GEDLING TOWN 0-2 WEST AUCKLAND TOWN
(Saturday 9 December, 3:00PM)West Auckland breathed a huge sigh of relief after a dominant display was rewarded with two late goals to send them through to the 4th Round of the FA Vase.
After the recent poor weather the match started in bright sunshine, and West set out their stalls early on with the hosts unable to cope with Mattie Moffat in particular. Lee Ellison fired a warning shot with a 7th minute free kick that was narrowly too high. Ellison forced the keeper to make a save with his legs 3 minutes later, after Ian Maddison had set the forward clean through on goal. Mattie Moffat, who had been a doubt before kick off, nearly broke the deadlock with a lob over the keeper from 25 yards but was unfortunate to see the ball land just behind the goal. Gedling tried to rally but the closest they came was a cross shot across the area that came to nothing. However Moffat was beginning to get behind the defence at every opportunity and in the 19th minute he beat then held off his marker to race in towards goal. The only surprise was that the prolific marksman shot into the side netting much to his frustration.
Kevin Bromley nearly opened his season’s account in the 27th minute when Lee Ellison chip in found him running in at the back post and the winger was unlucky to see his close range effort, blocked by the keepers legs. Gedling did manage a 5 minute spell of pressure with a couple of free kicks in dangerous positions – the first was easily held, the second wide. West were again frustrated with a couple of chances as the half drew to close. Ellison saw his shot saved at close range before Ian Maddison squared the ball to Danny Key who took too much time on the ball as the defender managed to make a last ditch tackle to deny the midfielder.
The second half started in a similar vain to the first – more chances going begging for West. 7 minutes in, Ian Maddison played the ball across to Mattie Moffat and he tamely shot into the keepers arms with the goal opening up for him. A minute later, he turned two defenders and fired a shot inches over as it seemed like it wasn’t to be his day. And West may have fallen behind had two shots not been put wide as Gedling had their best chances of the game. The visitors though were not going to be denied their name in the hat for the next round draw and stepped up another gear that Gedling could not cope with. In the 66th minute, Moffat hooked the ball onto Lee Ellison and his shot was saved by the keeper although there were strong appeals that a hand blocked it outside of the area. From the resulting corner Moffat managed to get a shot in at goal only for the keeper to turn it away once again.
However the relief was clear to see in the 71st minute when West took a decisive lead. A ball over the defence found Lee Ellison and the forward took a couple of touches before calmly finishing. The game was then made safe by Mattie Moffat, three minutes later when the marksman got through on goal, rounded the keeper and slotted home a second.
Indiscipline then came into the host’s game and the number 6 was sent off for a second booking when he stopped West taking a quick free kick in the 76th minute. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the number 9 decided to tell the referee his views and was also sent off. West nearly heaped more misery on them with sub Dale Jardine forcing the keeper into a save before firing another effort wide.
Team
1 Mark Bell
2 Michael Heckley
3 Danny Key
4 David Bayles
5 Karl Everitt
6 Leigh Grant
7 Lee Ellison
8 Danny Richmond
9 Mattie Moffat
(12. Dale Jardine 89 mins)
10 Ian Maddison
11 Kevin Bromley
Sub Not Used
13 Gerard Wraith
14 Andy Cole
15 Darren Kokes
16 Phil Owers