WEST AUCKLAND TOWN 1-2 SHILDON AFC

(Monday 9 April, 11:00AM)

An inept performance saw West Auckland outclassed and outfought as Shildon spurned several chances but still took the three points, ending West’s hopes of fourth place, with a 2-1 win.

Adam Emson caused the defence, no end of problems and should have scored as early as the first minute when he beat the offside trap but with Mark Bell racing out of his goal, lobbed tamely well wide.  West Auckland did not seem to awaken for the first half of the early kick off and soon after Simon Ord lashed an effort over from Stuart Niven’s cross.  Garry Barnes did his best to lift the West team – a run from near the halfway touchline saw him cut inside but Andrew Spence was equal to his resulting shot.  A minute later Shildon took a deserved lead when Adam Emson turned Jamie Middleton in the area and, although Mark Bell saved his shot, Dean Grayson swept in the rebound. 

In the 17th minute Jamie Middleton had hearts in mouths when his tackle on Adam Emson sent the ball flying goal wards but thankfully, for West, just wide for a corner.  Emson once again proved a thorn in Middleton’s side when he got clear of his marker again but scuffed his shot wide when he really should have doubled their lead.  Shildon could have been made to pay for missed chances but Ryan McKnight fired over the bar four minutes before the break as Shildon went in the much happier team.

The second half started off in similar vain to the first – Shildon on the offensive and they should have been two up in the 49th minute when Adam Emson headed in a free kick only for an offside flag to be raised against Darryl Hall.  Karl Everitt then volleyed just wide in a rare attack for the home side.  In the 51st minute Adam Emson was sent clear but once again lobbed Mark Bell but this time over the bar as Shildon fans wondered if they would live to regret missed chances.  However a minute later Emson made amends when the held off the attentions from Leigh Grant and Jamie Middleton before firing past Bell to double the visitors lead.

West were in need of inspiration and threw on Lee Ellison in place of Garry Barnes in the 59th minute.  Within a minute, the sub had handed West a lifeline when Dion Raitt was adjudged to have pulled his shirt in the area.  From the resultant penalty Brian Fairhurst saw his spot kick well saved by Andrew Spence but, with the ball rebounding off the post and back across goal, Ian Maddison slid in to give West Auckland hope.  It clearly gave the hosts confidence and they could have been level in the 64th minute when a free kick went through to the back post where Leigh Grant, unmarked, headed wide from 4 yards, perhaps not expecting the ball to reach him.  2 minutes later Grant was in action again however at the other end where the sensational Emson turned the West defender before smashing a shot off the top of the bar. 

With West still somehow within a chance of getting something from the game they continued to press with Kevin Bromley seeing Andy Howarth turned away his volley inside the six yard area.  Karl Everitt received the only booking of the game after bringing down Dion Raitt who had managed to break clean through the defence on the half way line.  A covering defender meant the decision was only yellow and West were also thankful Raitt’s free kick was comfortably saved by Mark Bell. 

Manager David Bayles replaced Danny Richmond with 15 minutes remaining and he tried his best to drag West level.  He opted to head back across goal when well placed soon after but unfortunately the Shildon defence were on hand to clear the ball.  Darren Kokes scuffed a shot wide whislt Bayles was unfortunate to run out of room whilst trying to round the keeper as West threw all they had at Shildon.  However it was the visitors who came closest to scoring in the final minute when Stuart Niven’s excellent chipped pass found Louis Whensley charging through and his shot rattled the bar once more as Shildon held out for a deserved victory.

Team
    1 Mark Bell
    2 Ryan McKnight
    3 Karl Everitt
    4 Jamie Middleton
    5 Brian Fairhurst
    6 Leigh Grant
    7 Darren Kokes
    8 Danny Richmond
       (14. David Bayles 75 mins)
    9 Ian Maddison
   10 Garry Barnes
        (13. Lee Ellison 59 mins)
   11 Kevin Bromley

Sub Not Used
    12 Michael Heckley
    15 Phil Owers
    16 Richard Smith