WEST AUCKLAND 0-3 CHESTER-LE-STREET
Saturday 1 December, 3:00PM, League
It was yet another game this season where West Auckland missed there chances and paid the ultimate price. The ruthless Chester-le-Street forwards gave the score line a one side and comprehensive feel as West Auckland continue to languish in the bottom 3.
Both sides started quietly and the first meaningful chance saw Chester-le-Street take a 14th minute lead. A quick break led to Michael Heckley being left isolated against 3 opponents, and when he did not make the tackle, the ball was squared across the box into the path of Tony Healer and he slotted the ball into the net.
West's response was immediate - Neil Robinson's header was turned away by the diving Jonathan Carmichael just as Garry Barnes was about to pounce and apply the finish touch. Moments later Danny Richmond rolled the ball to the left side where Bryan Stewart fired in a low shot, this time held by the Chester keeper.
The clearest West chance came in the 20th minute when Robinson headed the ball onto Barnes, he in turn headed it past the defence where Dale Jardine had burst through but after turning past the covering defender, Jardine pulled his shot wide.
Jamie Middleton's flicked header into a dangerous area was smothered by Carmichael as the young keeper caused growing frustration to the home fans. They then watched on as Chester came close to adding to their early lead with a free header that flashed wide.
The warning signs though were not heeded and going into injury time Chester-le-Street increased their lead. West gave away possession and this lead to Scott Emmerson being set up to evade Brian Fairhurst and lash the ball last the ball past Alan Wilkinson.
West Auckland knew an early goal would go a long way to helping recover and pushed from the off - Danny Richmond unable to keep his shot down from a different angle before Neil Robinson found himself behind his marker only to try and lift the ball over Jonathan Carmichael which the keeper held.
Robinson though nearly made amends in the 54th minute with an unexpected and acrobatic overhead from Dale Jardine's cross, that narrowly flashed the wrong side of goal with Carmichael beaten. Garry Barnes had his effort saved by the keeper (60) whilst the visitors saw Scott Emmerson hold off Michael Heckley before twisting and firing at goal with Alan Wilkinson alert to turn the ball behind. (61)
A minute later a 25 yard free kick was well pushed over by Wilkinson as Chester-le-Street looked to wrap up the match early on. However the next goal was crucial and with this West surged forward again. Bryan Stewart's whipped in corner had to be tipped over by Jonathan Carmichael. From the subsequent corner, Jamie Middleton arched his neck to turn the ball back from the touchline and Neil Robinson could not quite scramble the ball into the net and the danger was cleared.
This was to prove a key point as within a minute one long ball found Scott Emmerson behind the West back line and he held off Ian Maddison before finishing with aplomb to seal the three points for the visitors.
Luck again deserted Lee Ellison's men with the Manager, on as a sub, seeing his free kick finally beat Carmichael only to smash off the outside of the post. 7 minutes from the end Neil Robinson picked out Ellison with a chipped ball back to the edge of the area but the forward could only fire straight at the Chester keeper who held on.
West were to end the game with more missed chances as fans wondered how more points had slipped their grasp. In injury time, sub Kevin Bromley scuffed an effort wide, Ellison scooped an effort over and Robinson fired over to cap a frustrating day.
1. Alan Wilkinson, 2. Michael Heckley, 3. Dale Jardine (15. Thomas Louden 75 mins), 4. Ian Maddison, 5. Scott Nicholson, 6. Brian Fairhurst, 7. Bryan Stewart, 8. Jamie Middleton , 9. Garry Barnes (14. Lee Ellison 64 mins), 10. Neil Robinson, 11. Danny Richmond (12. Kevin Bromley 60 mins)
Subs Not Used: 16. Lee Hutton
Pictures