West Auckland begin the season with a tough game at one of the favourites for the title, Newcastle Benfield. Last season the game ended 1-1 although earlier in that campaign Benfield edged the game 3-2 at Darlington Road.
Kevin Bromley and Stuart Owen are both classed as very doubtful however Danny Richmond, Lee Ellison and Ian Maddison are all expected to be fit for the big kick off.
No Match Poster for this game
NEWCASTLE BENFIELD 4-1 WEST AUCKLAND
Sat 11 Aug, 3:00PM, LgeWest Auckland started the season with a heavy defeat at the hands of title favourites Newcastle Benfield. The game was effectively over by half time after defensive errors were pounced upon by a sharp Benfield forward line who punished West to the full.
The afternoon may have had a different outlook had Danny Richmond's low shot not skipped the wrong side of goal after a positive run by midfielder. However the first of Benfield's three first half strikes came in the 9th minute when Brian Fairhurst slipped trying to cut out a cross and Mark Atkinson's cross was bundled just over the line by Michael Chilton at the second attempt.
Worse should have followed six minutes later when young keeper Kyle Etherington misjudged a bouncing ball, the ball being palmed out under the bar to Chilton whose close range shot hit the bar before the follow up header was put over the bar from six yards. Chilton was being a menace to the West back line and in the 20th minute nearly grabbed his second - smashing an unstoppable free kick inches wide.
Three minutes later, Benfield doubled their lead through Michael Chilton who broke the offside trap and raced clear to slot past Kyle Etherington who despite getting a hand to the ball could not keep it out.
West tried in vain to hit back but their luck was out - Garry Barnes saw his flicked header clip the top of the bar from Lee Ellison's corner before Ian Graham volleyed over at the other end as Benfield looked to put the game to bed.
And it was over in the 34th minute with a horror show at the back - Michael Waller played the ball back on the short side to Brian Fairhurst in the box, Fairhurst then stopped allowing the Benfield player to race onto the ball and pull it back towards Michael Chilton and he sent Kyle Etherington the wrong way to secure his hat trick.
The second half started in ominous fashion as well Mark Atkinson crashed a stunning dipping 30 yard volley against the crossbar. Two minutes later, Benfield were to profit from uncertain West Auckland defending again when Ian Graham managed to win the ball and hold off Michael Waller and Brian Fairhurst before slotting home.
Both clubs had penalty appeals turned down - Garry Barnes' cross appeared to hit a hand before Ian Maddison looked to have blocked the ball with a hand. West meanwhile looked to grab a consolation effort and saw Stuart Owen fired an effort narrowly over the bar
They did pull one back however nine minutes from the end when West's man of the match Dale Jardine beat his defender and his cross picked out the on-rushing Danny Robinson who knocked the ball past the advancing keeper.
1. Kyle Etherington, 2. Ian Maddison, 3. Brian Fairhurst, 4. James Middleton, 5. Michael Waller, 6. Danny Robinson, 7. Lee Ellison (17. Michael Heckley), 8. Danny Richmond, 9. Dale Jardine, 10. Garry Barnes (12. Darren Kokes), 11.Stuart Owen (15. Gary Close)