Jamie Middleton returns for the FA Cup replay however West are without Brian Fairhurst and Jonathan Milroy who are both unavailable. Scott Nicholson is unlikely to feature following a nasty head injury during Saturday's match.
BAMBER BRIDGE 5-1 WEST AUCKLAND
Tuesday 16 October, 7:45PM, FA Cup Third Qualifying Round Replay
After a positive first half, West Auckland were torn apart by a rampant Bamber Bridge in the second period with FA Cup dreams of a trip to Histon in the Fourth Qualifying Round extinguished well before Jamie Middleton's consolation effort.
Missing defenders Scott Nicholson and Kevin Bromley, the defence had been reshuffled and the hosts looked to attack from the off. Hesitant defending resulted in Mark Bell having to act quickly to deny Sean O'Neil before Ryan Salmon fired wide.
However West then went close to take the lead with two good opportunities just minutes later as both sides made for an entertaining opening. In the 3rd minute Garry Barnes' low first time shot was well held by the home keeper who then, a minute later, did well to block Dale Jardine's effort after Danny Richmond had set the left winger through on goal.
Danny Mahoney's ambitious 40 yard effort was narrowly too high with Mark Bell quickly recovering back to his goal line whilst, in the 28th minute, a glorious chance saw Steve Williams head Alex Porter's free kick the wrong side of goal from close range.
Lee Ellison reacted with his free kick deflecting away for a corner as West looked to create their own pressure. From the corner, Jamie Middleton's cross back in was just flicked away as Michael Heckley looked for a telling contact and this was to be West's last opportunity to take the lead as in the 33rd minute Bamber Bridge took the lead.
Good work from Alex Porter on the left saw him beat Michael Heckley, fire in a low cross across the 6 yard box where Steve Brown was on hand to turn the ball past Mark Bell.
In a crucial period just before half time West Auckland could have levelled before falling further behind. In the 41st minute Michael Heckley slid the ball into the path of Garry Barnes and his rasping shot appeared goalbound before an excellent block from Adam Tong turned the ball away.
'Brig' responded with a shot that was also deflected wide and from the corner they extended their lead. Ryan Salmon's header rattled the underside of the crossbar and despite efforts to head away the ball it fell to Sean O'Neil and he hammered the ball under Mark Bell and past the glut of players on the line to double the hosts lead.
Despite a positive first half West were up against it and needed to a positive start to the second half. However the hosts came out and stroked the ball confidently around the pitch, leaving West chasing shadows. They could have extended their lead with Alex Porter's free kick across the box having to be pushed away at full stretch by Mark Bell and soon after a shot looped up with Bell having to jump backwards doing well to keep the ball from crossing the line.
In the 50th minute Mark Bell was called into action again deflecting an Alex Porter shot before Kevin Bromley completed the clearance followed up quickly by a Tom Ince low shot that was held. It was beginning to resemble the alamo and the third goal was always on the cards. It arrived in the 56th minute to all but extinguish West Auckland's hopes. Danny Mahoney's chipped free kick into the top corner saw Mark Bell grasping at thin air as the home fans celebrated.
Tom Ince sent a shot into the side netting as Bamber Bridge continued their relentless surge forward. Michael Waller got a West Auckland name on the score sheet - unfortunately at the wrong end as a mix up with Mark Bell resulted in him side footing a free kick into the net 16 minutes from the end as the game went from bad to worse for West.
As West looked for the game to end sooner rather than later, they did at least grab a consolation goal when Jamie Middleton ghosted in at the back post to head home.
The game ended though with further 'Brig' pressure - Ryan Salmon fired wired before, as the game entered injury time, rounding Mark Bell on the far left touchline but after making his way into the box could only steer his shot into the side netting with a defender on the line.
Salmon though did get his name on the score sheet a minute later to add further woe to West Auckland. A long sweeping ball out to the forward on the left wing saw Mark Bell start to come out and then begin to retreat. The marksman saw his opportunity and superbly chipped his shot over Bell and into the roof of net as Bamber Bridge took their place in the final qualifying round away to Blue Square Premier side Histon.
1. Mark Bell, 2. Michael Heckley (Bradley Woods 83 mins), 3. Kevin Bromley, 4. Danny Richmond, 5. Jamie Middleton, 6. Michael Waller, 7. Danny Key, 8. Ian Maddison (Thomas Louden 62 mins), 9. Lee Ellison (Stuart Owen 62 mins), 10. Garry Barnes, 11. Dale Jardine
Subs Not Used: Scott Nicholson, David Bayles