Westend get that elusive win
ELWORTH 2
WESTEND UNITED 3
(Mid Cheshire League Under 12’s)
Westend were away from home again and the win they wanted they got after coming from behind. This was another outstanding show of grit and determination and true testament to the saying "If at first you don’t succeed try, try and try again".
Elworth started the game by pushing forward and got a shot off. Westend broke forward and had a shot go wide. Elworth opened the scoring after their forward received the ball. Elworth press again and a shot went over the bar. Ten minutes into the game and Westend found themselves two down. From the kick-off the ball was kicked long by Alex Mason for Sam Marshall to run onto, he had a shot that hit the goalkeeper but he got it again and looped the ball over everyone to make it 2-1. Westend were awarded a corner that came out to Jim Cowburn who hit a wonderful shot that went over the bar by the thickness of a layer of paint. The midfield of Anthony Crossley, Kit Ambage, Dean Morgan and Jack Carroll were tackling, and passing well allowing the forward pairing of Oliver Gifford and Sam Marshall to link and move so that they could be passed to. From a good midfield ball Sam Marshall had a shot that was saved. When the ball came into the defensive area of Scott Sapsford, Alex Mason, Darren Roberts and Philip Roney they all worked hard for each other and covered where needed. Darren Roberts was outstanding with his ability to turn what looked like a retreat into an attacking move. Matthew Blood was called on to save when an Elworth freekick came into his area. The ball came out of defence to Sam Marshall who headed straight for goal and as he was closed down he very cleverly laid it off to Ashley Goodwin, who had just come on, and he shot just wide. At half time the score was 2-1 to Elworth.
Westend started the second half and the ball went forward to Sam Marshall but Elworth defended well. Elworth attacked and a well struck shot forces a great blocking save from Matthew Blood and the ball went over for a corner. Elworth came forward but Matthew Blood got the ball and as he had done all through the game kicked a lovely ball forward for the midfield to battle for. Westend won a corner and Jim Cowburn went across to take it, he curled a great ball in and it was deflected in to level the scores. Robin Evans came on for Matthew Blood and continued the good work with saves and forward kicking. The game was end to end with corners for both sides but Westend were playing the better football with some great defence splitting passes being attempted by the midfield that now included Harry Higate and Joe Brazier. One of these passes went to Dean Morgan who had a good effort saved. Another came to Sam Marshall who got a good cross in from the dead ball line but it was forced out to Jim Cowburn and his shot went wide. It was only a matter of time before a breakthrough was made and it was Sam Marshall who received the ball and sweetly slotted home the winning goal. There was still more than ten minutes left to play but Westend did everything to keep Elworth from scoring and on occasions they could have scored again as Ashley Goodwin was particularly unlucky when his effort was saved.
Westend seized the elusive victory that has been coming their way by playing the game sportingly and with a true desire to succeed as a team.
They were all men of the match but Darren Roberts achieved this accolade for his awareness not only of his teammates but also of the opposition throughout the game.
Team: - Ambage, Blood, Brazier, Carroll, Cowburn, Crossley, Evans, Gifford, Goodwin, Higate, Marshall, Mason, Morgan, Roberts, Roney and Sapsford.
The next game is against Sutton and players are asked to meet at the school at 10:00 a.m.