Report

The Stan were pawns to the Bishops as they were uncharacteristically outplayed & heavily beaten on their trip to the only league ground that they also visited last season in the Northern League. There were 4 changes from the defeat at Bridlington 2 weeks ago with De Jesus, Turnbull, Slaughter & Stephenson replacing Brass, Shepherd, Ellison & Anderson. Jay Errington made his debut from the bench after signing from Ashington.

The Stan were 1^st to threaten & Lamb had a shot blocked on the edge of the box after 3 minutes. The home keeper then had to catch from a Stan free kick. Bishop then counter attacked with De Jesus getting down to grab the ball just before a home player got to it. Lamb then shot well wide under pressure. In 7 minutes, an advancing home player shot just wide although De Jesus was down ready. There was then more Bishop pressure with the Stan defence having to clear twice. In 14 minutes, after some more home pressure, Stephenson was brought down & he sent the resulting free kick into the box with it being initially cleared before the Bishop keeper saved the follow up effort. In 21 minutes, a Bishop player blasted the ball just over the bar. 3 minutes later, after the home keeper easily caught a Stan effort, a Bishop player sent the ball across the Stan goal but it was missed by everyone. Both teams were trying to attack but Bishop were having more of the ball. In 26 minutes, a ball from a Bishop corner was headed clear but was sent back in & went into the net off the post. After 32 minutes, Stephenson had a good opportunity but shot straight at the keeper. Bishop then had a shot cleared. In 34 minutes, Marriott replaced the injured Grove. In 39 minutes, the Stan defence blocked 2 shots before a Stephenson ball into the home box to Burn was cleared. In 42 minutes, things got worse for the Stan when Marriott lost the ball & a home player ran forward & shot past De Jesus to make it 2-0 to Bishop Auckland. The half ended with a Stan ball into the box being cleared followed by a home attack being off side.

The Stan started the 2^nd half positively & had 2 balls cleared in 49 minutes although this was followed by Spence losing the ball & a home player then shooting just wide. Soon after, a home player broke again but De Jesus came out & got down to the ball. In 54 minutes, a Stephenson free kick into the Bishop box was missed by everyone & when eventually sent back into the box the resulting shot was caught by the home keeper. Slaughter then crossed to Lamb who put the ball just wide. In 59 minutes, De Jesus got down to save. Soon after, sub Errington had a shot deflected for a corner from which Spence’s header was caught by the home keeper. After 67 minutes, Lamb shot just wide. The Stan were looking better this half although after 70 minutes there was some solid Bishop pressure with De Jesus having to block the ball twice. The Stan then had to block again. In 74 minutes, a Stan free kick was caught by the Bishop keeper, a home player then broke forward & chipped De Jesus to make it 3-0 to Bishop Auckland. After a quieter period, Bishop shot just wide in 81 minutes. Soon after they blasted another shot high & wide. In 87 minutes, a ball was headed out for a Bishop corner from which the ball was forced into the net for a 4^th home goal. Soon after, sub Ellison headed wide under pressure followed by a Bishop player shooting over the Stan bar. The match finished with a ball from a home free kick being blocked on the Stan goal line.

Despite trying, the Stan didn’t manage to get into the game against a good Bishop Auckland performance. They now hope to get back to winning ways next Saturday when they host Stocksbridge Park Steels.

Kevin Mochrie

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