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Ebac Northern League Division 2
Teams:
Billingham Synthonia: Young, Miley, Winstanley, Travers (C) (Williamson), Heap, Simpson, Porritt (Johnson), Peacock (Wilson), Willshaw (Noble), Kirkbride (Groom), Bruton.
Thornaby: Makepeace, Verity, Priest, Webb, Elgie (C), Proctor, Clark, Parker, Waters, Milburn, Caley. Subs; Littlefair, Bleforth, K Alali, J Alali, Conway.
Synthonia opened their 2023/24 Centenary season with a 3-2 win over neighbours Thornaby.
An early Synners chance saw an Alex Bruton shot on goal from outside the box comfortably stopped by Thornaby keeper Ronan Makepeace. The visitors then advanced and had penalty appeals waved away.
Billingham opened the scoring in the 8th minute when a ball forward to Bruton on the left saw him advance and play across goal to MATTY WILLSHAW who made no mistake from close range.
Thornaby were soon level when, in the 16th minute, a right wing corner was headed home by MATTHEW WATERS.
Synthonia regained the advantage in the 24th minute with Lewis Porritt sending a ball through to ALEX BRUTON who timed his run perfectly to beat the offside and slot home under Makepeace and in.
Synners extended their advantage on the stroke of half time when a corner from the left from Captain Liam Travers was met by the head of ALFIE SIMPSON in the 45th minute.
Half-time: Synners 3, Thornaby 1
Billingham came close to further extending their lead after the break as Willshaw burst through the Thornaby defence on the right and saw his shot across goal kiss the far post.
It would be Thornaby who found the net next as they reduced the deficit in the 59th minute with a fine free-kick from DAVID PARKER left Synners keeper James Young no chance of saving.
Synthonia were reduced to ten men in the 77th minute with Bruton shown a straight red for a late challenge, but they saw out the game to take the three points.
Full-time: Synners 3, Thornaby 2
Referee: C Jinks, Assistants: L Brown, F Malton.
Attendance: 285
Match highlights from SynnersTV on YouTube
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