BILLINGHAM SYNTHONIA 3-3 WEST AUCKLAND TOWN

(Saturday 28 October, 3:00PM)

West Auckland had Mark Bell to thank for a string of fine saves before Mattie Moffat grabbed an injury time equaliser.

In a see-saw game West twice lead - the first coming from Leigh Grant who headed in Danny Richmond's 15th minute cross. Earlier Synners had gone close on a couple of opportunities and they were level soon after the opener. Mark Bell pushed away an effort and whilst Ian Maddison did well to clear before the onrushing forward, the ball only came as far as Michael Cater who fired into the top left hand corner.

Darren Kokes then impressed again with a stunning long range finish. The Synners keeper cleared it to the West forward after initially racing out of his goal to beat Moffat to the ball, and Kokes looped a 40 yard effort calmly into the net. Hope shot narrowly wide three minutes later as they pushed for another leveller before Colin Iley warmed Bell's hands as he pushed away the forwards shot.

The Synners team talk at half time clearly had a dramatic effect as West were caught asleep in only the 5th minute when Shaun Hope found space from a corner and headed home. As if the team hadn't learnt from this, Billingham nearly scored again from another corner just two minutes later. Synners were dominant however took the lead in the 59th minute when Brian Fairhurst could not clear the ball with his head from a corner and Hope forced the ball home from close range for a remarkable turn around. West still had not awoken from the fact they were behind and David Wells fired across the face of goal minutes later. Their forward then ran clear on goal only for Bell to make a good save before Grant conceded a penalty with a late challenge only for Wells to see his spot kick blocked by Bell. 8 minutes from time the Synners forward again went clean through on goal - this time he delayed too long on the ball and Bell dispossessed him. In the last minute West grabbed a dramatic equaliser when Danny Richmond's good run and cross found Mattie Moffat who headed home.

Team
    1 Mark Bell
    2 Michael Heckley
    3 Danny Key
    4 Jamie Middleton
    5 Brian Fairhurst
       (Brian Fairhurst 84 mins)
    6 Leigh Grant
    7 Darren Kokes
    8 Danny Richmond
    9 Mattie Moffat
   10 Ian Maddison
       (Ian Maddison 72 mins)
   11 Dale Jardine
       (Andy Cole 81 mins)

Sub Not Used
    Gerard Wraith
    Dale Sheridan