Saturday, 14 September 2013
Bishop Auckland (2nd) v. South Shields (15th)
Heritage Park
Our unbeaten streak in league play came to an end today, in a match we never looked much like winning. We only tested their keeper once, and it wasn't much of a threat.
South Shields' manager Billy Carpenter didn't elect to play former Bishops front man
Phil Booth, who has yet to score in the league. His replacement, teenager Joseph Hunt, got the game's only goal when he slipped past
Darren Pook, put
Steven Griffin on the wrong foot, and rolled it in for one of the easiest scores he'll ever enjoy.
I'm going to give Pook a break from the first team. He's struggled a bit in his last two appearances.
I called a few of our guys up from the Under 21s to fill out our bench, since we had some regulars who were still very tired from our last match. Midfielder
Colin Collantine made his senior bow, coming in as a sub.
Whitley Bay defeated Billingham Town, so those two clubs are level on 12 points at the top of the table. We could have gone top with a win, but instead, we're among three teams on 11 points.
Richard Stockley, a goalkeeper for our Under 21 side who's been dressing as Griffin's backup, turned down two contract offers to remain with us. Good on you, Richard.
Bishop Auckland 0
South Shields 1 (Hunt 81)
Bishops' lineup: Griffin, Casey, Lord, Pook, Reed, Day (Gilbert), T. Baker (Collantine), Hughes, Lumley, C. Baker, Walker.
Booked: None.
Attendance: 230.