Bishop Auckland FC climbed to the top of the Northern League Division One table by virtue of number of goals scored after a 1-2 away win at Guisborough Town in midweek.
A Craig Gott double ensured maximum points and local bragging rights as the Two Blues overtook rivals Shildon at the head of the pack. Gott opened the scoring in the 8th minute from the penalty spot and notched the decisive second in the 65th after Cole Kiernan had brough the hosts level in the 59th minute.
The win followed a dramatic 7-0 weekend vistory over Seaham Red Start in the FA Cup Preliminary Round which saw Bishops reduced to nine men and Red Star also have a player sent off late in the game. Doubles from Dean Thexton and Giles, before receiving his marching orders in the 65th minute, were complimented by strikes from Bartliff, another Gott penalty conversion and an 18th minute goal from Louis Johnson who also booked himself an early bath after an altercation with Joshua Crews two minutes before time.
The win sets up another crunch encounter after Monday’s draw for the First Round Qualifying set up an Auckland derby in the wake of West’s 4-0 thrashing of ten-man Shildon.
Next up for bishops is the visit of Whitley Bay this Saturday before that crunch FA Cup derby, also at Heritage Park, the following weekend
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
