Bishop Auckland v Billingham Town

Recap

Bishop Auckland: Liversedge, Burlace, Banks, Elgie, McGoldrick, Daley, Weirs, Whitfield, Fairley, Giles, Milburn

Billingham Town: Harkess, James, Gordon, Riding, Heeley, Sturdy, Noble, Harris, Close, Braithwaite, Snaith

Fine attacking performances from Dale Milburn, Wayne Whitfield and Marcus Giles rubber-stamped Bishops’ passage through to the next round of the Durham Challenge Cup against Division two leaders Billingham Town.

A bright opening in which the visitors came close with a rasping shot and then took the lead when Harry Close took advantage of a sloppy pass to fire past Liversedge, gave way to a fine display of pass and movement from the confident Bishops.

Milburn equalised on 28 minutes when a signature Burlace cross found him at the far post to blast home and then 7 minutes later Giles latched on to a fine Whitfield pass to prod the ball past the on-rushing keeper.

Within 10 minutes of the interval, Giles had a strike saved, Banks cross rattled the crossbar and a Fairley chip dropped just over the bar as Bishops looked to assert further control of the game.

The game was put out of ‘Towns’ reach when Whitfield struck twice in quick succession on the hour mark, the in form forward tapping in a Giles cross and then winning and converting a penalty after he was felled by Harkess.

Giles fired wide when clean through as Bishops hunted a fifth goal but the scoring for the night was complete and there was enough time for young reserve player Reed Molloy to come on to make his first team debut, showing some nice touches in the minutes that remained.

Programme: Bishop v Billingham Town 11.10.22

Teamsheet: BAFC v Billingham Town 11 10 2022