Recap
Liam Henderson came into the starting lineup to replace the in-form Dean Thexton as Bishops prepared for a battle on a challenging playing surface at the Darren Persson Stadium.
The opening exchanges didn’t offer much in the way of chances for either side but it was Bishops who looked to try and get the ball down as best as they could, with Louis Johnson the subject of some questionable fouls that strangely went unpunished. Similarly, Henderson appeared to be on the receiving end of a late and high challenge just inside the penalty area but again the referee did not agree.
On 27 minutes the home side came close when Holmes started a move and fed Telfer whose effort was deflected just wide. Johnson had a powerful shot blocked by a defender’s body near the goalmouth but North Shields showed their threat when to Bishops’ relief McCamley was beaten by a huge bobble which took the ball comically away from him as he attempted to fire an effort towards Catterick’s goal.
Shortly before halftime Bishops’ forward Henderson was sent to the sin bin for an argument off the ball, leaving his side to begin the second half a man light.
The much-needed breakthrough arrived just past the hour mark when a cross from the right was handballed and Gott stepped up with his usual aplomb to pass the ball into the opposite corner to Dobson. Johnson manufactured some room to fire in a stinging drive that Dobson did well to stop with a flying save with 72 minutes on the clock.
As the game reached its closing stages North Shields moved their imposing centre half Ben Harmison into an attacking role with Bishops having to defend a series of crosses and hopeful balls into the box. To the relief of the away support, substitute Thexton combined well with Johnson for the latter to stride through and pass the ball into the net from six yards out just before full-time.
This was a hard-fought win that keeps Shildon six points behind at the top of the league.
v 