Match Report 23/8/2023
Billingham Synthonia 1, FC Hartlepool 1

Ebac Northern League Division 2

Teams:
Billingham Synthonia: O Simpson, Wilson, Groom, Banki (Travers), Heap, Butterfield, Porritt, Kirkbride (Ferguson), S Johnson (Noble), Peacock (C), Bruton (Caygill). Unused Sub; Miller.
FC Hartlepool: McDonald, Cowan, Burrows, Gavin (C), Ball, Oakley, Angus, Daley, Henderson, Chainey, Lamb. Subs; Tumilty, Spalding, Linsel, Gales, Lewis.

Synthonia entertained FC Hartlepool with the teams sharing the points in 1-1 draw.

An early chance for the visitors saw a run into the box from the right with a shot on goal deflecting wide for a corner.

Billingham opened the scoring in the 20th minute when, after a foul on Alex Bruton, a free-kick from wide left from Leo Kirkbride was helped into the net by JONNY PEACOCK.

Hartlepool had chances when a shot from the left in the box went just wide. Then a free-kick into the penalty area from ex-Synner Tom Gavin saw a shot over the bar.

Another Gavin free-kick into the box was met by a header just wide of the target and that proved to be the last chance of the half.

Half-time: Synners 1, FC Hartlepool 0

The visitors continued to carve out openings with Synners keeper Ollie Simpson gathering from a dangerous ball across goal. Billingham repsonded with a shot from the right which was blocked by Hartlepool keeper Lewis McDonald.

A shot from outside the penalty area for Hartlepool saw Simpson make the save before they were awarded a penalty kick after Simpson was adjudged to have fouled a forward. The spot-kick was converted by TOM GAVIN in the 71st minute.

Another chance for Hartlepool saw Simpson parry a shot wide and they were denied by some great defending when a header on goal was headed off the line by Michael Butterfield.

Both sides had chances to take the three points with the visitors being denied by a couple of saves from Simpson and right on full time, handball appeals from Synners went unnoticed.

Full-time: Synners 1, FC Hartlepool 1

Referee: C Steadman. Assistants: A Cook, P Yuill.

Attendance: 188

Match highlights from SynnersTV on YouTube