A third consecutive league game without scoring was Bishops’ undoing as a strong and direct Hallam side scored a pair of second half goals, kicking down the huge Sandygate slope, reports Gavin Hadden.
Isaac Coppinger was given his first start, coming in for the suspended Liam Jarvie as the game started in bright sunshine following a poignant pre-match Remembrance service.
The home side almost made a perfect start as an attempted lob from just inside the box landed just over the bar.
The main talking point of a competitive first half came on 18 minutes when a low cross from the left just evaded Van Zandvliet on its way to Blackford who took a touch and curled a lovely shot into the opposite corner. However, the celebrations were cut short by an offside flag, Roberts adjudged to have caused an infringement in front of Warhurst, the Hallam keeper.
Bishops begun the second half on the front foot and carved out a couple of good chances, both falling to Thexton. On 57 minutes the forward headed just over from a Blackford cross and then had a close range effort blocked shortly after.
Against the run of play, a break down the Bishops’ right saw a cross turned home by Russon with 65 minutes on the clock.
Heslop replaced Coppinger to add some further physicality up front but on 76 minutes, Spence committed a foul and the resultant free kick was expertly dispatched giving Bond no chance as the ball landed in the top corner.
Warhurst pulled off a fine diving save from a header as Bishops’ ran out of time and fell to a defeat that leaves them just one point outside the bottom four league places.
Things don’t get any easier for the Two Blues next weekend as they welcome second-place Matlock Town to Heritage Park for a Saturday 3pm kick-off.
Reaction: Andy Dixon reflects on the match
Gavin Hadden
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
