Kirkham & Wesham 3, West Auckland Town 0

9:39am Monday 19th November 2007

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KIRKHAM & WESHAM became the only Vodkat North West Counties League Division Two side to make it through Saturday's tough FA Vase Second Round and so their dream of Wembley is still alive after handing former FA Amateur Cup Finalists West Auckland Town a knockout blow.

Missing a number of key players through injury and suspension, Kirkham boss Mick Fuller was forced to shuffle his back line, bringing in debut boy Jon Moffatt and switching acting skipper Phil Thompson to a more central role.

And the two held firm as the visitors tried in vain to break the home defence down and when Mike Clark fired in a low shot after nine minutes to give Kirkham a deserved lead Fuller had the cushion he so desperately wanted early on.

He said: "I think that goal settled us down and gave us encouragement.

"I told the lads beforehand that we were all in this together and after some disappointing results recently on the road this was our way of showing everyone that we can play a bit."

Indeed Kirkham weathered a spell of West Auckland pressure well just before the interval when winger Kevin Bromley sold the home defence a massive dummy only for keeper Pete Summerfield to save well at the foot of a post.

After the break there was a 15 minutes spell when Kirkham could hardly get out of their own penalty area with Summerfield again called upon to make a full length save from West Auckland striker Dale Jardine before the ball was cleared up field to devastating effect.

Sean Paterson looped a clearance over West Auckland keeper Lee Hutton with delicate poise after 68 minutes to settle the home hearts who were enjoying a classic game of cat and mouse played out in front of them.

And when Phil Blackwell accepted a smart pass into the box from substitute Matt Walwyn in the 90th minute to make it 3-0 the home side were deservedly into Monday's draw, although the visitors never gave up, not even in time added on as they twice rattled the Kirkham goal frame with a last ditch attempt to salvage something from the tie.

Fuller added later: "We needed to prove a point today.

"We are not a million miles off being a decent side and we need to take this home form with us away or we will get nowhere."

Scorers: Kirkham & Wesham: Clark (9), Paterson (68), Blackwell (90)