CHESTER-LE-STREET 1-2 WEST AUCKLAND TOWN

(Saturday 4 November, 3:00PM)

Two goals from Mattie Moffat gave West a hard earned 3 points in the first of a double header against Chester-le-Street this week.

Chester though started brightly and saw a couple of early chances go begging before West's first shot through Brain Fairhurst was easily saved after 5 minutes. Darren Kokes should have put the visitors one up after Dale Jardine sent the forward through on goal but his shot clipped the outside of the post. A spell of sustained Chester pressure saw several efforts blocked by defenders before the hosts had to turn a dangerous Kokes cross away from the onrushing Mattie Moffat.

The lead for West came courtesy of a superb 25th minute run and finish from a tight angle by Mattie Moffat. Darren Kokes was unlucky to see his shot hit the post after good work but when Moffat picked up the loose ball on the touchline, he ran at the defenders and then beat the keeper from the narrowest angle, seeing his shot roll into the net of the inside of the far post. Rob Draper tried to respond but his shot was narrowly too high. West, though, were to give Chester the equaliser on the plate when a push from a corner saw a penalty awarded, from which Andrew Cuthbertson sent Mark Bell the wrong way.

In the 53rd minute Brian Fairhurst's free kick found Ian Maddison who flicked the ball onto Mattie Moffat and the forward saw his looping header turned over by Ian Aitken. 2 minutes later, Darren Kokes should have done better but toe poked his shot tamely at the keeper. Andy Cuthbertson, meanwhile, saw an effort flash wide before a 77th minute winner for West. Several corners and free kicks had not got past the first defender but on this occasion the free kick was perfectly flighted by Fairhurst, finding the head of Moffat only yards from goal and he made no mistake. As Chester surged forward in search of another equaliser, space opened up for counter attacks and from one Moffat came agonizingly close to his hat trick when he fired into the side netting. Moments later he fired a shot just wide before, in injury time, Darren Kokes' shot was parried away to safety by Aitken. Ian Maddison also had a late surge forward but ran out of steam when trying to play in one of the two forwards as the defender managed to block his attempted pass.

Team
    1 Mark Bell
    2 Michael Heckley
    3 Danny Key
    4 Jamie Middleton
    5 Brian Fairhurst
    6 Leigh Grant
    7 Darren Kokes
    8 Danny Richmond
       (13. Kevin Bromley 76 mins)
    9 Mattie Moffat
   10 Ian Maddison
    11 Dale Jardine
        (15. Andy Cole 70 mins)

Subs Not Used
    12 Gerard Wraith
    14 David Bayles
    16 Dale Sheridan