WEST AUCKLAND TOWN 0-1 NEWCASTLE BLUE STAR

(Tuesday 9 January, 7:30PM)

A hatful of missed chances cost West Auckland dearly as they somehow went down by a single goal at home to Newcastle Blue Star.

The visitors did start the brighter – Craig Tate seeing his shot well blocked by keeper Mark Bell before a dangerous ball across just evaded Andy Hay at the back post. However once West settled into the game they dominated. In the 13th minute Danny Richmond sent Dale Jardine in behind his marker but he shot wide. Two minutes later, Danny Key played a ball through to Jardine who had to battle for possession but once he won the ball could only fire wide. A long ball over defence from Jamie Middleton sent Jardine through in the 20th minute. He rolled the ball across to Kevin Bromley seemingly for the opener but, with the heavy conditions, Bromley had to take a couple of touches before seeing his shot blocked on the line, the ball then rebounded to Jardine who was unlucky to see his shot hit the outside of the post. Adam Dowell was fortunate minutes later when the keeper slipped when making a clearance only for the ball to hit Darren Kokes and roll out for a goal kick. Richmond then saw his free kick find the unmarked Jardine but he headed over the bar as West continued to do all of the running without reward. Richmond himself saw a side footed effort held by the keeper before Tate, in a rare attack by Blue Star, saw a free kick comfortably saved.

There was a scare for West at the start of the second half when Mark Bell could not punch the ball clear far enough and Lee Scroggins saw his early shot go wide under pressure. Darren Kokes saw an effort pushed round the post in the 55th minute after Dale Jardine’s good run whilst Brian Fairhurst nearly caught out the keeper with a quick free kick when the keeper was out of position. Jonathan Milroy, returning to the club to help replace Mattie Moffat up front, had a near instant impact in the 63rd minute when his good run saw him find Kokes a few yards from goal but the young forward saw his shot well blocked by Dowell. Kokes then returned the favour, setting up Milroy but he fired narrowly wide. Danny Key then charged through inside the area before pulling the ball back to Dale Jardine who blazed over with the goal at his mercy. It was not to be his night nor West’s as Milroy saw another shot saved before, completely against the run of play Blue Star took the lead. Andy Hay turned his marker and saw his shot well saved by Mark Bell before the loose ball was swept home by Craig Tate. David Colvin then nearly doubled the advantage over a shell shocked West when his shot was fired over a minute later. Danny Richmond fired across the face of goal 10 minutes from the end before Blue Star nearly wrapped it up with Hay seeing his shot saved by Bell and a header over the bar. Ian Maddison came on and set up a late opportunity for Milroy but the striker pulled his shot narrowly wide again to cap a frustrating night for West.

Team
    1 Mark Bell
    2 Leigh Grant
    3 Danny Key
    4 Jamie Middleton
    5 Brian Fairhurst
        (14. Michael Heckley 80 mins)
    6 Gerard Wraith
    7 Danny Kokes
    8 Danny Richmond
    9 Dale Jardine
   10 Karl Everitt
        (12. Ian Maddison 83 mins)
   11 Kevin Bromley
        (13. Jonathan Milroy 63 mins)

Sub Not Used
   15. Andy Cole
   16. David Moffat