Anchors win first Pre-Season home game

Stockton Town ran out 5-2 winners against West Auckland in their first home Pre-Season Friendly.

Kev Hayes opened the scoring before the profilic Josh Scott equalised for West.

Hayes restored the lead for Stockton before Sweet made it comfortable with another before half time.

Stockton added a fourth in the second half through substitute Adam Nicholson.

West Auckland then netted a late consolation.

Jack Spears continued his fine Pre-Season form when made it three in three in the dying embers of the game.

Manager Michael Dunwell named a strong Starting XI with new signings Arjun Purewal and Lewis Leech both named.

It was the visitors who had the game’s early chances.

Former Anchor Alfie Conway fired wide from just inside the box.

Then Josh Scott glanced a header wide.

Michael Sweet had Stockton’s first opportunity when he shanked a shot wide.

Another promising chance for the Anchors came when Lewis King was released down the right and his vicious ball in flashed across the goal.

The opening goal came shortly after the quarter hour mark when a slack pass from the goalkeeper was picked up by Hayes who rifled in from close range.

West levelled the game instantly when good work led to Scott converting a one-on-one.

Stockton regained their lead when Josh Baggs’s cross was touched in by Hayes to complete his brace.

Stockton’s took control of the game and had further chances.

Sweet layer off Butterworth who struck wide.
Mikey Roberts came close as he fired into the side netting

The Anchors added a third before half time when Sweet was released and he confidently tucked home.

HT- Stockton Town 3-1 West Auckland

Michael Fowler was one of a few changes at half time and he had the second half’s first chance when his header was deflected narrowly wide.

Fellow substitute Owen Gallacher laid a wonderful cross towards Fowler at the back post but his header was straight at the goalkeeper.

Glen Butterworth almost added a fourth but his drive rattled the crossbar.

Fowler again came close when he was played in one-on-one but the goalkeeper denied him with his face.

Another half time substitute Elliott Beddow came close when he was played in by Fowler but he could only blaze over from close range.

Stephen Thompson, appearing for the first time this Pre-Season, was next to go close when he stung the goalkeeper’s palms with a long range strike.

The fourth seemed elusive as youngsters Jacob Johnson and Jack Spears combined with the latter denied by the goalkeeper.

Eventually Stockton got their fourth when Nicholson scored at the second attempt.

Fowler’s goal would not come though as he was again denied by a good save after he was played in by Spears.

In one of their few forrays into the Stockton half in the second, West Auckland bagged a consolation.

Buoyed by their second goal, West Auckland ended the game strongly with a couple of half decent chances.

But it was Spears, sparkling in Pre-Season, who guided the ball in to complete a trio of wins for the Anchors.

Full-Time- Stockton Town 5-2 West Auckland

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