Northern League Division 1
The PTS Stadium
Central Avenue
Billingham.
Billingham welcomed West Auckland Town to the PTS Stadium and made four changes from the defeat at home to Spennymoor Town ten days ago. Michael Cater & Tyson Masters both made starts, with Michael Jameson & Simon Shaw both returning from injury to return to the starting eleven.
The first chance of the game fell to the visitors when in the 7th minute Ian Maddison and Kevin Bromley combined to advance on goal. Synners skipper David Abel however, had read the danger and intercepted at the expense of a corner. The resulting flag-kick from the left saw a shot at goal, but Colin Iley cleared off the line at his position on the near post.
West Auckland continued to have slightly the better of the opening exchanges, and forced a couple of corners in the 14th minute. The second of which was palmed away to safety from Synners keeper Ben Escritt.
Billingham came back at West in the 17th minute when Iley played the ball in to James Magowan. He in turn tried to release Masters who had got in beyond the visiting rearguard, but West keeper Nicky Farrel was alert to the danger and collected.
In the 20th minute, Bromley fed the ball in to Chris Musgrave, and the visiting striker got a slight touch on the ball to force Escritt into making a save.
Synthonia gradually started to control the tempo of the game and were gaining more possession in midfield. A Shaw pass along the right touchline in the 23rd minute for Iley, saw the Billingham striker turn his marker. he then crossed towards Michael Cater but the ball went just beyond the midfielder. A minute later and Shaw found Cater advancing, and he did well to pull the ball back into the danger area, but the West defence cleared.
In the 28th minute Jameson and David Yale combined on the left, and Yale's cross saw Masters head towards goal. Farrel however made a comfortable catch. Billingham then won a free-kick just on the edge of the penalty area after Cater was fouled. Shaw stepped up, but saw his dead-ball delivery sail harmlessly over the bar.
Auckland's Musgrave picked up a loose ball in the 32nd minute and advanced down the right. His ball aimed at Bromley was intercepted by Andy Harbron, who cleared.
The scoring was opened in the 35th minute. Yale sent in a great cross from the left into the penalty area for JAMES MAGOWAN. The striker leaped well to head home passed the diving Farrel. Two minutes later, in the 37th minute and an almost carbon copy move reaped its rewards. This time it was Jameson's great delivery from the left to JAMES MAGOWAN, and he again got in front of his marker to head home into the top corner of the net.
Billingham added a third another two minutes later in the 39th minute. Masters advanced down the right and into the penalty area. He then unselfishly squared the ball to the un-marked JAMES MAGOWAN who fired in his hat-trick with his right foot.
Synthonia were now rampant, with their visitors looking a little shell shocked. A fourth goal was added in the 43rd minute and again it was from Magowan. Masters was again provider as he chased the ball towards the left bye-line. He did well to keep it in play and cut back towards the onrushing JAMES MAGOWAN, and the hit man rifled the ball home from 12 yards for his fourth goal in eight minutes.
Half-time: Synners 4, West Auckland 0
Synthonia continued where they left off in the second period and after 51 minutes Jameson's free-kick from the left saw Cater attack the ball. But he couldn't direct his effort towards goal and the West defence momentarily cleared their lines.
A minute later though, Billingham made it five. Magowan left the ball for Harbron to try a low drive at goal. The ball was going wide but TYSON MASTERS had got into a good position to side foot home from close range.
A swift Synners move in the 58th minute saw Yale play the ball into Iley. he in turn tried to thread the ball between two defenders towards Magowan, but West captain Michael Heckley adjusted well to intercept and clear.
Billingham again were having a lot of joy down the left flank, with Jameson supporting Yale well. A great ball in from the latter in the 66th minute came to Magowan, but this time the striker headed over the bar. Two minutes later and Synthonia attacked down the right. Substitute Adam Clough crossed to Masters, but his header on target saw Farrel make a comfortable catch.
Auckland pulled a goal back in the 75th minute when full-back Neil Pattinson got into a forward position along the right flank. He crossed the ball for ALEX CAISLEY who saw the ball over the line at the back post.
Another attacking move along the right reaped rewards for the visitors in the 81st minute. Again Pattinson got into an advanced position and crossed into the danger area. This time the ball ricocheted of ADAM CLOUGH as he attempted to clear and spun into the net.
There was a lengthy stoppage towards the end of the game when Abel took a knock to the face. The skipper left the field and Billingham played out the remaining 5 minutes with ten men.
Referee: Mr M Coy Assistants: S Whittaker & S Wilson and fairplay to the three of them, they did a grand job, in my opinion.
Line-ups:
Billingham Synthonia: Ben Escritt, Simon Shaw (Adam Clough), Michael Jameson, Anthony Harbron (Joel Guy), David Abel, Thomas Marron, David Yale, Michael Cater, James Magowan, Colin Iley, Tyson Masters (Liam Brown).
Substitutes not used; Stephen Baynes, David Barnes.
West Auckland Town: Nicky Farrel, Neil Pattinson, Brian Fairhurst, Michael Heckley, Shaun Davies, Danny Richmond, Steven Flockett, Neil Lowden (Alex Caisley), Ian Maddison (Jonathon French), Christopher Musgrave (Stuart Owen), Kevin Bromley.
Substitutes not used: James Austick, Jak Outhwaite.
