WEST
AUCKLAND TOWN V ST. ANDREWS
Leaving home in pleasant sunshine I find the
Seagraves Stadium, in the foothills of the North Pennines, shrouded in cool
grey mist for this first leg of the semi-final. The crowd is building with
several the worse for a few shandies, particularly among the visitors whose
journey up from Leicestershire must have been quite a party.
The status of the match is indicated not
only by the decent crowd but by the unusual presence of yellow jacketed marshals,
six policemen, four photographers and a man with big headphones and microphone,
presumably to report progress on the radio. The pitch looks dry enough but is
not flat in any sense; in addition to the usual slope there are lumps and bumps
to contend with.
St Andrews are underdogs, playing in the
East Midlands Counties League, a step down from West Auckland. But have beaten
some good teams to get this far, including Rushden & Diamonds and Newcastle
Benfield, so they cannot be taken lightly. Today the Saints are in colourful
strip – maroon and navy striped shirts with yellow trim and navy shorts – while
West Auckland are at home in their amber and black.
The visitors look nervy from the kick off as
West win a quick corner that comes to nothing, then midfielder Vipond surges
forward but shots over. Saints response is limited to a header wide by centre
half Towers from a long free kick into the box. West also put in a long free
kick and it’s their centre half Hall who similarly heads over.
There are a couple of further threats to
goal. A poor clearance by West keeper Nixon results in him facing an onrushing forward,
Hickey, who he ushers wide enough to buy time for his defence to get back and
scramble the ball clear. On the half hour West create a good chance when Briggs
finds Campbell in the box, but his shot glances off the outside of the post.
From the last of West’s many corners in the half, Moffat heads over from close
range.
No score at half time and not much football either.
St Andrews are playing a containing 5-4-1 formation and West Auckland are
playing straight into it with high hit and hope balls. It’s produced a few
corners that have almost delivered a goal, but more guile and imagination is
needed. St. Andrews are not to be
discounted. Doughty, up front, is an effective target man – chunky but with good
feet – holding the ball well until Warner and Hickey, both skilful, join in.
However the most dangerous moments for West have been self-inflicted due to
poor interactions between the keeper and his defenders.
The second half sees an early chance at each
end. For West, Campbell shoots wide from the edge of the box; for Saints a
through ball comes head high to Warner on the penalty spot but as nods it goalwards
west keeper Nixon is only a yard away and smothers the attempt. This seems like
the first save either keeper has had to make.
The next save is not by a keeper but by West
centre half Hall who does well to block a dangerous looking shot. St Andrews
are growing in confidence at this stage having blunted West Auckland’s attack
and now seem as likely to score as their hosts.
That changes when centre half Hodson,
already booked for a foul, leads with an elbow in his challenge on Moffat, and
receives a second yellow card and an early exit. Fifteen minutes to go and West
have a man advantage, but can they make it count.
The ensuing action is pretty much restricted
to the St. Andrews half, with West piling in more crosses and corners. And with
a couple of minutes left there is a mighty scramble, but it results in nothing
more than an unsuccessful penalty shout, and the ten men hold out to the end.
The goalless first leg result is a great outcome
for the visitors, who clearly came with that in mind and defended well enough
to prevent even a shot on target. In the second leg they will have home
advantage but will be fortunate if West Auckland play as poorly again.
