FA Vase finalists West Auckland made eleven changes from Saturday’s win at St Andrews, and struggled to beat nine man Crook 5-4 last night.
They took the lead after 10 minutes when a shot by Kris Wilkinson was deflected past Crook keeper Barry Poskett, but Crook levelled when former West player Adam Nicholls dribbled through and scored with a low shot.
West regained the lead on 19 minutes when Alex Francis crossed for Stuart Banks to head in . Crook had two players sent off before half time, Richard Hodgson for elbowing Francis, and Lewis Teasdale for foul and abusive language.
West went in 3-1 up at the start of the second half when Connor Lowes headed home, but Robbie Bird pulled a goal back when he ran through half the length of the pitch and scored. The nine men levelled on 67 minutes with a Craig Price free kick, but fell behind again to Lowes’ goal from an Ashley Coffey cross.
Former Crook player Warren Byrne made it 5-3 on 72 minutes from a Matthew Coad pass, but Crook again rallied when Bird was left unmarked to turn home a right wing cross.
In the second division, fourth placed Jarrow Roofing beat South Shields 4-2.
Roofing took the lead when Anth Myers scored from an Andy Appleby cross, then he got the second on 22 minutes from a Jamie Marshall pass.
Shields pulled a goal back straight after the restart when Tony Burnell scored, but Andy Appleby made it 3-1 from a Mark Davison free kick.
Shields caused a scare when Elliott Cutts pulled a goal back from the penalty spot, but Myers completed his hat trick right at the end to put Roofing two points behind third placed Seaham with two games in hand.
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