Billingham Synthonia (Home) Match Report

Opponent: Billingham Synthonia (Home)

Date/Time: 05 Jan 15:00

Competition: ANL1

Result: 1 - 0

Team:
Newton, Scott, Wells, Ryan, P Stephenson, Keegan(c), Cullen (Tait), Walklate, Tarrant, Stewart, Cogdon, Hodgson (Ford). Subs not used; Milner, A Stephenson, Stewart.

Report:
With the advantage of a strong wind Synners started brightly and after 4 minutes Paul Newton was called upon to save from Simon Shaw . A minute later Shaw floated in a free-kick and Neil Campbell head over the bar. After 20 minutes Nissan should have opened the scoring when a slick move saw Scott lay the ball into the path of Hodgson who laid on a perfect pass for Cogdon who's first time shot went narrowly wide. Synners captain Christian Hanson went off injured with a back spasm, to be replaced by Michael Jameson. Nissan had another chance to take the lead after 24 minutes when Cullen crossed into the box for Ryan who shot past the post. With both teams committed to attacking football Chances were being created at both ends.Nissan had a great chance when Scott found Cogdon who fired just wide. Then Synners substitute Jameson burst into space only to shoot wide. On 40 minutes, Tarrant, seeing Jackson was off his line, lobbed the ball over the keeper and narrowly wide of the goal. Nissan started the second half on the attack David Wells having a long range effort after 49 minutes that perilously close. Then after 53 minutes the same player had Jackson in all sorts of trouble with a deep cross to the far post which was met by Tarrent whose header Jackson scrambled away only as far as Cogdon who blazed his effort high over the bar. A minute later Man of the Match Jackson was called into action again when a through ball from the lively Hodgson Was met by Tarrent only for the alert Jackson to smother the ball at the attackers feet. Nissan were once again denied by Jackson on the hour mark when Cullen fired in a free-kick which the Synners defence failed to clear.Jackson made another double save firstly from Hodgson and then from Tarrant. Nissan's were restricting Synners to the occassional breakaway and they almost got the opener after 75 minutes when a Neil Radigan free kick was saved by Newton but the rebound fell to Iley who's shot was cleared off the line by Stephenson with three Synners players in close attendance. Nissan opened the scoring with 7 minutes remaining when Hodgson played a free kick into the heart of the Synners box and substitute David Tait was the first to react to guide the ball past the helpless Jackson. With a minute to go Nissan substitute Ford should have made it 2 - 0 when he was one on one with the keeper only for that man Jackson to steer the ball wide of the post with another outstanding save.

Scorers: Tait

Verdict:

"Both Durham and Consett losing, this result has moved Nissan within striking distance. "A workmanlike performace that keeps us in the hunt." said Manager Wilf Constantine after the match."

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