Terriers side sends out a clear message
ARNGROVE NORTHERN LEAGUE Dunston Federation Brewery 2 Bedlington Terriers 3
THIS was a crunch game for both clubs - for defending champions Dunston it was an opportunity to close the significant points gap between the two sides and get their title ambitions back on track; for Bedlington, well, they had failed to record a victory at Federation Park in the past seven seasons of trying, and this was a chance to send a clear message out to the league that the Terriers meant business.
There was good news for Bedlington in that both Morton and Atkinson made quick returns after illness and injury respectively cut short their games in the midweek League Cup win against Horden, and there was also a welcome return for Gareth Powell in goal, after a long-term injury.
First opening of the game fell to Dunston in only the fifth minute. Skipper Irwin's cross from the right saw the league's leading scorer Armstrong head over when unmarked, from 15 yards.
Bedlington responded and came even closer to scoring the first goal when Harmison's free-kick from deep was flicked on by Preen, and Milner hit a half volley on the turn from ten yards that Dawson in the home goal did well to tip over the bar.
In the next attack, the visitors did take the lead on nine minutes. A Douglas corner from the left saw Milner bundle the ball home off his thigh from four yards.
Armstrong almost restored parity in the 17th minute, when through on goal after Kitchen's slip. Powell advanced to the edge of the area and then made a superb diving save low to his left from the Dunston marksman's goal-bound effort.
The same two players were involved again three minutes later, but this time in extremely controversial circumstances.
In an apparently offside position, Armstrong lunged two-footed into the body of Powell - who had the ball under his control. It was immediately apparent that Powell's injury was cause for concern, and after a period of five anxious minutes, he was finally stretchered off the field and an ambulance was called, with Guthrie coming off the bench to take over goalkeeping duties.
On 35 minutes, McAlindon played the ball to Shandran, and he ran clear and into the area, before hitting a shot that took a deflection, taking the power out of it as it ran to Dawson in goal. A minute later, Atkinson tracked back to win the ball, and then played to Douglas in space, who shot from 20 yards high and wide.
With five minutes remaining of the first half, the referee made another extremely controversial decision, this time being Dunston skipper Irwin who was fortunate to remain on the field.
Kitchen's long ball clearance from defence saw Preen steal it from the toes of Irwin just outside the area, only to be unceremoniously hauled down by Irwin and deny him a clear run on goal.Armstrong caused panic in the Bedlington defence when he chased a high ball into the area, but Guthrie was decisive and punched with enough contact on the ball to allow Kitchen to clear to safety.
With a minute of normal time remaining, Preen pressured Michael Robson into clearing only as far as Atkinson. His cross back in found the head of Preen, but his effort ran agonisingly wide of the post. Into injury time, a McAlindon turn and shot from ten yards was well held by Dawson on his line.
Bedlington made a sensational start to the second half by grabbing a second goal within a minute of the restart. A Harmison free-kick from his own half, was flicked on by the head of Shandran to Preen, and although his first effort was charged down, he pounced on the loose ball to make no mistake second time around by firing right footed in-off the near post to double his team's lead.
On 52 minutes, Douglas' corner from the left was sliced clear only as far as McAlindon, but he hit high from 15 yards. Kane Young was cautioned for dissent shortly afterwards.
Next, Douglas won the ball in midfield before setting Shandran clear on goal. He advanced to the edge of the Dunston area before placing his shot past both the onrushing Dawson and also agonisingly the far post.
Bedlington were then forced into their second change of the game on 57 minutes, when a groin injury saw Kitchen retire from the fray, being replaced by Lang. This change meant that Milner had to drop back into defence, with Lang taking his position in midfield.
Dunston pushed forward and ex-Terrier Benjamin saw his shot from 20 yards well saved by Guthrie.
Just before the hour mark, Preen hit into the side netting after good work by Atkinson and ultimately Shandran created the opportunity for him.
Dunston were forced into a change of their own on 63 minutes, when Michael Robson sustained a shoulder injury which saw him replaced by Scott Robson.
Dunston began to assert themselves as Bedlington reverted to their normal nervy style when defending a lead. Benjamin's cross from the left took a superb header from Milner at the far post to deny a clear header for Armstrong.
The pressure finally paid off as Dunston scored in the 67th minute in disappointing circumstances.A long throw from the right into the Bedlington area saw Milner inexplicably handle the ball in the air, leaving the referee no option but to award a spot-kick with Benjamin hit confidently into the bottom left corner to reduce the deficit.
Constant pressure led to an equalising goal within five minutes of the first for Dunston.
After a scramble in the Bedlington six yard area, the ball ran loose to the far post where Benjamin pounced on it to fire home into the empty net for his second of the game.
Shandran should have restored the lead on 74 minutes, but his attempted glancing header from Douglas' superb cross fell the wrong side of the post.
Next Preen chased a long and high ball down the left, heading it into stride before hitting a shot that Dawson held low.
Bedlington then looked to introduce fresh legs with their final change of the game a minute later, with Cockburn replacing Terriers leading scorer Douglas.
Benjamin looked well placed to put his team ahead for the first time, and bag himself a hat-trick when he chased a long ball over the top, only to hit over the bar under heavy pressure from the Bedlington defence.
Dunston then made their second change of the game, with Leon Scott replacing Benjamin, who had picked up an injury in a heavy fall near the dugouts.
Bedlington took advantage of the impetus lost to Dunston from their most dangerous player being forced of the field by taking the lead again in the 87th minute.
McAlindon's quick ball back into the area after his corner had been cleared saw Milner help the ball across to Cockburn lurking at the far post, and the 'Felton Flyer' made no mistake as he fired his shot into the opposite corner from ten yards.
Again Bedlington got nervy as they tried to see the remaining minutes of the game out to its conclusion.
Milner picked up a caution for a foul; a Dunston corner swung in and just missed creeping in the top corner, before a header was missed from two yards in Dunston's final push of the game.
Bedlington had hung on and in the process had recorded a significant victory against a team in which they had had precious luck in recent years.
The bad news on the extent of Gareth Powell's injury is that he has fractured his knee and snapped his cruciate ligament, meaning he will miss the remainder of the season.
With Michael Robinson not yet back to full fitness, Bedlington will be seeking an urgent replacement in time for their FA Vase game this Saturday away at fellow Northern League club Sunderland Nissan.
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Weather for Blyth
Sunday 05 February 2012
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