Sheffield 2
Bishop Auckland 0
Sheffield moved to 11 points from safety with a 2-0 win over Bishop Auckland.
The world's oldest football club came into the game 14 points adrift and winless in three games, but despite this they recorded their fifth league win of the season.
On 69 minutes Luke Mangham gave the Club the lead when he scrambled the ball just over the line despite the best efforts of Joe Bartliff on the line.
The visitors threw everyone forward in injury time in a desperate attempt to salvage something from the game but this backfired with Bartliff losing possession on halfway from which Sheffield broke, and with no Auckland defenders back Nathan Modest slotted past Jack Norton to make it four wins in six home games for the Club.
Kick-Off
Despite being sat 11 places lower than Auckland in the Northern Premier League East Division table, Sheffield started on top.
After five minutes Joe West played a first time pass forward to Sam Greenhouse on the right wing, his low cross picked out Rory Coleman at the back post but the 34-year-old struggled to get the ball under control and his shot was saved by the legs of Norton.
Eight minutes a later a looping Luke Aldrich header was claimed by the experienced shot stopper.
Just past the half hour mark the visitors had their first chance of the game.
Louis Johnson latched onto the ball and nutmegged Jack Hardacre before teeing up the overlapping Gary Martin who played a low cross to Jack Blackford at the back post but he blazed over.
Two minutes later the Bishops again went close with Mikey Roxburgh having to get down well to turn behind a Johnson shot at his near post.
As half time approached Auckland almost gifted the hosts an opening goal.
Careless play from the Bishops resulted in a loose pass into empty space being picked up by Sheffield's Aldrich, the Club's top scorer drove forward into the box and had a shot that was beaten away by Norton.
Half Time: Sheffield 0-0 Bishop Auckland
After a goalless, yet entertaining, first half, the second period took a little longer to get going with neither side threatening until the hour mark.
On 61 minutes Auckland broke forward with a three against two attack but failed to make to make the man advantage count with Blackford's shot deflecting off Roxburgh and into the sidenetting.
Three minutes later the 21-year-old was again called into action to keep the score level.
A blocked Martin shot was poked goalwards by Johnson but Roxburgh got down well to turn behind.
This proved a crucial stop as five minutes later Sheffield took the lead.
The away side only managed to half clear a corner and the hosts kept up the pressure with Stephen Brogan whipping in a cross that was headed back across goal at the far post to Mangham who managed to scramble the ball home from a couple of yards out.
Bartliff throught he had blocked the ball on the line but it was adjudged to have already crossed the line.
Four minutes later the visitors almost hit back instantly but were left frustrated by a goalline clearance.
Within a minute of coming on former Nottingham Forest and Southend United defender Greg Halford thought he'd scored when he sidefooted a deep delivery from Martin past Roxburgh, only for his shot to be cleared off the line.
Surprisingly in the final 15 minutes it was Sheffield who came closest to scoring with Vill Powell's side having more than one opportunity to double their lead.
First, Modest's shot on the turn from just inside the area was tipped over by Norton, and then two minutes from time it was their turn to be denied on the goalline.
Modest battled well to win possession and he then slid a pass forward for Mangham who took the ball round Norton but saw his goalbound shot blocked on the line by Jonny Haase.
As the game entered injury time Auckland piled on the pressure but all this succeeded in doing was gifting Sheffield a second goal.
Bartliff picked up a long clearance just inside his own half but was robbed off possession when he tried to turn away from Sheffield substitute Archie White.
The Buxton loanee then burst forward and squared the ball across to fellow substitute Modest and the 33-year-old slotted an effort beneath Norton and in for his third goal of the campaign with the final touch of the game.
Full Time: Sheffield 2-0 Bishop Auckland
Three points keeps the Club's slim survival hopes alive as they avenged their 2-0 loss in the reverse fixture in October.
Just a second away defeat in 2025 for Auckland means the Bishops head back to Teesside winless in five games.
Next up for Sheffield they entertain Bradford Park Avenue in midweek. As for Auckland they return to Derbyshire next Saturday with a trip to 3rd place Belper Town.
Sheffield: Roxburgh, Hardacre, Webster, West, Cutts, Beatson, Greenhouse (Modest 73'), Jakab (Ellington 85'), Aldrich (Brogan 56'), Mangham, Coleman (White 57'). Subs not used: Bedford.
Goals: Mangham 69', Modest 90+5'
Bishop Auckland: Norton, Haase, Risbrough, Fielding, Vaulks, May, Bartliff, Hodgson (Hargrave 62'), Johnson, Martin, Blackford (Halford 72'). Subs not used: Carter, Eratt-Thompson, Hackett.
Goals: None
ATT: 511
By Nathan Williams
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