Recap
Bishops’ passage through to the third round for the very first time was made straightforward with a disciplined performance on a testing surface in Stockport. The home side were spirited throughout but Liam Hendersdon’s first hat trick for the club sent the excellent travelling support home happy.
Bartliff was named in the starting XI initially but had to drop out before kick-off off meaning Liam Cooke came in for his return to the side after his own injury, slotting in alongside Mohammad and May with Gott not making the matchday squad.
May led by example throughout as Bishops got to grips with a very heavy pitch and forged into the lead inside 20 minutes when Henderson stooped low to head in a corner through a crowd of players. Bishops should have had a penalty when Henderson was barged over just inside the penalty area but the referee adjudged the infringement to have been just outside to the dismay of most people near to the incident.
The ‘Georgian’s’ keeper was by no means overworked in the opening half but did make a fine reaction save to tip over a Giles rasping shot as Bishops continued to make most of the running. Henderson grabbed his second when he got on the end of a low hard Burlace cross to steer in a side-footed effort.
As darkness began to fall it was a largely scrappy start to the second half with both sides battling hard. With 20 minutes remaining Henderson was on hand once again to apply the finishing touch after several efforts were blocked in front of the line by a combination of good goalkeeping and desperate defending.
The final whistle signalled a job very well done and the draw for the next round will take place on Monday where a further four Northern League teams will feature.
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