Match Report 29/8/2023
Sunderland West End 2, Billingham Synthonia 5

Ebac Northern League Division 2

Teams:
Sunderland West End: Charlton, Judson, Stores, McCabe, Goundry, Wilds, Logan, Chapman, Lane, Devlin (C), Gordon. Subs; Taylor, Ashcroft-Brown, Hall, Rhodes, Winter.
Billingham Synthonia: O Simpson, Groom, Lines, Butterfield (Wilson), A Simpson (C), Heap, Kirkbride (Ferguson), Banki, Willshaw, Porritt, Noble. Unsed Sub; Dalgleish.

Synners made the midweek trip to Sunderland West End and came away with the points in a game of fine goal finishes.

Early chances for both teams saw Billingham's Leo Kirkbride win possession of the ball in an advanced area, but he could only pull his shot wide of the target. West End then won the ball in midfield and advanced on goal where a right wing cross forced Synners keeper Ollie Simpson to push a shot over the bar.

Sunderland West End opened the scoring in the 4th minute when JACK DEVLIN on the edge of the box capitilised on a loose ball and sent in a great strike into the net.

Synthonia came close to levelling when Lewis Porritt sent a ball through for Matty Willshaw to the right of goal and he saw his shot past West End keeper Lewis Charlton, but saw the ball strike the left hand post. The hosts responded with another fine strike from Devlin which Simpson was a match to with a great save.

A chance for Synners saw Mitch Noble send in a shot from the right which Charlton tipped over, then an acrobatic Devlin shot for the home side saw Simpson tip over as both sides continued to send fine strikes on goal.

Billingham found an equaliser in the 25th minute when a ball forward from McKellan Lines to MITCH NOBLE saw the forward into the box and finish well with a first time shot.

Both sides had chances to take the lead going into the break with Synners threatening with a Porritt ball from the right to Noble seeing the striker fire over. Sunderland then attacked with Matthew Chapman bringing a save out of Simpson with his shot from the edge of the box.

Half-time: Sunderland West End 1, Synners 1

The second period sprung into life with a goal frenzy as firstly Sunderland West End re-gained the lead in the 48th minute when LIAM LOGAN from the right angle of the box sent in a terrific shot which sailed over Simpson and into the net.

Just a minute later, in the 49th minute, Synthonia were level again when Lines played forward to Noble who helped the ball on to MATTY WILLSHAW who arrowed his shot from outside the box into the net.

Another minute later and Synners had the game turned on it's head with another fine finish as substitute Cam Wilson slipped in MATTY WILLSHAW on the left who found the far corner of the net with his shot from a tight angle in the 50th minute.

Synthonia were rampant at this point and they extended the lead in the 55th minute when Kirkbride played in LEWIS PORRITT who lifted his shot from just outside the box over the keeper and in for another fine finish.

Simpson denied Chapman with a save as West End looked for a way back into the game then Porritt had a couple of shots on goal for Synners as he first fired over then saw Charlton save as chances continued to flow.

Billingham added a fifth in added-on time with Willsahw taking possession of a loose West End ball before slipping in LEWIS PORRITT who prodded the ball home in the 91st minute.

Full-time: Sunderland West End 2, Synners 5

Referee: L Hardy, Assistants: A Atchison, T Wallace.

Attendance: 105

Match highlights from SynnersTV on YouTube