WEST AUCKLAND 2-4 DURHAM CITY
Saturday 26 April, 3:00PM, League
The 2007/08 season ended in defeat for West Auckland as they went down 4-2 at home to this season's deserved Champions Durham City. The visitors victory also meant they will finish the season on Tuesday with a record points total.
West opened positively against the Champions, a header planted straight at the keeper in the opening minutes signaled the hosts intentions to finish the season with a win.
Back came Durham with Steven Richardson flashing an effort wide before a 25 yarder from Lewis Dodds dipped over the bar.
Both sides seemed to be laboured in this end of season clash – Durham had the mean share of possession although were unable to create clear chances. They did though open the deadlock from the penalty spot through Tommy English. Michael Heckley was the guilty party with a handball awarded against the defender as he was trying to make a block. English showed no mercy from the spot leaving Mark Bell rooted to the spot with an excellent penalty.
West responded just a couple of minutes later when Nigel Bolton’s shot at the back post was well held by John Mohan.
The second half began in similar vein to the first – few openings to note. In the 56th minute Andrew Blackburn’s looping cross following a corner nearly deceived Mohan in the Durham goal, with the ball bouncing off the bar and after pushing and pulling in the area, Danny Richmond finally picked up the loose ball but fired wide.
However the visitors stepped up another gear after this - Tommy English's dangerous cross-cum-shot tipped over by Mark Bell before Jimmy Farrell headed powerfully over the bar when given a free header.
And the crucial second goal came for Durham in the 67th minute when a ball from English found Steven Richardson and he lobbed the ball past the advancing Mark Bell to double the lead. This quickly became 3 as, within a minute, English crossed for Farrell to tap in.
West Auckland rallied and grabbed what appeared to be a consolation effort in the 72nd minute when Andrew Blackburn's cross was flicked on by Dale Jardine and youngster Gary Close turned the ball in from close range for his first for the Club.
Any comeback hopes were soon dashed with the introduction of John Toft. The pacy Durham winger had added his team's fourth with his first touches after coming off the bench. Despite being well marshalled, his burst of pace when turning back infield saw him open just a small space for the midfielder to send a bullet of a shot past Bell.
English saw an effort held by Bell before Danny Richmond came within inches of hitting double figures for the season when Dale Jardine's volleyed was well blocked, the rebound came to Richmond on the edge of the area but his delicate lob was inches too high.
West scored what proved to be their last goal of the campaign from the penalty spot after Brian Fairhurst had been pushed in the area, the captain stepped up and blasted the ball high into the net four minutes from the end.
West Auckland finished the season in 16th place.
1. Mark Bell, 2. Brian Fairhurst, 3. Thomas Louden, 4. Nigel Bolton, 5. Michael Heckley, 6. Danny Richmond, 7. Bryan Stewart, 8. Andrew Blackburn, 9. Dale Jardine, 10. Paul Freary (Kevin Bromley 45 mins), 11. Stuart Owen (Gary Close 61 mins)