Nantwich Town made it through to the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy with a 2-1 win over Bishop Auckland.
A long trip to County Durham was made harder by the closures on the M62 but it was all worth it in the end.
The home side almost took the lead in the second minute as Louis Johnson let fly but it was a good save by Ben Garratt to tip it around the post.
Nantwich took the lead in the 13th minute. Kai Evans, returning to the side after injury, played a beautiful ball across the face of the Bishops defence and Tom Pratt took it in his stride and pulled his shot into the far corner of the net. A fine finish to continue his recent goalscoring form from Newcastle.
Another effort from Pratt might have made it 2 but it was an easy save. It came from a mistake at the back and Pratt had room to run in and maybe shoot closer to goal. The Bishops looked nervy at the back all day but were able to build back into the game.
The equaliser, when it came, came from a Bishop Auckland set piece. A corner was whipped in but not cleared, and it was an inventive and clever finish high in to the net by Jerome Greaves.
Their tails were up and Dean Briggs curled over the bear as they looked to take advantage of their new-found momentum.
Kai Evans flashed an effort across the face of goal from a narrow angle, a tough chance but may have been scorable.
Garratt was forced into action again, this time by Joe Bartliff as his effort was pushed away.
Just before the break, Callum Saunders had a opening in the box but it was good defending to get something on it and make the save easier for Catterick.
In the second half, both sides traded attempts, one whipped wide of the far post by the Bishops and one from Pratt bringing another save from Catterick.
The Dabbers retook the lead just before the hour mark. It was Evans again who was instrumental in the goal, clipping his cross to the far post where Callum Saunders volleyed in. He didn’t catch it the cleanest but no one in a green shirt cared. Saunders has looked sharp from the start of the season and had his second goal of the campaign.
A delicious free kick delivery by Bishop Auckland ought to have brought them level again but there was no one to get on the end of the ball in.
But the hosts were starting to build up a head of steam and sub Matty Tymon came closer still, seeing an effort cleared off the line as Nantwich began to drop deeper.
Tymon again was the man who had the equaliser on his foot on 88 minutes but slashed horribly at his chance to the frustration of the home supporters.
Bishop Auckland had one last chance to take the tie to penalties but Nantwich bodies on the line made the difference, deflecting the shot to make the save for Garratt that little bit easier but no less vital, before the rebound was blocked too.
It was, as Paul Carden remarked afterwards, a ‘proper shift’ from the Dabbers to make it back to back wins for the first time this season and perhaps kick off another enjoyable cup run.
Teams
Bishop Auckland: Ryan Catterick, Oscar Eckley-Aldsworth, Josh Robertson, Aaron Brown (Alexander Walker, 84), Jordan Fielding, Samuel Hodgson (Matty Tymon, 73), Adam Gell (Brandon Holdsworth, 73), Joe Bartliff, Louis Johnson, Jerome Greaves, Dean Briggs
Subs not used: Adam Lincoln, Leon Carling
Goal: Greaves (28)
Nantwich Town: Ben Garratt, James Melhado, Cole Lonsdale, Kelvin Mellor, Courtney Meppen-Walters, Paddy Kennedy, Kai Evans (Eddie Servuts, 80), Matty Tweedley, Callum Saunders (Byron Harrison, 74), Tom Pratt (Jon Moran, 90+3), Kofi Moore (Perry Bircumshaw, 89)
Sub not used: James Speare
Goals: Pratt (13), Saunders (59)
Attendance: 328