Recap
Bishops produced a scintillating first-half performance to slice through a shell-shocked Birtley side. Liam Henderson continued where he left off in Saturday’s FA Vase win and had his brace inside the opening ten minutes. A low shot from 20 yards in the opening minute of the game seemed to catch the keeper out and found the corner of the net. Then a slick move resulted in a close-range finish from a Johnson centre from the left.
The game was temporarily held up midway through the half after a couple of injury scares for the home side, and after a dangerous free kick was fired straight at Catterick Bartliff responded when he was played in on goal but fired his shot just over the bar when excellently placed. Just three minutes later a decisive one-two allowed Howard to produce a superb bit of skill to beat his marker and side-foot the ball past the home stopper.
Bishops closed out the half in great fashion as Johnson again found space down the left and crossed for Watt to scoop home at the near post.
The green and white hoops credit they came out in the second period and gave a much better account of themselves and Catterick produced a couple of good stops. Gott was replaced by Parnaby just past the hour mark with the pattern of the game in no danger of swinging dramatically in the home side’s favour. However, with thirteen minutes remaining the home side did get on the scoresheet as an effort by Clarkson at the far post found its way in.
Substitute Thexton was left furious after his seemingly legitimate-looking tap-in from a Burlace cross was flagged offside. The forward almost made amends immediately as he was denied by Gordon after advancing toward the goal. This was to be the last action in the game and Bishops can look forward to a testing-looking fixture at Heaton Stannington on Saturday.
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