Moors overcame West Auckland Town to advance to the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Cup with a 1-0 triumph at The Northern Metal Recycling Stadium.
Junior Mondal got the game’s only goal as his deflected effort found the back of the net on just the 22nd minute.
The hosts started the game well, as Matty Willshaw caused early problems. The number 9 first had a low shot saved by Brad James, before seeing a powerful effort blocked inside the area.
Alfie Doherty did well on 20 minutes as he brought down a long ball before firing on goal from a tight angle, which forced a good save out of West goalkeeper, Zach Wilkinson.
However, Moors went on to break the deadlock just two minutes later, as Mondal got the opener. The winger hit an effort goalward from just inside the area, which deflected past Wilkinson and into the net and good work in the build-up from Rob Ramshaw.
Glen Taylor went close to getting Moors’ second on the 25th minute as his free-kick was deflected wide, before going close again three minutes later, when his glancing header rattled off the crossbar after he met Dan Jones’ long throw.
Graeme Lee’s side continued to push for a second, as Ramshaw drilled a cross to Olly Green, who took a touch before skewing putting his effort into the path of Wilkinson.
Willshaw went close to bringing his side level with just eight minutes of the first half remaining, but his low struck free-kick was deflected just inches wide of the right post.
Moors ended the half the stronger of the two sides, as Olly Dyson wriggled into space 25-yards from goal, before striking a wicked effort on goal, which flew just wide of the far post.
The pressure continued after the break and into the opening stages of the second half. Ramshaw played a ball into Taylor in the area, only to have the ball put behind by a West man before he could even get a touch.
Dan Jones went close just five minutes after the restart as the ball fell to him inside the area. The full-back’s effort, however, flew well over the bar.
Gareth Young’s side looked to drag themselves back into the game as the half progressed, with Craig Moody finding Leo Robinson in behind, who tucked a low effort just wide of the post while one-on-one with James.
West went forward again, this time through Cieran Jackson, who tried his luck from the edge of the penalty area, only to see his shot bobble into the hands of James with 71 minutes on the clock.
A moment of madness occurred on the soon after, as Wilkinson was caught well out of his box, where he met debutant Katia Kouyate. The two tussled over the ball 30 yards from goal, only for Wilkinson to manage to get the ball away to safety.
Moors looked to put the game to bed with nine minutes remaining, as Mackenzie Heaney drove from halfway and lashed an effort goalward. However, his strike zipped just wide of the post.
James was forced into a game-defining save on the 83rd minute when Moody got in behind. West’s number 7 took aim inside the area, only for James to brilliantly put the ball wide with his outstretched leg.
Moors went close to finishing the game with two headed efforts in quick succession. First through Kouyate who thumped his header off the post, before McKeown placed his wide of the mark.
Ramshaw had a final chance go begging with seconds left as he struck an effort just over the bar.
A hard-fought win over local opposition as Graeme Lee’s men advance to the Third Qualifying Round. Moors won’t have to wait long to find out their next opponents, as the draw takes place on Monday.
Full Time: West Auckland 0 Moors 1
West Auckland Town: Wilkinson, Hughes, Robertson, Bailey (Mitchell 85), White, Potter, Moody, Trotter (McWaters 85), Willshaw (Steele 66), Robinson, Jackson (Eckley-Aldsworth 85).
Subs not used: Banda.
Booked: Willshaw (26), Bailey (63).
Moors: James, Dyson, Jones, Doherty (Kouyate 59), Taylor, Ramshaw, Mondal (McKeown 59), Pollock, Green (Heaney 59), Hill, Dolan
Subs not used: Johnson, Hancox, Salkeld, Samuels
Referee: Mark Bell
Written by Noah Betts