WEST AUCKLAND 0-1 NEWCASTLE BENFIELD
Wednesday 19 March, 7:30PM, League
West kept the same 11 who performed superbly at Dunston and again they played well only too miss some good openings against Benfield before being punished with a second half winner for the visitors.
Both sides had a quiet opening - West's first chance came with Paul Freary's header back across the box finding Dale Jardine and the subsequent header was saved. At the other end Alu Bangura headed over for Benfield.
In the 11th minute, Jardine tried a looping effort and the keeper was forced to tip the ball over the bar as it looked in danger of dropping in. From the corner, the ball was half punched clear by Grainger, with Stuart Owen firing the ball back in but wide of the target.
West should have taken the lead in the 18th minute when Jardine picked out strike partner Neil Robinson who raced through clear on goal but pulled his shot narrowly the wrong side of the post.
Benfield next effort was 10 minutes later with Mark Atkinson holding off his marker but saw his shot held. However it was the West keeper who denied the visitors a certain lead in the 34th minute with a header seemingly flying in just under the bar before a finger tip save.
At the other end Dale Jardine could not generate enough power to truly test the keeper although Benfield's Mark Atkinson did a minute from the break. After being given space, the midfielder's thunderous drive cannoned back off the underside of the bar and the onrushing forward seemed to destined to score before Ian Maddison's excellent tackle to deny him for the rebound.
The second half's first opening came in the 56th minute and saw West inches from taking the lead. A free kick flew past everyone on the penalty spot, falling to the unmarked Brian Fairhurst and the defender set himself before firing across Grainger but also an inch wide of the post.
7 minutes later, Paul Freary's excellent run and cross somehow did not find a head. A free kick a minute later was then headed powerfully but narrowly over by Fairhurst as West looked most threatening.
Stuart Owen was the next to flight a shot over the bar before Benfield finally responded in the 71st minute - Alu Bangura finding space and his volley was well held.
Another good sighting came in the 75th minute for West when the keeper spilt the ball, coming to Bryan Stewart but he drove the ball low and into a Benfield player and the chance had gone.
And Benfield punished the hosts for the missed chances when 12 minutes from the end, Paul Anthony's shot was parried and Bangura was on hand to tuck in the rebound and claim the winner.
1. Mark Bell, 2. Thomas Louden, 3. Kevin Bromley, 4. Brian Fairhurst, 5. Ian Maddison, 6. Bryan Stewart, 7. Paul Freary, 8. Danny Richmond, 9. Dale Jardine, 10. Neil Robinson, 11. Stuart Owen (14. Andrew Blackburn 84 mins).