West earned an away trip to Stockton after an amazing match at the Wanted Stadium on Saturday in which the side fought back from 3-1 down to triumph 4-3 against Whitley Bay. Manager Gary Forrest said a trip to Stockton offered the prospect of a tough game – although West did enjoy success in the league with a 3-1 win back in August.
“It’s a tough draw. Stockton play on their artificial pitch, which always takes ten or 15 minutes to get used to.
“However, we have been there already this season and played quite well and this is a game we can win, although we are going to have to be on our game.”
And Mr Forrest is in no doubt that a better showing from his defence will be key to success at Stockton.
On Saturday, a penalty and a goal on the break saw West 2-0 down at the break and then having got themselves back in the game, Whitley Bay hit a third.
Only a grandstand finish, with two goals from Darren Richardson and an added-time winner from Arran Wearmouth, saw West through.
“We need to defend as a unit a damn sight better than we are,” said Mr Forrest.
“If you take the first half, we dominated the game and could – and should – have been two or three up.
“The first time they go up the pitch we give a soft penalty away and the next time they are in our third of the pitch we are 2-0 down.
“We missed a penalty and a sitter and their keeper made two or three great saves. A lot of people would have been thinking it was just not going to be our day.”
A half time pep talk sent the players out in a positive frame of mind, said Mr Forrest.
“I think 3-1 down would have done for a lot of teams. You have got to give the players a lot of credit for what they did.”
The fourth round of the FA Vase takes place on Saturday, January 6. In the meantime, West are back in league action this afternoon (Saturday) with an away game at Guisborough.
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