WEST AUCKLAND TOWN 3-2 DURHAM CITY

(Saturday 27 January, 3:00)

An amazing comeback was capped by a 91st minute winner by Dale Jardine just 2 minutes after coming on as West Auckland completed the double over a difficult Durham City side. It was a game where manager David Bayles' substitutions all worked perfectly with each coming on to find the back of the net ending the recent goal drought between the forwards.

The first half was a tame spectacle for the good sized crowd at the Darlington Road ground as both sides struggled to create meaningful chances. Durham did have the best of the half though with Tommy English firing just wide early on at the second attempt. Apart from a tame 30 yard shot the next goalmouth action saw English waste a free kick on the edge of the box with Mark Bell easily holding the effort. The visitors perhaps should have been given the chance to take the lead 10 minutes before the break when Ian Maddison appeared to foul their forward just inside the area but the referee waved away protests. This stoked up temperatures on the field with Danny Richmond and Michael Heckley both booked for fouls along with 2 Durham players. The half seemed to spring to life with this and debutant Garry Barnes seeing his close range shot blocked by the keeper. At the other end Leon Ryan headed a corner wide before Kevin Bromley shot wide from the edge of the area.

Darren Kokes provided an early problem for West Auckland after pulling up with a back injury after chasing a through ball just 5 minutes into the half. Jonathan Milroy came on to replace him but only seconds later West were behind after Leigh Grant brought down Lewis Dodds in the box and Tommy English beat Mark Bell, placing his spot kick in the corner of the net. Jamie Middleton headed a free kick over a minute later as West Auckland looked to hit back. Karl Everitt shot wide before Danny Richmond shot was well held under pressure by the keeper as Garry Barnes looked for a rebound. However disaster struck in the 63rd minute when Ian Maddison, who had had a solid game in place of an unavailable Danny Key, lost his footing when going for a header and the ball found it's way through to Steven Richardson who took his shot first time and beat Mark Bell at his near post.

Lee Ellison was brought on in place of defender Leigh Grant as West looked to get back into the game. Garry Barnes then shot wide before Durham nearly had a 3rd when an unmarked Ryan headed over. However the West revival started in the 75th minute when, following a corner, Lee Ellison chipped the ball back across goal and Jonathan Milroy headed towards goal. A covering defender got back on the line to head the ball clear but the linesman signaled the ball had infact crossed the line and the goal awarded as Durham protested. Their concentration clearly affected West seized the opportunity and 2 minutes later were level when Kevin Bromley sent Lee Ellison through on goal and the forward cleverly beat the keeper with a shot off the outside of his foot.

Durham then seemed to come alive again with Richardson seeing his parried by Bell and the ball forced away for a corner. From this Kevin Bromley headed the ball away from his position on the post. A unmarked player then saw his header flash wide. The hosts survived these scares and finished the game stronger firstly seeing the ball cleared off the line minutes from the end. English fired an effort well wide for Durham before West grabbed a sensational winner in the first minute of stoppage time. Danny Richmond's long ball over the defence found Dale Jardine racing forward and he beat the keeper to the ball, lifting it over him and into the net to cap a superb comeback. Following recent goal droughts, all 3 goals had been scored by forwards which will surely have relieved some of the pressure on them as they look to finish the season strongly and move up the table.

Team
    1 Mark Bell
    2 Michael Heckley
    3 Ian Maddison
    4 Jamie Middleton
    5 Brian Fairhurst
    6 Leigh Grant
       (12. Lee Ellison 69 mins)
    7 Darren Kokes
       (14. Jonathan Milroy 50 mins)
    8 Danny Richmond
    9 Karl Everitt
   10 Garry Barnes
       (13. Dale Jardine 89 mins)
    11 Kevin Bromley