WEST AUCKLAND 1-1 DUNSTON FED.

(Saturday 17 February, 3:00)

A first West Auckland goal for Garry Barnes gave the hosts a deserved point in a tight and hard fought game against Dunston, who sit 2 points above West in the league table but have played a game more.

Dunston started the brighter and took an early lead when Ben Johnson ghosted in unmarked at the back post to steer the ball past Phil Owers after only 9 minutes. It looked to be the start of another difficult game following on from the heavy League Cup defeat at the hands of Dunston especially given the fact that first team regulars Mark Bell, Brian Fairhurst and the ever present Danny Richmond were all missing. However West recovered after this early spell under pressure and came close when Michael Heckley headed over Karl Everitt's cross. Dale Jardine came close in the 24th minute after seizing upon a poor header clear but was unable to keep his shot on target.

A period of several chances began in the 30th minute when Garry Barnes saw his looping shot superbly clawed out by a recovering Andrew Clark from under the bar. Steven Preen then went and tested Phil Owers at the other end with a good shot before Kevin Bromley's fired in crossed was chested by Lee Ellison with the ball running onto Barnes whose shot was wide. Owers had to be again alert at the other end rushing out of goal to beat Preen to the ball denying the forward a clear run on goal. Jardine was unfortunate again in the 34th minute when he chased Bromley's ball over the back line, he blocked Ben Cattenach's clearance, raced in on goal and from a tight angle show his shot go an inch past the wrong side of the post. Michael Heckley also saw another header flash over the bar on the stroke of half time as West looked to recover from the early setback of the Dunston goal.

Dunston nearly extended the lead early in the second half when Phil Owers was forced to punch the ball clear under pressure before Michael Heckley blocked Paul Hogg's follow up shot. Stephen Buzzeo then volleyed wide after picking up the loose ball follow another battle for the ball between Heckley and Graeme Armstrong on the edge of the box. Temperatures were raised though soon after after a Dunston player went down on the half way line, unbeknown West carried on playing and Jonathan Milroy just delayed his final pass allowing the ball to be cleared as Barnes looked to burst through on goal. The ball though did not go out of play and Lee Ellison felt his run was blocked in the area when he carried on play but the referee waived away penalty claims. Ian Maddison, who once again put in a good showing in the centre of midfield, blazed a shot over in the 61st minute before, 2 minutes later, West Auckland deservedly drew level. On the edge of the area, Garry Barnes looped a shot over Andrew Clark, who misjudged the flight of the ball, and into the top corner.

The goal seemed to spur life back into a quiet Dunston side and Graeme Armstrong nearly restored the visitors lead in the 70th minute when, after a quick 1-2, his volleyed flashed narrowly wide. Karl Everitt, filling in at an unfamiliar right full back role, had a solid game but gave Ben Johnson a golden chance to score his second when his poor back header was seized upon but the midfielder saw his shot held when he perhaps should have done better. In between Lee Ellison shot over as West also looked for that vital second goal however there hopes were hit when Garry Barnes went down with an ankle injury and being challenged from behind as he shot after running clear. He was able to carry on long enough to set up Lee Ellison but the forward saw his shot go wide. The game finished with Ellison having an easy shot held, Armstrong seeing Dunston last effort end up wide of the target before Jonathan Milroy fired wide in injury time as the game ended with a even result.

 

 

Team
    1 Phil Owers
    2 Michael Heckley
    3 Danny Key
    4 Jamie Middleton
    5 Ian Maddison
    6 Leigh Grant
    7 Lee Ellison
    8 Karl Everitt
    9 Dale Jardine
       (13. Jonathan Milroy 45 mins)
   10 Garry Barnes
       (12. Darren Kokes 80 mins)
   11 Kevin Bromley

Subs Not Used
    Andy Cole
    Brian Fairhurst
    David Bayles