Westend show great resolve to earn a draw
GOOSTREY 2
WESTEND UNITED 2
(Mid Cheshire League Div 3. Under 12’s)
This being the sixth game of the season Westend were away from home and playing in their Red and White strip.
Goostrey started the game and for the first ten minutes both teams were trying to find ways through. The first opportunity for Westend came from some good work on the right with Jack Carroll having a shot that went wide, he got the ball again moments later and struck a sweet cross that evaded everyone. Goostrey attacked and Robin Evans made a good save. Westend pushed forward with Harry Higate shooting the ball in, it came back to Nick Tabbinor whose fine shot went wide. In a flowing game Robin Evans was called upon to make another save. After twenty minutes the deadlock was broken after a great tackle by Jack Carroll in midfield from which the ball came to Scott Sapsford who put a quality pass in to Ashley Goodwin who slotted home. Ashley Goodwin had a couple of scoring possibilities but the goalkeeper did well. The midfield had to work hard with Kit Ambage tackling well and Scott Sapsford and Jack Carroll linking well. Westend came close when Nick Tabbinor put the ball out wide for Harry Higate to cross to Scott Sapsford but his shot just missed at the far post. Goostrey went on the attack and they latched on to a back pass and coolly sidestepped Robin Evans to level the score. At half time the score was 1-1.
Westend started the second half and had to defend a goalmouth scramble which looked a certain goal until Robin Evans managed to get back to deny them. Westend were under pressure again and conceded a couple of corners. The second of these corners saw the ball eventually come in and Goostrey scored to make it 2-1. Westend showed their now legendary resolve and continued to work well as a team with the defence of Jim Cowburn, Alex Mason and Philip Roney not letting anything through. Westend won a free kick just inside the Goostrey half that Harry Higate took but it was cleared when Goostrey defended well. Elliot Burton, who had come on for Anthony Crossley, received a fierce shot full in the face and nearly scored from it, he soon recovered. Goostrey were under pressure again and they were forced to pass back to the goalkeeper who picked it up. The resulting indirect free kick in the box was taken by Harry Higate who passed it to Jim Cowburn whose well struck shot went over the bar. Matthew Blood went in nets for Robin Evans and finished the match off in good style by making a crucial save. Westend continued to press with Scott Sapsford and Harry Higate both having shots on goal. It was only a matter of time before the scores were levelled when Kit Ambage got the ball on the right and put in a great cross that went high, the goalkeeper spilled it and Scott Sapsford pounced to slot it in. The score at full time was a well-deserved draw at 2-2.
The man of the match was Jack Carroll for his shooting, crossing and strong midfield performance.
Team: - Ambage, Blood, Burton, Carroll, Cowburn, Crossley, Evans, Goodwin, Higate, Mason, Roney, Sapsford and Tabbinor.
The next match is at home against Tarvin and players are asked to meet at the school before 10.00 a.m.