HORDEN C.W. 4-3 WEST AUCKLAND TOWN
(Wednesday 18 April, 19:30)West Auckland hit a new low after a shocking second half performance saw them lose to bottom placed Horden C.W. Jamie Middleton was the star performer of a night that saw any hopes of a top 6 finish extinguished.
West Auckland started the brighter but with little impression on the goal before a first effort on target, in the 17th minute, brought a lead for West. Ian Maddison picked the ball up in the middle of the field, played a 1-2 with Lee Ellison before lashing an unstoppable effort into the bottom corner from 30 yards.
It should have been a two goal cushion 4 minutes later when Ellison played a 1-2 with Darren Kokes but from 10 yards blazed the ball over the bar. However in the 26th minute the dominance of West paid off with Ian Maddison flicking a header onto Jamie Middleton, he chested it down before swivelling and firing the ball past a helpless keeper. West made sure they were tight at the back and the remainder of the half was a scrappy affair with little goalmouth action.
The second half was to be a completely different story as West hit the self destruct button. They had a warning shot in the 58th minute when Nicky Martin snuck in unnoticed at the back post and hit the side of the post. A minute later the same played gave bottom placed Horden the lifeline they wanted putting the first of four past Mark Bell. In the 62nd minute Horden were level when a long free kick was flicked on and Martin again had ghosted in unmarked and despite being the smallest man on the field looped a header over Bell.
As if it could not get any worse, Mark Bell was then left red faced to give Horden the lead in the 66th minute when Christopher Pearson's long free kick missed everyone and bounced over the keeper and into the net. West were shell shocked and it was left to the excellent Jamie Middleton to lead by example latching onto Ian Maddison's through ball before being brought down by the keeper and a penalty awarded. Brian Fairhurst stepped up and placed the ball confidently into the top left corner of the net.
However an amazing goal fest at the start of the second half was not yet finished as the West defence once again capitulated with Alan Hoey cutting inside, riding a couple of challenges, rounding Mark Bell and slotting the ball home, just 2 minutes after West had levelled.
The ineffectual Lee Ellison was taken off with 16 minutes remaining to be replaced by a not fully fit Jonathan Milroy as West's squad struggled to cope with injuries and suspension. Middleton once again tried to force the game with a shot that bounced awkwardly in front of the keeper leading to the ball coming free for a second, being collected just as Darren Kokes arrived hoping for a chance. Danny Richmond then shot wide from the edge of the box 5 minutes before the end as West's last chance came and went.
Team
1 Mark Bell
2 Michael Heckley
3 Ryan McKnight
4 Jamie Middleton
5 Brian Fairhurst
6 Leigh Grant
7 Lee Ellison
(12. Jonathan Milroy 74 mins)
8 Danny Richmond
9 Ian Maddison
10 Darren Kokes
11 Kevin Bromley
Sub Not Used
13 David Bayles
14 Garry Barnes
15 Danny Key
16 Phil Owers