UniBond Division One
Brewery Field, Spennymoor
Tuesday, 25th April 2006, 7.45pm
Bishops beaten by Edwards late show
Gresley Rovers made the long, long trip to the North East to play relegated Bishop Auckland.
The visitors almost took the lead after just 5 minutes when Matt Millns' header out of defence sent Aaron O'Connor on his way down the left. He laid the ball back for Tom Betteridge, whose sent over a cross that David Holmes hit on the volley but the ball came back off the near post.
A minute later Bishop had their first chance when Gresley keeper Tommy Whittle failed to collect Dale Menum's cross. Although Whittle had been grounded and was holding his face referee Mr Curry allowed the play to continue and it was Nicky Carter who cleared any danger.
The home side took the lead on 14 minutes. Awarded a free kick 25-yards out midfielder Martin Bowes took the kick that went straight through the wall and past the helpless Whittle.
O'Connor almost got his side level on 29 minutes when he picked up on a mistake by Aaron Fletcher only to see his powerful shot crash against the woodwork. The top scorer had another chance less than a minute later but this time he sent his shot straight at Tony Davison.
Despite being relegated and fielding a youthful side Bishop's continued to test the Gresley resolve and could have doubled their score when Bowes headed Paul Campbell's corner goalwards but Edwards was there to head the ball away for a corner.
On 38 minutes O'Connor found his strike partner but Edwards unfortunately put his shot over the bar.
Just before the break Holmes had to come off with a hamstring injury and was replaced by skipper Andy Simpson.
Gresley found the early part of the second half as difficult as the first because of the bone-dry and bobbly nature of the pitch which was frustrating their efforts to get the ball on the ground and play football.
Something needed to be done and on the hour manager Gary Norton replaced Carter with striker Steve Gomm and went three at the back in an effort to get something from the game.
Gresley were throwing everything at the home side but on 69 minutes Bishops David Wells sliced the visitors defence in two and it took a superb save from Whittle to save the day.
Time was running out of time but with only 8 minutes left on the clock Gresley were level. A corner from Mickey Lyons was headed on by defender Matt Millns and Edwards managed to just get his head to the ball to steer the ball past Davison.
Three minutes later Gresley took the lead when when Simpson helped on Millns' long throw into the six-yard box and Edwards was in the right place to smash the ball home.
With time up there was almost another twist in the tail when Bowes noticed Whittle had strayed off his line and tried an audacious lob from distance that the Gresley keeper did extremely well to tip the ball over the bar.
Manager's View
"We certainly got out of jail tonight. I've never been so nervous before a match, partly because we are so close to getting a playoff place and also because of Bishop Auckland's predicament.
"Yes, they are bottom of the league but if you look at their record 13 of their games have only been lost by the odd goal.
"I thought it was going to be one of those nights after we had gone a goal down and then hit the post twice. But, the lads persevered and they are out on their feet with the effort they've put in.
"With 10 minutes left I would have taken a point but I really didn't want to go into the Mossley game on Saturday needing a win.
"Paul Edwards has been feeling unwell but he wanted to play and he's come up with two vital goals.
"Fair play to Bishop Auckland, they'd put a lot of youth team players in and a few from pub sides and they didn't deserve to lose - I'm not just saying that because we won.
"It's three years to the day since I lost my mother to cancer and I think she was looking down on us tonight."
