Recap

EBAC Northern League Division One

Wednesday 16th August 2017

Bishop Auckland 0-1 Ashington AFC

Team: Dawson, Bennett, Hoganson, Gilhespy, Hall, Griffiths, Thompson, Jury, McAloon (Johnson 46 minutes), Trotter, Goundry

Subs Unused: Lovegreen, Robinson, Wigley, Adams

Goalscorers: 

Attendance: 199

Darlington Building Society Man of the Match: Daryl Hall

The Blues came in to the game versus Ashington off the back of a comprehensive defeat by Newcastle Benfield. Colin Myers made four changes to the team, in came Dawson in between the sticks, Gilhesphy and Thompson returned from being on holiday and Trotter returned from suspension that has seen him miss the start of the season.

Bishop started really well and won a series of corners and free kicks threatening the Ashington goal, in the 4th minute the Ashington goal keeper had to make a good stop to prevent a Griffiths free kick from opening the scoring.

Ashington tried to catch Dawson unaware when they tried their luck through a 45 yard shot but the Bishop keeper managed to prevent it from looping over him.

The first half continued to provide chances for both sides, both of whom were working very hard to provide the breakthrough.

In the 32nd minute McAloon fired a shot just wide of the Ashington upright, the ball must had been deflected on route and it provided Bishop a corner which amounted to nothing.

Ashington failed to capitalise on an error in the Bishop defence in the 39th minute when they really should have scored.

Neither side could find a way through before the break and the first half ended 0-0, the Bishop fans buoyed by their teams first half competitive display.

HT – Bishop Auckland 0 – 0 Ashington AFC

One big change at half time for Bishop saw Andy Johnson make his return from injury when he replaced McAloon.

The second half started in the same vain as the first with both sides fashioning chances.

On 58 minutes Ashington’s fullback Hornsby cynically wiped out AJ after he had robbed him of the ball on the half way line, the referee deemed the offence worth a Yellow card.

Bishop then were lucky when it looked like Dawson had taken out an Ashington forward in the penalty area, the referee waved away the protests.

In the 61st minute Hornsby again was the offender when he took out Thompson preventing him from making a driving run forward, this time the referee only spoke to the Ashington fullback despite the dismay of the crowd. In truth the Ashington player should had been leaving the pitch for an early bath as the second offence was much worse than the first. A few minutes later Hornsby was withdrawn to prevent him from picking up a second booking.

As the game moved in to the later stages it looked as if one goal was going to be enough to win it, and in the 75th minute Bishop thought and looked to have it when Trotter flicked the ball goalwards and for it to be hooked clear off the line, Goundry failed to convert the rebound.

However in the 88th minute a mistake in the Bishop defence presented Ashington with a three on one attack, which the ever dangerous Harmison converted.

They was still enough time for another Bishop penalty appeal when it looked like an Ashington defender handled the ball in his own area but as per all match the referee waved the appeal away.

To lose the game was hard on Bishop who put in a good shift to gain the positive result needed.

FT – Bishop Auckland 0 – 1 Ashington AFC