WEST AUCKLAND TOWN 1-0 NORTHALLERTON TOWN

(Saturday 13 January, 3:00PM)

An injury time winner gave manager David Bayles a lift ahead of next weekend's FA Vase tie, after 6 games without a win. Karl Everitt turned from villain to hero after missing a penalty before his late goal.

Played in very difficult conditions, West played into the gales in the first half and with the winds behind the visitors they made the brighter start. Carl Chillingsworth saw his header well tipped over by an alert Mark Bell after 8 minutes before being called into action a couple of minutes later, pushing Karl Charlton's effort away for a corner after he had got in behind Jamie Middleton. Gerard Wraith, who was an injury concern before the game, sliced a clearance due to the wind presenting Ross Diamond with an opportunity but the midfielder volleyed over. Wraith who had only recently come into the side due to injuries was forced off in the 15th minute and looks set to miss the Vase tie next weekend. As if this wasn't a big enough headache for manager David Bayles he then saw Ian Maddison somehow head wide from a matter of yards when it seemed easier to score.

Following a comfortable win at Northallerton in the season few would have thought that West would struggle against them at home however after the recent run of form nothing has seemed to be going right for West. There was though, a golden chance to put to bed the pressure of not scoring for three games when, in the 22nd minute,goalkeeper Sam Dobbs barged clumsily into the back of Darren Kokes when coming out to claim a cross leaving the referee little option but too award a penalty. Midfielder Karl Everitt stepped up but he blasted the penalty high over the bar. This seemed to take the stride out of West as Northallerton took charge seeing a long range effort well judged and held by Mark Bell before Karl Charlton pulled a shot wide when through on goal.

The second half saw West Auckland pressuring the visitors goal with the wind now surging them forward. Within 3 minutes Leigh Grant's long range effort being well held by Sam Dobbs. Jamie Middleton then saw his 51st minute header pushed over from a tight angle. However Mark Bell produced an excellent close range save to deny Karl Charlton. 2 minutes later Karl Everitt rattled the bar with a sweet strike from 35 yards. Dale Jardine saw his sliced shot saved by Dobbs before both of West's forward were replaced. Sub Lee Ellison took only four minutes to see a deflected free kick hit the outside of the post as it seemed the hosts were heading for another frustrating day in front of goal. The swirling wind caused both sides problems as the quality of the game was limited by the gale force winds.

The scrappy affair sprang to life again as West surged forward in the last five minutes in search of a much needed win and confidence boost. Ellison pulled a shot wide from 12 yards before a quick break saw Chillingsworth set up Charlton only for the forward to shoot tamely. Everitt saw a scuffed shot go wide before he caused the game to erupt in the 88th minute. Both he and Northallerton's Carl Chillingsworth went two footed into a tackle with the visitors player seemingly coming out worse. The visitors were incensed when Everitt was only booked and they were even more unhappy minutes later when, deep into injury time, the ball came to an unmarked Everitt at the back post and the midfielder's shot found the back of the net despite Dobbs getting a large deflection on the ball. Northallerton were furious with the referee claiming offside and that the West player should have already been sent off - in the protests an Northallerton official was sent from the dug out. Jonathan Milroy then nearly added a second when the keeper could only clear straight to him but, with an unmarked goal, the ball would not come down quick enough and he ended up hooking the ball wide.

Team
    1 Mark Bell
    2 Leigh Grant
    3 Danny Key
    4 Jamie Middleton
    5 Karl Everitt
    6 Gerard Wraith
        (14. Michael Heckley 15 mins)
    7 Danny Kokes
        (12. Lee Ellison 67 mins)
    8 Danny Richmond
    9 Ian Maddison
        (13. Jonathan Milroy 67 mins)
   10 Dale Jardine
   11 Kevin Bromley

Sub Not Used
   15. David Bayles
   16. Phil Owers