WEST AUCKLAND 2-1 BEDLINGTON TERRIERS
Wed 12 Sept, 7:30PM, LeagueMatch Sponsor: Robert Simpson Wrought Iron Gates and Railings
Ball Sponsor:Oakley Mitsubishi West Auckland
As was the result last time the sides met earlier this season, West Auckland edged out Bedlington - this time thanks to a winner from Kevin Bromley who spared the blushes of keeper Mark Bell after he had gifted Bedlington an equaliser.
The game has started well for Bell who was alert as early as the second minute when he had to push Scott Marshall's 20 yard effort round the post following a difficult bounce. However West then started making all the running and applied the pressure with Garry Barnes unable to put enough power into his shot in the 7th minute after good work on the wing by Danny Robinson.
Robert Huntley volleyed wide from the edge of the box in the 13th minute but this was a rare Bedlington shot during a period of West pressure and this paid off in the 15th minute when Kevin Bromley's long ball forward was latched onto by Jonathan Milroy who had raced clear from the half way line, and the forward calmly steered the ball past Karl Dryden to give West the lead.
Kevin Bromley could have extended the lead in the 28th minute when Michael Heckley's high cross was missed in the centre, finding the incoming Bromley at the back post but could not get high enough to keep his volley down and the ball flew narrowly over the bar.
Both sides struggled to create openings to add to the scoring although Garry Barnes came close to adding the finish touch to Danny Richmond's driven in cross in the 39th minute. Bedlington themselves also had an opening in the 42nd minute when Lee Hamilton found space on the left edge of the box but fired wide.
Jonathan Milroy did have the ball in the back of the net in the final normal minute of the half but the flag had already been raised before applying the finish. Bedlington though still caused some concern in injury time, Mark Bell doing well to hold onto a fired in cross with Hamilton lurking.
West Auckland started the second half better and could have take just 5 minutes to extend their lead however Brian Fairhurst pulled his shot, from Kevin Bromley's lay off, just wide. Scott Nicholson then was brilliantly denied by Karl Dryden who palmed away his flicked header from Fairhurst's free kick and the lose ball well defended.
Forward Garry Barnes raced clear in the 59th minute after strike partner Jonathan Milroy's through ball but he sliced the final shot wide. And West were to regret these missed chances when fans had hands on their heads in disbelief after gifting Bedlington an equaliser they had scarcely deserved up to this point. A long hopefully ball forward saw Hamilton and Nicholson prepare for headers before keeper Mark Bell shouted that he would claim the ball - Bell though only managed to clash into Nicholson and the ball kindly rolled to Lee Hamilton who applied the simplest of finishes.
Bedlington were lifted this and they started applying the pressure and West seemingly struggled and could have been down to ten men when Scott Nicholson appeared to stamp on a Bedlington player when picking himself up after being cleaned out by a late tackle. The referee, after discussions with his assistant referee, showed the yellow card followed by an incensed reaction from the visitors bench, one of whom already had to be stopped from going onto the pitch by the assistant referee following the initial tackle.
Bedlington could have extracted revenge but wasted a glorious chance in the 70th minute when Lee Hamilton outpaced Nicholson, pulling the ball back to Rob Huntley whose shot hit the post and Derek Waters fired over the rebound from close range with West fans preparing themselves for the net to bulge.
The visitors lived to regret the missed chance when West grabbed what proved to be the winner in the 78th minute - Jonathan Milroy's good work saw him pull the ball back from the touchline to Kevin Bromley who from 10 yards slotted the ball past Dryden.
This brought on a wave of Bedlington pressure to snatch another equaliser - this time West were solid and composed. Scott Marshall saw a shot held by Mark Bell at the second attempt after a mazy run. Ian Maddison did set up Danny Robinson at the other end in a rare attack although the midfielder scuffed shot did not trouble the keeper.
Lee Hamilton tried to catch Mark Bell rushing back to his goal in the 83rd minute but his attempt chip was too low and pushed wide. From the resultant corner, Bell had to react quickly to push Derek Waters cross round the post. Hearts were in mouths once again in the last minute of the game when a flicked on corner found the header of Dan Kennerley who rose above everyone only for his goal bound header to be plucked out of the air by Mark Bell.
1. Mark Bell, 2. Michael Heckley, 3. Brian Fairhurst, 4. Ian Maddison, 5. Scott Nicholson, 6. Jamie Middleton, 7. Danny Robinson (15. Stuart Owen 89 mins), 8. Danny Richmond, 9. Garry Barnes, 10. Jonathan Milroy, 11. Kevin Bromley (12. Lee Ellison 88 mins).
Subs Not Used: 14. Gary Close, 16. Bradley Woods, 17. Lee Hutton