Bishop Auckland FC claimed local derby bragging rights while consolidating their lead at the top of Northern League Division One last weekend, when they overcame West Auckland by 2-1 in front of a bumper crowd of 776.
The Two Blues took the lead through Dean Thexton in the 23rd minute, but it took their local rivals just five minutes to level the scoring again when Oscar Fletcher netted the equaliser after a defensive error.
However, the decisive moment came just before the hour when Louis Johnson’s 57th minute goal, proved the winner.
With second-place Shildon also winning, the top two moved further away from West in third.
The champions-elect Bishops now lead the division by eight points with just thirteen games to play, while Shildon are a further nine points clear of West, all but securing a guaranteed home game in the play-offs.
Meanwhile, the Two Blues midweek trip to Redcar was postponed due to the recent wet weather.
Next up, this weekend, Bishops host Heaton Stannington in a game at which fundraisers for Butterwick Hospice will also be in attendance.
The visitors remain well in the hunt for a play-off spot, just two points outside the top five, but with three, five, six and seven games in hand over those above them.
The game will be followed by two on the road, firstly at Corrk Town on Wednesday evening before a trip to West Allotment Celtic the following weekend, Saturday 24 February.
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
