Recap
Bishops hit title rivals Shildon for five in a thoroughly professional Boxing Day performance, with Shab Mohammad scoring a hat trick which included a pair of penalty kicks.
Shab put away his first goal from the spot just minutes into the game after Henderson was chopped down on the edge of the box. Bishops’ dream start to the game was rubber-stamped inside 10 minutes when a superb right-sided cross from Burlace was headed past Foden by Mohammed to send the sizeable away following into raptures.
The Shildon’s credit they went on to have good spells of possession around the Bishops’ box and after Banks was felled they had a penalty of their own which Posthill converted to close the gap. However, just before halftime an inviting cross from Howard found the toe end of Johnson who prodded the ball goalwards and Foden could only help the ball into the net with his outstretched foot.
With a two-goal cushion again established Bishops were comfortable with absorbing the home side’s possession for large periods of the second half without really being stretched. The game was put out of the reach of Shildon when Henderson was brought down by Foden and the keeper was sent off after he got to his feet following his clumsy challenge. Mohammed beat the substitute keeper Herdman for his hat trick.
Howard hit the frame of the home goal with a rasping effort before the scoring was completed ten minutes from the end when Johnson fired in a low cross which Henderson turned home for his 17th goal of the season. The Bishops’ support was sent home in good voice with much to look forward to as 2024 awaits.
Match report by Gavin Hadden
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