Bishop Auckland FC experienced their first setback in the league title race at the weekend when they lost the match, and their unbeaten record, to Heaton Stannington.
The Two Blues bounced back from their FA Cup defeat to South Shields three weeks ago by trouncing Yorkshire Amateur 0-5 in the FA Vase the following weekend. Doubles from Louis Johnson and Liam Henderson, and a Dean Thexton goal on the final whistle, secured passage to the First Round, with Northwich Victoria set to visit Heritage Park on 21 October.
The win was followed by another high-scoring mauling in midweek, with former league leaders, Birtley Town beaten 1-4 on their own patch. Bishops scored all their goals in the first half, flying out of the blocks with two Henderson goals in the opening ten minutes.
John Howard (23) and Charlie Watt (44) ensured the second half, in which Birtley scored their consolation through Andrew Clarkson on 77 minutes, was no more than a formality. And so the Two Blues marched on Groundsell Park in expectant mood, but were soon on the back foot when Leighton Hopper opened the scoring in the 18th minute.
Watt put the visitors back on level terms on the half hour, but it was Hopper’s second on 49 minutes which secured all three points for the Newcastle side.
Bishops will look to bounce back when they host West Allotment Celtic on Saturday before entertaining second division Boldon CA in the Durham Challenge Cup on Tuesday night.
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
