Westend in a tough game they deserved to win
HIGH LEGH 2
WESTEND UNITED 0
(Mid Cheshire League Div 3 Under 12’s)
This game saw Westend away from home on a sloping pitch and a strong wind.
Westend started the game kicking up the hill and into the wind. Westend were on the attack from the start and kept the ball in High Leghs half for most of the first half. Westend should have had a penalty when Harry Higate was bundled to the ground in the box. Minutes later Westend were awarded a corner from the right hand side which Jim Cowburn took, the ball came in to Ashley Goodwin who’s shot brought a great reaction save from the keeper but the ball dropped to Scott Sapsford who slotted home at the near post. Both the home supporters and Westend were puzzled when the referee disallowed this perfectly good opening goal. This did not do the players any good at all which lead to them having to absorb more and more pressure. Robin Evans was called upon to perform some good saves and to apply his ample boot to clear the ball forward. High Legh had a couple of corners which ended in a shot that went wide, moments later they were one up from a well struck long range effort that went into the top right corner. The score at half time was 1-0.
The second half was started by High Legh with Westend having the slope and wind advantage. High Legh attacked and saw a shot go wide. Westend knuckled down to some lovely football and started to put the pressure on. Westend should have had another penalty when Ashley Goodwin was chopped down in the box but play was waved on. After some great football from Harry Higate and Oliver Gifford who linked well to put Scott Sapsford into a good shooting position only to see the ball go wide. Westend were awarded a free kick outside the area from which Jim Cowburn forced the keeper to make a save. High Legh went on the attack again and with Robin Evans beaten it was left to Philip Roney to clear for a corner. Westend went back on the attack and after some beautiful work the ball came into the box to Oliver Gifford who put his shot just wide. A substitution was made with Robin Evans coming off and Matthew Blood coming on for his first game of the season. Westend had a corner and the ball came to Oliver Gifford and again it went wide. Westend then had to defend and the shot from High Legh hit the cross bar and the ball bounced out. Matthew Blood took the goal kick and unfortunately did not quite get enough on it when the ball fell to a High Legh forward on the edge of the box who coolly put the ball in the net to make the score 2-0. Time was running out and after only one more attack Westend heard the final whistle.
All the good football was played by Westend who refused to be drawn into the more physical tactics employed by High Legh.
The man of the match was Jim Cowburn for his all round determination and excellent defending.
Team: - Ambage, Blood, Burton, Carroll, Cowburn, Crossley, Evans, Gifford, Goodwin, Higate, Mason, Roney, Sapsford and Tabbinor.
The next match is at home against Tytherington and players are asked to meet at the school at 9.45 am.