Recap
Tow Law: Orton, Goldsborough, Joynes, Renshaw, Page, Seymour, Bateman, Pearson, McAloon, Bailey, Marriott
A welcome return to league action after the best part of a month for Bishops and with Ashington and Whitley Bay faltering another home victory would further cement the top spot.
The opening stages did not go to plan as the Tow Law front two of McAloon and Marriott looked a threat and after just a couple of minutes, the former combined with the latter to round Liversedge and tap the visitors in front. Bishops looked to hit back immediately and after testing Orton with a couple of shots a ‘Lawyers’ defender committed a handball to gift wrap another penalty for Gott to take his season’s goal tally to thirteen.
Inside 15 minutes, Bishops were ahead when Johnson floated a perfect pass over the head of the last defender and into the path of Giles, who nonchalantly stroked passed a diving Orton. The game was already very open, and although Liversedge made a good block with his legs at the near post, the Tow Law back line looked exposed every time the two blues shirts were able to break in numbers. Johnson was at his lively best and good work from the forward set up Fairley on 28 minutes whose shot was beaten out and the rebound fell kindly for Johnson to finish via a slight deflection.
Renshaw was fortunate to stay on the pitch when after hacking down Johnson he got into a confrontation with Fairley. Whitfield guided a free header straight at Orton and then Johnson had his shot blocked by the keeper when clean through on goal as Tow Law clung onto respectability at the end of the half.
Bishops started the second half strongly with several efforts on Orton’s goal, despite losing Burlace to injury, who was replaced in the defence by midfielder Braggs. On 62 minutes a Tow Law corner wasn’t cleared properly and after Liversedge made a good point-blank save the rebound fell to Marley who made no mistake.
A two-goal cushion was restored on 74 minutes as the rain began to pour, Whitfield feeding Giles and the forward firing in a trademark shot burst through Orton’s hands. Thexton was introduced for a cameo following injury and he had a pair of glorious chances to put some gloss on the score line in the closing stages, blasting over twice from just yards out.
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