a forward who’s first time volley was beaten out.  The ball was quickly recycled and a low drive narrowly flew wide of the far post.

Another move down the Bishops right saw Flatters deflect a goal bound effort wide with his legs, then after Winn had a half chance at the back post following a rare Bishops attack, Flatters dived at the feet to smother a quick Aycliffe counter attack.

Flatters made his second stunning save from substitute Ben Wood with 5 minutes left but the same players follow up effort through a crowded area agonisingly found the corner, finally breaching Bishops stubborn resistance.

FT 0-1.  ATT 406.