WEST AUCKLAND TOWN 5-1 BEDLINGTON TERRIERS

(Saturday 25 November, 3:00PM)

West Auckland hit yet another high score to record their third win over Bedlington this season. The visitors will be especially glad to see the back of Mattie Moffat who put in a 5 star showing and hit all 5 of West's goals taking his tally to 9 in 3 against Bedlington this season.

Danny Key signalled West's intentions to carry on from last week’s excellent performance against Bedlington, when he could have opened the scoring as early as the second minute. After good work by Mattie Moffat, he fed Dale Jardine whose cross was pulled back to the edge of the area and Key ran on to fire the ball narrowly over. However Mattie Moffat, a constant thorn in the side for Bedlington this season, scored his first of the day with a calmly taken volley in the corner of the net after hesitant defending following a flick on. Moffat fired wide, Danny Richmond charged down the keeper, Karl Dryden's, clearance for a goal kick and Jamie Middleton saw an effort well turned over as West looked to extend the lead.

In between this, on 29 minutes, Bedlington had a great opportunity to level when Alex Benjamin found himself in the clear but hesitated on the ball before trying to chip Mark Bell who made the save. Kevin Bromley nearly set up Moffat for his second when the winger clipped in a good ball to him but the marksman put his header over the bar. 10 minutes before the break, Alex Lawson's dangerous run and shot forced Bell into a good low save down to his left. Danny Key went close again in the 38th minute, this time seeing his good shot turned round the post by Dryden. Dale Jardine then shot wide shortly afterwards as West were going to rue not extending their lead before the break. With 5 minutes left of the first half, Craig McFarlane drilled an unstoppable shot from the edge of the area past Mark Bell and into the roof of the net. Ian Maddison thought he was going to restore West's advantage with the last action of the half but the referee blew for offside just before the forward headed home.

Any Bedlington hopes of a first win over West this season were quickly diminished within 30 seconds of the restart when an error from Ben Summers was capitalised on by Mattie Moffat who coolly slotted the ball past the keeper. The forward saw another shot blocked before Summers could not deal with a long ball and Moffat, now one on one with the advancing keeper, hit an early shot off the outside of his right foot giving Dryden little chance. After 7 minutes of the second half, West had all but sealed the points as Bedlington's head seemed to drop. Danny Richmond saw his shot turned round the post after flicking on Kevin Bromley's cross but Moffat was soon to add to the score line with his fourth of the afternoon in the 57th minute. He challenged the keeper for the ball, after delaying his clearance, won possession and rolled the ball home.

Things were to get even worse for Bedlington as indiscipline crept in from the visitors - on the half hour mark the visitors were not only 4-1 behind but also down a man when Jamie McClen, booked seconds earlier after dissent to the referee, continued abusive remarks to the official who promptly showed him a straight red card. Mattie Moffat showed little sympathy, scoring his fifth to add further woe to the wounded Terriers. It was the 68th minute when he beat the offside trap and produced another superb finish top cap his man of the match performance.

Sub Lee Ellison and Robert Eastway both saw chances comfortably saved in quick succession before Dryden did well to tip a dipping effort from Ellison over the bar. Danny Key again tried to add his name to the score sheet with another shot before Moffat set up Danny Richmond, in the last minute, to fire the ball home albeit the effort ruled out for offside. However the day was Mattie Moffat's whose five goal haul led him to the top of the Northern League Division One goal scoring charts.

Team
    1 Mark Bell
    2 Michael Heckley
    3 Danny Key
    4 Jamie Middleton
    5 Brian Fairhurst
       (13. Gerard Wraith 70 mins)
    6 Leigh Grant
    7 Kevin Bromley
    8 Danny Richmond
    9 Mattie Moffat
   10 Ian Maddison
        (12. Lee Ellison 70 mins)
    11 Dale Jardine
        (15. Andy Cole 65 mins)

Subs Not Used
    14 David Bayles
    16 Darren Kokes