West Auckland start this season's FA Cup with a tricky tie against Bedlington Terriers in the Extra Preliminary round.
West have several players unavailable with manager David Bayles contemplating naming himself on the bench.
Lee Ellison and Jamie Whitworth are suspended whilst Michael Heckley and Kevin Bromley are both unavailable. Leigh Grant is out due to a groin strain and Stuart Owen is doubtful with an ankle injury.
WEST AUCKLAND 2-1 BEDLINGTON TERRIERS
Sat 18 Aug, 3:00PM, FAC(EP)Match Sponsor: Ken & Anita Wynne
West Auckland progressed to the next round of the FA Cup after overcoming Bedlington in a game that saw a tense and fiery finish.
There was little action in the opening exchanges - the first of note being Garry Barnes who took down and volleyed over Dale Jardine's cross. Bedlington did have a good opportunity in the 18th minute when Robert Huntley chipped over with Mark Bell out of goal. A minute later Garry Barnes' header was ruled out for offside.
Dale Jardine was inches away from making the breakthrough in the 28th minute when he beat his defender, rounded the keeper but saw his shot cleared off the line. 2 minutes earlier Jardine had broken through the back line before seeing his shot pushed away by Karl Dryden. West were doing the pressing and Stuart Owen was the next to test Dryden as the keeper tipped over his fierce 30 yard effort after Brian Fairhurst's cross was cleared only as far as the winger.
But with score line still level, Bedlington were a danger and West hearts were in mouths 7 minutes before the break when Lee Hamilton and Alex Lawson rose to meet a corner only for Hamilton's header to be ruled out for a push on keeper Mark Bell.
The second half began with West Auckland taking the advantage and they opened the scoring just 3 minutes in through Garry Barnes when he flicked on a through ball and confidently fired home the ball from 16 yards. Barnes then saw a quick shot from a free kick turned away before Dale Jardine could have added the second. The forward won possession on the half way line, raced clear but saw Karl Dryden block his shot.
However Bedlington were still within striking distance and Robert Huntley tried a shot from a quick corner only for Mark Bell to save. The next goal was vital and it came for West Auckland when debutant and man of the match Scott Nicholson powered home a close range header from Stuart Owen's pin point cross to double the lead.
Bedlington had struggled to get into the game but sprung into life 4 minutes from the end when a perfect cross was headed home from close range by Lee Hamilton to set up a grandstand finish. The game could have been wrapped up by West immediately after this but Jamie Middleton could not quite direct his header on target.
Bedlington hopes of a replay appeared dashed when, in the first minute of injury time, sub Alex Benjamin was sent off after an abusive remark to the referee who clearly had had enough of the torrent of abuse from Bedlington's players, dug out and fans. Still Bedlington pushed for the equaliser and in the last seconds of the game, the fourth minute of injury time, Mark Bell had to stop Lee Hamilton's half volley with West relived to hear the final whistle.
West Auckland will now face Unibond side Wakefield in the Preliminary Round on Saturday 1 September.
1. Mark Bell, 2. Brian Fairhurst, 3. Ian Maddison (12. Darren Kokes 70 mins), 4. Jamie Middleton, 5. Michael Waller, 6. Scott Nicholson, 7. Danny Robinson, 8. Danny Richmond, 9. Dale Jardine (15. Gareth Sanders 81 mins), 10. Garry Barnes, 11. Stuart Owen
Subs Not Used: 13. Bradley Woods, 14. David Bayles, 16. Darren Simpson