GLASSHOUGHTON WELFARE 1-3 WEST AUCKLAND
Fri 27 July, 7:45PM, Fr
A good display saw West Auckland win 3-1 at NCEL side Glasshouhgton Welfare in a physical game on Friday night.
The hosts had the better starts with Leigh Grant thwarting an early break whilst their right back fired a long range effort narrowly over Kyle Etherington's goal. However West got the vital breakthrough in the 13th minute when the goalkeeper called but did not collect the ball, Gary Barnes nipped in and calmly applied the finish.
Stuart Owen and Dale Jardine both had good shots saved while Danny Richmond was also unfortunate latching onto Lee Ellison's through ball but seeing his shot well saved. It was Ellison though who had the best chance to extend the lead when Dale Jardine squared the ball to him but, 1 on 1 with the keeper, his shot was deflected onto the post and the keeper clutched the rebound.
The second half began with West looking the better and Ian Maddison was somewhat harshly adjudged to have pushed the keeper after he seemingly dropped the ball and Maddison's finish was ruled out. West Auckland did extend the lead in the 63rd minute when their defender, knocking the ball back towards goal intercepting Lee Ellison's through ball, saw the keeper slice the ball and it bounced into the net for West's second.
5 minutes later Jamie Middleton powerfully headed in Lee Ellison precise corner to wrap up the match although Dale Jardine could have increased the lead even more but blazed a shot over the bar.
Glasshoughton did pull back a goal, Middleton's clearing header hitting their forward who then steered in past Kyle Etherington but, four minutes from the end, they had little time to pull back another.
1 Kyle Etherington, 2 Leigh Grant, 3 Ian Maddison, 4 Jamie Middleton, 5 Danny Robinson, 6 Kevin Bromley, 7 Lee Ellison, 8 Danny Richmond, 9 Dale Jardine, 10 Garry Barnes, 11 Stuart Owen
Subs Used: Darren Kokes, Danny Key, Gary Close, Michael Waller