WEST AUCKLAND TOWN 2-0 JARROW ROOFING

(Saturday 7 April, 3:00PM)

Two goals from Garry Barnes gave West Auckland a comfortable win in an uninspiring game played in glaring sunshine.  The hot Easter sun wasn’t the only ray of light in an otherwise scrappy game of football as Barnes tried to stake his claim for Goal of the Season with a 40 yard effort.

The game had started scrappily before Garry Barnes’ superb effort broke the deadlock.  After a quick look up, he spotted keeper Jonathan Charmichael off his line and proceeded to fire the ball, 40 yards over his head, and into the net. 

Jarrow’s main attack was a long ball through the middle and forward Paul Chow nearly got in after poking the ball away from keeper Mark Bell and Brian Fairhurst follow a difficult bounce, on the solid Darlington Road turf. 

Neither side could seem to get a foothold in the game,  3 half chances did not trouble either keeper - the first saw Karl Everitt’s 30 yard effort flash wide before Liam Robinson got in behind a struggling Michael Heckley but his cross could not quite find the head of Paul Chow 10 yards from goal.  Garry Barnes also fired wide after link up play with strike partner Jonathan Milroy.

However Barnes was not to be denied in the 20th minute when Brian Fairhurst’s well weighted ball over the head of Ibrahim Hassan found Kevin Bromley and his excellent cross found an onrushing Garry Barnes whose calm close range volley doubled the lead.

Michael Heckley was replaced at half time, suffering from an ankle injury.  His replacement Ryan McKnight tried to extend the lead shortly into the second half but rushed his shot on the edge of the box seeing it cleared to safety. Before this Garry Barnes, on a hat trick, went through on goal only to, after setting his sights, see Jonathan Charmichael push his effort away.

Jarrow tried to show they were still a threat and Mark Bell’s instinct reactions saw him push Liam Robinson’s shot across goal away from danger.  West Auckland though seemed in control and whilst not at a peak performance they were comfortable at holding onto the two goal lead.  In fact, the lead could have been extended further in the 73rd minute but Leigh Grant could only stretch and poke the ball wide from a few yards following a ball across the face of goal. 

West threatened to increase their advantage twice in 80th minute – Karl Everitt’s shot into the ground was nearly headed into his own net by Martin Thompson, who was thankful that Jonathan Charmichael reacted quickly to push it round the post.  From the resulting corner, Ian Maddison seemed certain to head home at the back post but Brian Fairhurst took the chance away from him.  

Jarrow did have a prolonged spell of play after this but did not truly threaten Mark Bell’s goal as he kept his 12th clean sheet of the season to maintain West Auckland’s push for fourth place.

Team
    1 Mark Bell
    2 Michael Heckley
       (15 Ryan McKnight 45 mins)
    3 Karl Everitt
    4 Jamie Middleton
    5 Brian Fairhurst
    6 Leigh Grant
    7 Jonathan Milroy
       (12 Darren Kokes 58 mins)
    8 Danny Richmond
    9 Ian Maddison
   10 Garry Barnes
       (13 Lee Ellison 61 mins)
   11 Kevin Bromley

Sub Not Used
    14 David Bayles
    16 Phil Owers