BILLINGHAM SYNTHONIA 4-2 WEST AUCKLAND
Saturday 16 February, 3:00PM, LeagueAn entertaining game saw Billingham Synthonia gain revenge for their defeat at West Auckland in January although West Auckland did cause the hosts a scare after closing the score line to 3-2 at half time after Synners had taken a 3-0 lead inside the first half an hour. However the game will remembered for 2 controversial penalties.
The game started very open with Colin Iley firing over for the hosts before West Auckland's Paul Freary saw a shot deflected wide in a promising position. Experienced forward Neil Campbell was the next to have an effort - this was saved by Alan Wilkinson.
West responded in the 8th minute with Bryan Stewart shooting at John Jackson. Then a minute later Jackson's clearance was charged down by Dale Jardine with the ball going just wide of the goal.
The referee made the first of two big penalty calls in the 13th minute when a shot was blocked by Michael Heckley with the official deciding it had struck a hand much to the visitors protest. Simon Shaw stepped up to sending the ball past Alan Wilkinson to give Synners the lead.
Jardine and Freary were causing problems for the Synners defence and Jardine set up his strike partner for an effort which saw John Jackson make the save. Danny Richmond then sliced an 18th minute effort wide as Jardine looked for a way through the defence.
However it was Synners who hit the target next and they made it 2-0 in the 21st minute - a slick passing move seeing Michael Cater find room to fire the ball home from inside the area. Perhaps they were still celebrating in the 24th minute when a quick throw saw Paul Freary find room but Jackson's palm just about pushed the ball agonizingly round the post.
The hosts were dangerous going forward though and Michael Cater nearly had his second with a low long range effort that hit the outside of the post (29) before Synthonia looked to have won the game in the 30th minute by taking a 3 goal advantage. Colin Iley's shot seemed to go through Alan Wilkinson and roll into the net to give a comfortable read to the score line for the hosts.
Brian Close headed over from close range as Synners were rampant before West, to their credit, hit back. Ian Maddison's effort was blocked by a defender and Freary nipped onto Danny Richmond's pass but could not get it past the keeper who had quickly closed down the pass.
Following more good West pressure, Dale Jardine reduced the deficit in the 40th minute curling a superb effort past a helpless John Jackson and into the top corner. Amazingly a minute from the break the three goal cushion was now just a tight 1 goal lead when Jackson came out of his goal, lost possession to Jardine and the West forward placed the ball into the gapping open net.
A final shot of the half from a shell shocked Synners saw Close's effort held as West hoped to carry on with the momentum they built in the second half. Half time words re-woke Billingham though and Alan Wilkinson had to deny Jameson.
Danny Key nearly had the net bulging with a fizzing shot narrowly over the bar moments later before a second controversial penalty call gave the hosts a chance to extend their lead from the spot. Kevin Bromley was adjudged to have pulled back a player and keeper Wilkinson was booked for leading the protests. Simon Shaw stepped up for a second time and sent Wilkinson the wrong way in the 54th minute.
Two Bryan Stewart free kicks from dangerous positions were low but saved by John Jackson as West again tried to rally. Synthonia nearly crushed any hopes with Perry's header came off the bar, Iley was set up only to be superbly denied by a strong hand by the diving Alan Wilkinson who did well to hold on.
Danny Richmond had a couple of late attempts - a free kick too high before meeting a Kevin Bromley cross 10 yards out but was unable to keep the effort down. Youngster Gary Close's shot for West saw Jackson quickly down to save at his near post as West finished strongly but unable to find another breakthrough.
1. Alan Wilkinson, 2. Brian Fairhurst (15. Stuart Owen 74 mins), 3. Kevin Bromley, 4. Scott Nicholson, 5. Michael Heckley, 6. Ian Maddison, 7. Danny Richmond, 8. Danny Key, 9. Dale Jardine (14. Gary Close 87 mins), 10. Paul Freary, 11. Bryan Stewart
Subs Not Used: 12. Chris Creamer
Pictures