WEST AUCKLAND 1-1 SPENNYMOOR TOWN
Wed 15 Aug, 7:30PM, LgeMatch Sponsor: J & B Motors
Ball Sponsor: Alexander & Lauren Taylor
West Auckland and Spennymoor played out a competitive 1-1 draw, with West sporting their new yellow and black shirt for the first time. After Spennymoor led at the break, West hit back immediately and grabbed a deserved point.
West Auckland started brightly and Ian Maddison could have given a 9th minute lead with a volley on the edge of the box, however blazed the ball over the bar. The industrious Dale Jardine then saw an effort saved by Phil Naisbett. Spennymoor's first real chance resulted in them taking the lead when the returning Mark Bell, who signed from Gateshead this week, collided with Jamie Middleton going up for a cross and dropped the ball where Adam Johnston was on hand to turn it into the net from close range.
West were making several promising moves on the edge of Spennymoor's box but the final ball was not quite there and the moves broke down. And it could have been worse on the stroke of half time when Mark Bell raced out of goal and headed clear from Adam Johnston, the ball landed at Ritchie Storr's feet but he did not get any height on his goalwards shot and the retreating Bell comfortably saved.
4 minutes after the break and West came out of the blocks flying when Michael Heckley's ball forward was flicked forward by Dale Jardine and Garry Barnes fired in a shot from just outside the area.
Danny Richmond, booked for a couple of late challenges had hearts in mouths when lunging in for another tackle - the referee saw no wrong despite the Spennymoor protests. Richmond then led a charge forward and nearly connected with Dale Jardine's cross before Kevin Bromley's shot was blocked and eventually Brian Fairhurst fizzed a shot inches wide.
Ten minutes from the end, Danny Richmond's run into the box saw his cross palmed into the air by Phil Naisbett before being cleared whilst Danny Robinson was just beaten to a through ball by Naisbett as West put on the pressure.
However Spennymoor did see a late shot that moved, however Mark Bell had it covered. Ian Maddison was also just beaten to a through ball by the keeper as the game finished even.
1 Mark Bell, 2 Michael Heckley, 3 Brian Fairhurst, 4 Jamie Middleton, 5 Michael Waller, 6 Ian Maddison, 7 Danny Robinson, 8 Danny Richmond, 9 Dale Jardine (12. Darren Kokes 80 mins), 10 Garry Barnes, 11 Kevin Bromley
Subs Not Used: 13 Bradley Woods, 14. Gary Close, 15. Gareth Sanders, 16. Stuart Owen