Dunston battle to defeat Bishops..

20th October 2015
EBAC Northern League Division 1
Dunston UTS 2
Bishop Auckland 1
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Dunston welcomed Bishop Auckland to the Dunston UTS Stadium for the EBAC Northern League Division 1 game. Bishops after a slow start are picking up form and points and slowly rising up the very competitive league. Dunston manager Billy Irwin has to make changes from Saturday’s 3-1 victory against Consett due to injuries to Francis (knee), Burrell (shoulder), Hodgson (knee), alongside the longer term Halliday (leg) and welcomes Steven Harrison back to the team at left back. 
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Both teams started cautiously and tried to assess their opposition, with Dunston getting the an early opportunity as Dale Pearson found himself on the edge of the area on 2 minutes and his shot went into the net off the post to ease the Dunston sides nerves. Bishops replied with a 25 yard free kick by Sweet which Connell had to tip over the bar on 4, Thear at the opposite end tried a side-footed effort which was saved after Fisher had been played in down the right wing and played in a low cross. On 7 as Dunston applied a bit of pressure Thear shot into the side netting from 5 yards out on an acute angle. Bishops replied on 12, with a chipped shot by Palmer which just went over the bar, followed 2 minutes later by a Tarling driven shot which went straight to Connell who collected.
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On 15, Richardson played a through ball to Morien whose effort was deflected for a corner. Bishop replied with a looping header from Tarling which Connell save one handed as the ball went towards the top corner. Fisher was playing well in midfield and on 18; his through ball to Dale Pearson was only just too strong and went through to the keeper. On 22, Ward headed onto Sweet who from an unbalanced turn shot softly on target but was easily collected by Connell.
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Two minutes later, Dale Pearson had a shot deflected for a corner before he was fouled by a challenge by Bott in the box, Pearson took the penalty and struck it well and Bell in the Bishops net diving to his right forced the ball up and away from the goal, but before the ball could be cleared Smith was fouled in the area by Tarling resulting in another penalty. Morien stepped up to take this one and again it was struck well but again Bell diving low to his right was able to save the ball and prevent Bishops going 2 down. On 27 Fisher tried a shot from 25 yards which Bell saved. Play settled again and Bishops regained their composure on 33 Connell had to collected a cross by Nichols at his front post under a heavy challenge.
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Two minutes later Fisher was again on target from 25 yards but saw his effort blocked and cleared before Dale Pearson was fed into the box by Richardson only to see his cross to the back post cleared. On 38 Bishop were back in the game as a free kick from the touchline was flicked on by Zambra and evaded the Dunston defence and went into the net at the far post to make the score 1-1. On 40 Richardson miss-kicked a pass in a defensive area and set up Johnson for an 18 yard shot which went narrowly past the post as Connell came out.
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Approaching Half time Dunston had 2 further chances on 41, Thear had a 25 yard shot partially stopped by Bell but collected just as Dale Pearson approached and then on 45 as a Harrison shot was deflected over the near post cross bar by Tarling Half Time score 1-1.

Bishops got the first chance of the second half on 48 as a Nichols cross was headed clear over his own cross bar by Harrison, followed by Harrison at the opposite end on 51, trying a long range effort which went wide of the far post. On 53 minutes Pearson had effort saved as he headed on target before Bishops had two efforts blocked by brave challenges by Smith and Morien in the Dunston 6 yard box on 56.
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Dunston got what proved to be the winner on 59 as a Fisher cross into the far post was met by Dale Pearson who forced the ball home from a yard off the line, 2-1 to Dunston. Bishops replied with a header by Palmer on 60 with Connell making a save, two minutes later Michael Pearson pulled off a great tackle to prevent a shot by Nicholls who had dribbled into the box. On 68, Thear took on his man and shot only to see his effort hit the side netting. A minute later Morien was played into the box his effort beat Bell but was cleared near the line by Purewall.
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Bishops were still trying and on 74 Nicholl saw 20 yard shot crash and rebound off the cross bar and to safety. On 83 Wilkinson on as a substitute for Richardson pulled off a good tackle to prevent Johnson from getting into the area. As Dunston played out and contained the Bishops side up to the end of the game which ended with a Fisher run down the left wing and shooting across the face of the Bishops goal and past the far post.
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Full time Score: Dunston 2 Bishop Auckland 1
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With a patchwork side Dunston battled to produce a good performance against an improving side, an early Dale Pearson goal gave them confidence and despite a slight setback of two saved penalties and a Zambra back headed goal from 10 yards out in the first half. Dunston rallied again in the second half and deserved their second goal and held onto the lead until the end of the game against a Bishop Auckland side that were not going to give up.
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Dunston’s Man of the Match: Matty Fisher – A storming effort in midfield, Matty was ably supported by Dan Smith to prevent Bishops attacks and set up chances for the forwards. This was an overall good performance by Dunston which brought about a well-deserved 3 points.
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Dunston UTS: Connell, Pearson M, Harrison, Smith, Martindale, Gilhespy, Thear (Hewitson 75), Fisher, Richardson (Wilkinson 82), Morien (Hewitson 67), Pearson D. Subs not used: Clark.
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Bishop Auckland: Bell, Thompson, Jury, Purewall, Bott, Zambra, Palmer, Tarling (Griffiths 55), Johnson, Ward (Saunders 75), Nicholls. Subs not used Irving, Mouanda, Mitchell.
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Referee, John Matthews, Assistants, Jamie Cann, Gary Todd.
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Report by T.C.
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Next Home Game: Durham Challenge Cup vs Sunderland RCA on Tuesday 27th October 2015, Kick Off 7:30pm