WEST AUCKLAND 0-0 WEST ALLOTMENT CELTIC
Saturday 19 January, 3:00PM, League
Two lowly sides played out an uninspiring goalless draw as they try and steer to safety. Both sides can claim to have had chances to win the game - in truth a draw was juts about a fair result.
The game could have took a different outcome as West Auckland had an early sighting of goal - Neil Robinson's cross finding Paul Freary who could not quite force the ball home with some good defending stopping a clear shot on goal. Thomas Vickers responded with a shot that flashed over the hosts cross bar (9) before Bryan Stewart shot flew narrowly wide from 20 yards (15).
It was a scrappy start to the game however it was Auckland who had the greater number of chances once the game started to develop. Kevin Bromley was unable to direct his header on target under pressure in the 23rd minute before Bryan Stewart's cross bounced just in front of Neil Robinson who was unable to keep his effort down (31).
Dale Jardine's run of goals ended early with injury forcing his withdrawal in the 31st minute. His replacement Thomas Louden tested Kevin Morton within a minute of his introduction - Danny Richmond's chested the ball into his path and the fierce shot was well held.
Paul Gibbs fired over a rare Allotment attack whilst at the other end Bryan Stewart did well to keep a volley down but Morton was equal to it. Allotment's best first half move saw Keith Douglas find room for a shot which was saved by Alan Wilkinson.
Once again West Auckland responded - Neil Robinson pulled the ball back for Bryan Stewart whose shot flashed wide (36). The next sighting of goal saw Stewart burst out of midfield carrying the ball, play it to Stuart Owen whose cross found Louden. Unfortunately for the West forward he did not make clear contact on the volley and the ball bobbled wide of the post. The final effort of the half saw Kevin Bromley's cross find Paul Freary whose effort lacked power to beat Kevin Morton. Whilst the hosts had the majority of first half chances, few had tested the keeper, the second half saw the visitors improve with a few good efforts on goal.
Their first shot though was directed well wide by an onrushing forward in a promising move and this was closely followed by Keith Douglas's ball over the back line finding Thomas Vickers - the forwards shot though was well held by Alan Wilkinson.
West Auckland had heads in hands in the 66th minute when Kevin Bromley's cross found Thomas Louden and his header flashed across the goal and inches wide. Morton then did well to block the ball as Paul Freary looked to latch onto Danny Richmond's pass with the keeper then doing well to smother the rebound as Richmond looked to pick up the loose ball.
Allotment saw another effort pulled wide before Neil Robinson created an opening for himself but saw his shot held at the near post. In the closing minutes, the visitors gave the hosts a few scary moments. Firstly a free kick was headed goal wards by Glen Taylor from close range but Wilkinson did well to keep it out, a shot the flashed wide and in the dying seconds, the forward cut back inside and fired a shot that Wilkinson did well to hold.
In the main the second half was a scrappy affair with both sides having chances throughout the game but neither able to break the deadlock and having to settle for a point.
1. Alan Wilkinson, 2. Brian Fairhurst, 3. Kevin Bromley, 4. Scott Nicholson, 5. James Middleton, 6. Bryan Stewart, 7. Neil Robinson, 8. Danny Richmond , 9. Dale Jardine (15.Thomas Louden 31 mins), 10. Paul Freary, 11. Stuart Owen
Subs Not Used: 12. James Chapman, 14. Gary Close
Pictures