Recap
It’s over 70 years since Bishops last travelled to Grounsell Park in a Northern League Fixture, with the Two Blues running out 4-0 winners on that occasion before romping to a comfortable Northern League title, only losing one game that season. Meanwhile, Heaton Stannington resigned from the league at the end of the season having finished in the bottom three for the fifth season in a row. It’s unlikely that any present on that day was at the match on Saturday, but if they were, they’d have been shocked at the ability to pay by credit card at the gate and the number of cars parked behind the goal, but likely that very little else will have changed.
The afternoon was bright and breezy with Bishops kicking into the wind in the first half. I made my way around the ground with the chattering of kids and parents on the “out of bounds” grassy bank to my right, and a tirade of filthy abuse from the home management team to the assistant referee on my left. The authentic Northern League experience. We watched from the side of the goal to avoid the netting, but most of the Bishops’ supporters stood behind the goal, sharing the space with the vegetable patches and greenhouses from adjoining houses which extended out onto the terracing.
Bishops struggled to deal with the offside trap in the early exchanges but took the lead with an excellent goal in the 37 minute when a low ball to Johnson was flicked behind and to his left to the advancing Gott who let the ball drop from its high bounce before smashing it home through the home keeper. 1-0.
We started the second half strongly but as the game progressed the home side came more into it and two great chances arrived with 15 minutes to go. The first, a good ball to the far post which was diverted just past the far post at full stretch, and seconds later Liversedge had to make a brilliant save from a one on one to preserve the lead. Soon after, and the game was done. Gott weaved through the home defence before slotting the ball home low to the keeper’s left. Two excellent goals from the Bishops’ skipper.
Another good away win with the home side looking better than their current league position suggested and providing strong opposition, but Two Blues are flying and stayed top of the league for another weekend.
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