Bishop Auckland v Pickering Town

Recap

Bishop Auckland: Liversedge, Elgie, Errington, Risbrough, Burlace, Mills, Gott, Weirs, Fairley, Whitfield, Johnson

Pickering Town: Norton, Poole, Roddam, Love, Nichols, Thornton, Wilson, Barnes, Nichols, Alngohuro, Warrilow

A depleted Pickering Town side making their debut in the Northern League was put to the sword as a rampant Bishops emphatically opened the 2022-23 season.

From minute one Bishops swarmed all over their opponents and only had to wait 5 minutes to breakthrough when Gott fed right back Dane Burlace who played an enticing ball across goal for Whitfield to steer past Norton in the ‘Pikes’ goal.

It was clear that Bishops’ were going to dominate the ball but the quality and speed of passing and movement was impressive as the visitors were forced into a number of sloppy misplaced passes which only aided the two blues’ cause.  James Fairley found himself in space behind but tried his luck a little too early and Norton made a comfortable save.  On 21 minutes Fairley played in Whitfield down the left and the forward was harshly adjudged to have been upended by Roddam inside the box.  Gott made no mistake from the spot.

Burlace once again produced an excellent delivery from the right which was just out of reach of Johnson before Risbrough cut inside and unleashed a drive which was deflected out for a corner.  However, the third goal which did not flatter Bishops at all, arrived shortly before the interval when a Risbrough free kick drifted inside the left-hand post with no one getting a touch.  HT 3-0.

An early contender for goal of the season got the expectant Bishops fans back on their feet inside 10 minutes of the re-start when Burlace received a floated Fairley pass and unleashed a 30-yard pile driver which Norton could only help into the top corner.  Just 3 minutes later and a lovely move resulted in Johnson striking against the post.

As Bishops continued to play with a swagger not seen for a long time, Risbrough added a fifth goal when he advanced toward goal after Johnson spun a defender and after twisting and turning placed a shot past Norton.  A number of subs only sparked further good chances with Milburn skewing wide when clean through, but on 79 minutes the impressive Johnson appeared to be fouled inside the area but picked himself up to curl the ball around the half-heartedly arranged ‘wall’ from the very edge of the 18 yard box.  That completed the scoring on what was a totally dominant performance.  FT 6-0. ATT 304.

Programme: Bishop v Pickering 30.07.22

Team sheet: BAFC v Pickering Team Sheet 30-07-2022