An equalising goal three minutes into injury time was enough to see Bishop Auckland FC stretch their lead at the top of Northern Football League Division One in midweek.
Louis Johnson’s last gasp leveller rescued a 2-2 draw for the Two Blues, who came from behind twice at Heritage Park against Redcar Athletic.
The game was the last in a busy schedule of four games in a fortnight ahead of this weekend’s FA Vase tie away at Bury AFC of the North West Counties Football League Premier Division.
In the past fortnight, the Two Blues maintained their four-point lead over Whitley Bay at the top of the table with 2-0 league wins at home against Thornaby and away at Sunderland RCA.
Goals in each half, from Wayne Whitfield in the 17th minute and Marcus Giles in the 66th took care of Thornaby at Heritage Park on Saturday 8 October, while late second half goals against ten-man RCA earned three points on the road a week later.
The first of those was a Simon Jakab own goal, just two minutes after Denver Morris was sent off in the 63rd minute.
Dane Burlace made sure of the points in the last minute.
In the midweek between, Bishops marched into the next round of the Durham Challenge Cup after a convincing 4-1 home win over Billingham Town.
Second Division Town opened the scoring in the 15th minute, but the Two Blues were in front by half time through Dale Milburn (28) and Marcus Giles (35).
Two second half goals within a five-minute spell from Wayne Whitfield; a 63rd minute penalty and a 68th minute strike ensured Bishops reached the second round, where they were drawn away to Brandon United.
And with Whitley Bay not playing last midweek, Johnson’s late leveller against Redcar ensured the Two Blues increased their league lead to five points ahead of this weekend’s FA Vase ties.
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
