A brace from Sado Djalo and a goal by JJ O’Donnell completed a second-half comeback as Dunston extended their unbeaten run to six games in all competitions.

Jon McDonald made two changes to the side that drew with Brighouse on Saturday with Phil Turnbull and Sado Djalo replacing Fin Neary and JJ Chrisp.

Bishop Auckland started the strongest out of the two teams with them having the first chance of the game with a header dropping wide of Dan Lowson’s goal. 

Bishop’s early pressure paid off in the 10th minute. After being sent 1v1, Liam Jarvie kept his cool and slotted past Lowson to give Bishop the lead.

Dunston pushed forward in search of an equaliser and kept knocking on the door until they finally found their breakthrough. A clever move opened up the Bishop defence, allowing Sado Djalo to race through on goal and calmly slot the ball under Jack Norton.

The Fed kept the pressure on as they pushed for a goal to take the lead. JJ O’Donnell came close, forcing a brilliant save from Norton, before Sado Djalo almost produced something special — his clever flick and volley beat the keeper but crashed against the woodwork.

However, just before the half-time break, Bishop Auckland regained the lead when Mikey Roberts headed home from close range to make it 2-1. Moments later, Roberts struck again, reacting quickest inside the box to slam the ball past Lowson and give Bishop a 3–1 lead heading into half-time.

As the second half began, Dunston pushed to get back into the game and pulled one back when Djalo laid the ball off for JJ O’Donnell to fire into the bottom left corner. Five minutes later, Dunston were awarded a penalty, but Djalo’s spot-kick was well saved by Norton.

The Fed drew level on 66 minutes following pinball in the box Sado Djalo was first to react and poke the ball into the roof of the net.

David Robinson thought he had put Dunston into the lead on 70 minutes, deflecting O’Donnell’s effort home; however, he was adjudged to be in an offside position.

Both sides battled hard to try and get a win but eventually the points were shared following an entertaining night of football.

Next up for Dunston is a home game in the Isuzu FA Trophy against Hebburn Town this Friday.

Bishop Auckland: Norton, Metz, Risbrough, Brown, Almond, Spence, Jarvie, Whitfield, Thexton, Roberts, Blackford.

Substitutes: Coppinger, Griffin, Van Zandvleit, Drummond, Heslop

Goals: Jarvie (10’), Roberts (44’, 45+1’)

Dunston: Lowson, H.Neary, McDonald, Turnbull, Pearson, Devitt, O’Donnell, Edwards (F.Neary 85’), Djalo, Robinson, Shaw (Turner, 69’).

Substitutes: Baxter, Chrisp, Stephenson

Goals: Djalo (19’, 66’), O’Donnell (5

Attendance: 293

Report by Thomas Boyle