Late drama as the Colliers grab leveller
BISHOP AUCKLAND ASHINGTON 3 3
ASHINGTON are without a win in their last nine games, but there are signs of life for Steve Bowey’s men.
In the space of seven days they have faced three of Northern League Division One’s big-hitters and have shown up well against all three.
Last weekend’s credible draw at Shildon was quickly followed by a narrow home defeat to ever-improving Hebburn Town.
That could have made the sizeable task of going to Bishop Auckland even more daunting, but the Colliers secured a hard-earned point in a six- goal thriller thanks to a last-minute equaliser from Tony Stephenson.
A resurgent Bishop Auckland took the lead on 15 minutes after their early pressure paid dividends.
A quickly-taken corner-kick from Michael Hoganson found Shaun Ryder and the former Consett midfielder fired a deflected shot beyond Colliers keeper Conor Grant.
The pressure continued and Kyle Fryatt almost doubled his side’s lead as he forced Grant into an instinctive stop with his feet.
The visitors were yet to show anything of note, but managed to grab an equaliser just after the half-hour mark.
Young forward Jack Butler has been one of the rare highlights of the Colliers season so far and he smashed a low drive into the far-cor- ner after a mazy run troubled the that seemed to have handed Ian Two Blues defence. Chandler’s side another three points.
Parity remained in place until Both sides pressed to find another half-time, but Bishop Auckland were goal in the closing stages, and an offback in front just six minutes after side flag cut short Salmon’s celebrathe restart. tions as the Two-Blues midfielder
Christopher Salmon was the man thought he had sealed a win for his to get the goal as side.heroundedoff some dogged and determined work That let-off seemed to rally Ashfrom Ryder by smashing a drive past ington and they grabbed a dramatic Grant from just inside the area. equaliser as the game headed into
But again the Colliers would not injury-time. let the game get away from them, Stephenson was in the right place and Zak Atkinson got them back on at the right time as he got on the end level terms on 67 minutes when he of McAndrew’s free-kick and set off produced a stunning header after wild celebrations from the travelling rising to meet a Lee McAndrew support inside Heritage Park. cross.
The game swung back in the favour of the hosts moments later as Callum Munro powered a header into the net from eight yards out, and