Bishop Auckland 1 Lancaster City 1 NO-ONE could come close to understanding why Bishop Auckland were awarded a penalty late on in the match.

But one thing is for sure; it cost Lancaster two points - two points which would have seen them go to the top of the league once again.

The bitter pill to swallow for fans was that the penalty was not awarded by the referee, who was five yards away from the incident, but

by his assistant who was standing 70 yards away.

And the assistant referee didn't even know who had committed the offence against the number 12.

"At the end of the day it's a decision that we have to live with," said manager, Tony Hesketh.

"We looked very tired after Tuesday's match and we created few chances so we're quite happy with a draw. It was another hard point that was

well earned."

The Bishops really took the game to City. Anthony Lee's 20 yard shot rebounded off the post and minutes later, David Bayles pulled a good save from Mark Thornley. City proved they had impeccable timing once again when they took the lead in the second minute of injury time at the end of the half.

Paul Haddow's launched throw-in was flicked on by John Kennedy for Kenny Mayers to finish his well timed run to get onto the ball and finish the chance with ease from close range. But another sustained spell of pressure from the Bishops made people wonder how the game was going to finish.

Substitute Danny Brunskill came close twice within a minute and then was at the centre of an incident in City's 18 yard box.

The referee went over to consult his assistant and went back to award a somewhat dubious penalty against Lancaster for a pull in the box.

Andrew Shaw stepped up for the spot-kick in the 75th minute and gave the Bishops a share of the spoils when he blasted the ball into the left

hand corner.

Team: Thornley, Kilbane, Graham, Udall, Horner (c), Mayers, Sparrow (Trainor 77), Haddow, Morton (Cheal 67), Ward (Crompton 85), Kennedy.

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