JARROW ROOFING 2-2 WEST AUCKLAND TOWN

(Tuesday 28 November, 7:30PM)

West Auckland missed out on the chance to move into second place after a disappointing draw at Jarrow, despite several chances to grab all 3 points.

Ian Maddison gave West an early lead with an 8th minute strike. After running at and beating two players, he fired into the corner of the net from the edge of the area. Three minutes later he had a chance to double the score but saw his header go wide whilst Danny Richmond also saw a shot just off target. However Mark Johnson stunned the visitors with a 14th minute equaliser. He got in behind the defence and with Mark Bell off his line volleyed over him and into the corner of the net from the far right of the area.

Danny Richmond was to leave the keeper with egg on his face in the 30th minute when a speculative shot from 40 yards, saw the keeper back into the post after misjudging the ball and it ended up in the back of the net to restore West's lead. A minute later Mark Bell was forced into a good save whilst Ian Maddison and Richmond both went close to extending the lead. However Jarrow levelled through Andrew Allen in the 39th minute when Bell could not get to the ball and with players trying to clear the ball off the line, Allen found the final touch to draw the teams level.

Dale Jardine pulled an early shot well wide in the second half before West suffered a blow with captain Danny Key being replaced by Andy Cole due to a tight hamstring. In the 53rd minute, West seemed to have strong penalty appeals turned down when Brian Fairhurst appeared to be brought down. Jardine hit the outside of the post in the 58th minute and a minute later Darren Kokes went clear on goal only for a last ditch tackle to deny him. Ian Maddison volleyed over a near post free kick but Jardine saw a shot saved after being played through by Danny Richmond.

Jarrow pulled a shot wide in the 34th minute and a minute later sub Lee Ellison's chip was too delicate and was not high enough to beat the keeper. Ellison the saw a 36th minute shot from the edge of the area flash by the post. A fierce free kick was narrowly over the bar for Jarrow before Dale Jardine saw a golden chance for a winner go begging when he fired over after Ellison had put him one on one with the keeper. Richmond and Fairhurst both pulled shots wide and a minute before the end Andy Cole saw his shot turned off the line. West thought they had won it in injury time but Jamie Middleton's composed finish was chalked off for offside despite the West Auckland player who was offside not interfering in play. However the visitors had a late scare when their forward ran clear but fired wide as West had to settle for a point.

Team
    1 Mark Bell
    2 Michael Heckley
    3 Danny Key
       (15. Andy Cole 52 mins)
    4 Jamie Middleton
    5 Brian Fairhurst
    6 Leigh Grant
    7 Kevin Bromley
    8 Danny Richmond
    9 Darren Kokes
       (12. Lee Ellison 70 mins)
   10 Ian Maddison
   11 Dale Jardine

Sub Not Used
    13 Gerard Wraith
    14 David Bayles
    16 Phil Owers