Durham Challenge Cup First Round: West Auckland Town 3-0 Jarrow – West ease past Jarrow with professional display
West Auckland Town cruised to the Durham Challenge Cup second round after a dominant victory over Jarrow.
The game was due to be contested at Jarrow’s Perth Green however a number of postponements meant it was rescheduled at the Wanted Stadium.
And first half goals from David Dowson and Danny Greenfield along with Anthony Bell’s 71st minute firecracker ensured West will play FC Hartlepool from the Wearside League.
In damp and cold conditions, Jarrow, who sit 9th in the Northern League Division Two, nearly grabbed a surprising breakthrough on 15 minutes when Dan Smith’s angled pass found Liam McBryde but the number nine dragged his shot inches wide of the right-hand post.
Two minutes later, West used their cutting edge to take the lead as Amar Purewal charged forward, outmuscled the visitors defence before pulling it back for Dowson on the edge of the area and the ex-Chesterfield and Durham City forward confidently curled his effort into the bottom corner.
On 32 minutes, West sailed into a two-goal cushion in ruthless fashion, Anthony Bell latched onto Alex Francis’ sensational 40-yard diagonal pass and laid it off to Greenfield, who made no mistake from 8 yards.
Adam Burnicle replaced Dowson in the only change at the interval and Gary Forrest’s side promptly pushed for a third, it almost arrived via Purewal, though he headed Greenfield’s right-sided corner narrowly off-target.
In contrast, Jarrow failed to trouble Tom Flynn throughout the contest, and their evening took a turn for the worst midway through the second half.
After a quick-fire one-two with Rees Greenwood, Bell sealed West’s place in the second round following an unstoppable strike inside the ‘D’ past Jak Wells.
West Auckland – Flynn, Hegarty (Colquhoun, 67), Bell, Cobain, Mitton (Harwood, 60), Dodds, Francis, Greenfield, Dowson (Burnicle, 45), Purewal, Greenwood
Subs not used – Hornsby, Hurworth
Goals – Dowson (17), Greenfield (32), Bell (71)
Jarrow – Wells, Bone (Little, 84), Gray, Donnelly, Mellish, Elliot, C. Smith (Toward, 60), D. Smith, McBryde, Evans, Wightman (Norton, 71)
Referee – Connor Scott
Attendance – 75
