Pilgrims 1-0 Bishop Auckland

Unibond League

Match Notes by Chris Donkin

There seems to be a pattern emerging! In the last three league games - Charles scores in the first half - the Pilgrims play well in the first half - the Pilgrims hang on in the second half and win 1-0. This was more or less the story of Saturday's game, although it all nearly went horribly wrong in the last five minutes when the men from County Durham came close to scoring.

After eighteen minutes Steve CHARLES scored possibly the goal of the season at York Street. Simon Armstrong, putting in another outstanding performance, seemingly at full stretch to reach the ball from a mis-directed Bastock clearance, controls the ball and deceives his marker in one movement. He then heads off towards the opposition goal from deep inside his own half. After running menacingly at defenders at pace he releases the ball to Charles who fires home a vicious left foot shot from 22 yards.

The visitors' troubles increased when they were reduced to ten men when Osborne was sent off after reacting angrily to a strong challenge from Charles.

The best chance of increasing the lead came after 77 minutes when Armstrong finished off (another) mazy run by squaring the ball to Watts, who seven yards in front of the middle of an unguarded goal shoots over the bar.

Paul Bastock had another great game and is enjoying his best season yet. However up front Filson, Watts (who replaced Filson at half time) and Marshall all had poor games and Cavell who came on for Marshall with ten minutes left was not really on long enough to judge.

United team: 1. Paul Bastock, 2. Joby Gowshall, 3. Chris Withe, 4. Greg Fee, 5. Martin Hardy, 6. Steve Charles, 7. Simon Armstrong, 8. Steve Appleby, 9. Martin Filson, 10. Danny Marshall, 11. Leonard Curtis, 12. Paul Cavell, 14. Paul Watts, 15. Andrew Stanhope