Match Report: 16/02/08
Billingham Synthonia 4, West Auckland Town 2
Arngrove Northern League Division 1
On a sunny February afternoon, Synners welcomed West Auckland Town to the PTS Stadium. After defeat last week at Seaham Red Star that ended a run of four wins, Billingham were looking to bounce back with a win.
Synthonia started the game with purpose creating three half chances in the opening minutes. After 2 minutes Colin Iley found a yard to shoot from distance that went over the bar. Neil Campbell then made a run down the right and cut in only to shoot straight at the keeper. Then after 6 minutes Simon Shaw tried his luck from a 35-yard free-kick after Craig Perry was fouled, only to see his shot deflected and gathered by Alan Wilkinson in the West goal.
West Auckland then had a couple of efforts at goal, in the 8th minute Paul Freary made a run down the left and laid the ball off to Bryan Stewart who shot at John Jackson in the Synthonia goal. Then a minute later a Jackson clearance was charged down by Dale Jardine with the ball going just wide of the goal.
Synners took the lead in the 12th minute. A Shaw free-kick eventually fell to Michael Jameson, who's shot was handled by Michael Heckley, the referee having no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot. SIMON SHAW stepped up to fire to Wilkinson's right and into the net to give Synners the lead.
West were straight back at Billingham and after 15 minutes Freary found space only to shoot straight at Jackson. In the 18th minute Stewart won a free-kick for obstruction in a good position. West skipper Brian Fairhurst sending in a dangerous delivery that was well cleared by the home side.
Billingham extended their lead after 20 minutes. Left back Jason Honeyman making a good run to the bye-line, after some good passing from the Synthonia midfield, to lay the ball back for MICHAEL CATER who set himself up to finish well from 12 yards out and fire past Wilkinson.
West Auckland tried to get back into the game and after 23 minutes Freary produced a good low shot that brought an excellent save from Synthonia keeper Jackson low to his left.
Billingham then attacked as an entertaining game swung from end to end. Cater produced a great shot from 25 yards out that shaved the paint off the upright. Then a minute later, on 29 minutes, Synners made it 3-0. Campbell found COLIN ILEY to the right of goal, who shot low to fire the ball underneath Wilkinson and into the net.
After 33 minutes a short Jameson corner was crossed by Shaw to Brian Close, but he headed over. West then put the hosts under some pressure. Ian Maddison had a shot that cannoned off Christian Hanson and out for a corner. A minute later Daniel Richmond made a strong run and picked out Freary, but Jackson was quickly out of goal to collect.
The visitors eventually found a way through after 40 minutes. The Billingham defence couldn't clear as West piled men forward. The ball then fell to DALE JARDINE and his neat finish went over Jackson and into the net.
In the 44th minute West were right back in the game. A long ball was punted forward but straight to Synners keeper Jackson. But he mis-controlled and DALE JARDINE was close by to capitalise and slotted the ball into an empty net.
Half-time: Synners 3, West Auckland 2
Synthonia had the first chance of the second period after 48 minutes when Campbell latched onto a through ball, his effort was saved by Wilkinson but he couldn't hold the ball, but as Cater tried to get hold of the loose ball, Wilkinson recovered to gather.
A minute later West were back on the attack. Richmond made a run down the right flank, beating Honeyman and Jameson, but blazing his shot over the bar as he closed in on goal. Then Daniel Key tried a long range effort that went high and wide.
Synners were awarded a second penalty in the 54th minute after Kevin Bromley fouled Iley in the box, Bromley felt it was a harsh decision and was booked for remonstrating. SIMON SHAW stepped up again to blast in, this time to Wilkinson's left as the keeper went right.
Billingham almost scored a further goal after 57 minutes when Jameson sent in a teasing cross from the left across the face of goal, but neither Campbell nor Iley could get on the end of it.
West then had a couple of half-chances. In the 66th minute a foul by Hanson gave West a free-kick in a shooting position, but Stewart's effort was straight at Jackson. 2 minutes later Perry committed the same offence this time Stewart's free-kick brought a good save from Jackson.
Billingham could have scored again in the 71st minute, when a cross from the left was headed back across goal by Perry to Cater, he laid the ball into the path of Iley to shoot, but Wilkinson did well to save on the goal line.
The visitors to their credit never gave up and finished the game attacking Synthonia. An 83rd minute cross from the left found Richmond who shot over the bar from close range. Then a minute from time the two substitutes combined with Stuart Owens doing well to find Gary Close who shot, but Jackson was down quickly to collect.
An entertaining game with lots of goals and chances for both sides. Michael Cater had a good game from midfield for Synthonia and was instrumental in a lot of the attacking play from the hosts. Next up is a home game against 2nd placed Whitley Bay at the PTS on Wednesday evening. Although Bay lie 10 points behind leaders Durham City, they will be looking to close the gap and will prove a stiff test for Billingham.
Teams:
BILLINGHAM SYNTHONIA: Jackson, Shaw, Honeyman, Atkinson, Hanson(c), Cater, Perry, B Close, Campbell (Flanagan), Iley, Jameson. Subs not used; Nixon, Abel, Guy, Baynes.
WEST AUCKLAND TOWN: Wilkinson, Fairhurst(c) (Owens), Bromley, Nicholson, Heckley, Maddison, Richmond, Key, Jardine (G Close), Freary, Stewart. Subs not used; Creamer.
Referee: Mr J Price
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