NORTHALLERTON 1-3 WEST AUCKLAND
Saturday 29 December, 3:00PM, League
West Auckland completed an excellent win in a 'six pointer' clash against relegation threatened Northallerton with a confident display that saw the hosts outclassed in difficult driving rain in the first half and slippy conditions throughout.
West settled the quicker in the difficult conditions and these helped the ball skip past two Northallerton defenders and find Bryan Stewart in the 10th minute, however the winger curled his effort the wrong side of the post. Danny Richmond did well to win the ball seconds later and drove towards goal before being unable to keep his shot down.
Following an easy save to Northallerton's first effort, West Auckland's Neil Robinson saw his header cleared away off the line in the 17th minute. West were the dominant side pushing forward with Dale Jardine then skipping past 2 defenders before seeing his effort parried by Kevin Wolfe.
Trying their best to keep the scores level, Northallerton nearly caused their own downfall in the 24th minute with Robinson's cross headed back across goal by Ian Fairlamb straight onto the head of Bryan Stewart who did not have time to place his header with Wolfe able to make the save.
Danny Key saw a last ditch block deny him with West continuing the pressure and their efforts were rewarded in the 33rd minute with Dale Jardine cutting the ball back to the edge of the box towards Danny Richmond and his fizzing shot was heading on target before Lee Lenaghan sliced the ball past Wolfe at the near post, trying to make the block.
Seconds later, Neil Robinson did well to create room for a low shot that was well held on the greasy surface. West were enjoying their football and a moment of creativity nearly added the second with Dale Jardine swinging his boot behind him to meet a cross with the ball narrowly flashing over the bar.
Jardine then saw an effort flash wide as they looked for a second minutes before the break. Danny Richmond maybe could have added this when meeting Bryan Stewart's pull back however side footed the ball too close to keeper Kevin Wolfe.
The tide continued against Northallerton in the second half and it took only 7 minutes for the crucial second to arrive and give breathing space. Dale Jardine rode a couple of challenges before rounding the keeper and slotting home in a composed fashion.
The flowing West Auckland team thought they had a third in the 59th minute with Richmond finding Jardine who, through on goal slid the ball to Garry Barnes who applied the finish from close range only for an offside flag to be raised. Kevin Wolfe did his best then to make sure Wets did get their third - clearing the resulting free kick against the back of Barnes with the loose ball being picked up by Bryan Stewart. The midfielder's bullet low shot saw Wolfe redeem himself with a good low save.
Northallerton finally tested the West goal and could have pulled one back however turned it wide from close range. The victory for West though was completed in the 65th minute with a throw in headed on by Garry Barnes and Stuart Owen rose above his defender at the near post to head in the third.
The hosts responded just 2 minutes later with Danny Earl's half volley flying past Alan Wilkinson to give Northallerton some sort of hope although this was to prove a mere consolation goal.
West looked for another 3 goal cushion and Garry Barnes' arrowed shot was well turned behind by the keeper to keep the scores the same. Northallerton had another opening in the 70th minute with a free header that was fortunately straight at Wilkinson who made the save.
Danny Richmond's ingenuity nearly produced the goal of the game in the 75th minute when he decided to chip the ball over Wolfe, who was barely out of his goal, from just outside the box and the ball rebounded off the bar and cleared to safety.
Richmond was proving a difficult man to stop and when he drew defenders towards him on the wing his cross found Dale Jardine unmarked, however the forward was unable to keep his shot on the volley down.
As the game entered the final few minutes, West could have added another - Garry Barnes' near post header cannoning back off the post. Scott Nicholson could then not force in the corner before Barnes was again denied when finding space his header was hacked off the line as it stuck in the mud however this was not to prove crucial as there was only time left for one more effort.
This was for Northallerton who looked for a flattering score line when doing well to create an opening for a shot that was well pushed away by Alan Wilkinson.
The win though was never in doubt and a deserved three points aid West Auckland's cause in a game classed as a six pointer with Northallerton in the relegation zone.
1. Alan Wilkinson, 2. Michael Heckley, 3. Brian Fairhurst, 4. Scott Nicholson, 5. James Middleton, 6. Danny Key, 7. Stuart Owen (13. Kevin Bromley 80 mins), 8. Danny Richmond , 9. Dale Jardine (14. Thomas Louden 88 mins), 10. Neil Robinson (12. Garry Barnes 58 mins), 11. Bryan Stewart
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