Recap
The two blues two season stay in the Northern Premier League came to a disappointing end as former player Paul Van Zandvliet completed a second half hat trick.
In front of a bumper 804 crowd, with a good following from Blyth, the afternoon began well for Bishops’ when Jack Blackford stole in and guided the ball past Hogan after 21 minutes.
Other than the goal, the opening half was a scrappy spectacle with no other clear cut chances and at half time Bishops’ had edged out of the relegation zone with Ossett being held by Bradford (Park Avenue).
Bishops’ started the second period in positive fashion, looking for further breathing space, Blackford having a goal bound effort blocked. However, minutes later, a deep free kick from the visitors sailed over Norton and Van Zandvliet headed into an empty net at the far post.
News came in that Ossett were now losing and Bishops’ had further efforts blocked by a committed Spartans defence but were again undone by another header from Van Zandvliet from a corner. A quick break on 67 minutes gave Bishops’ with a mountain to climb, Norton conceding a penalty and Van Zandvliet sending the keeper the wrong way from the spot.
As Bishops desperately rallied, Thexton blazed over from a couple of yards when Roberts set him up. Potter got one back with four minutes of normal time remaining, nodding in an Almond pull back. After five minutes of additional time, Bishops’ relegation was confirmed with a fourth from bottom placed finish.
Match report by Gavin Hadden.
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