Westend finish off season with a second
half flurry
WESTEND UNITED 5
ETTILEY 0
(Mid Cheshire League Div 3 Under 12’s)
Westend played their last game of this season at Ettiley on a gloriously sunny morning. A win would give them fourth place in the league after eighteen very competitive games of football.
Ettiley won the toss and chose to play with the sun behind them. Westend started the game and took it to Ettiley straight away. Attempts on goal were frequent but not powerful enough to trouble the keeper. Westend stopped Ettiley from coming forward by the midfield of Jack Carroll, Ashley Goodwin, Harry Higate and Oliver Gifford intercepting most of their goalkicks. The defences provided by Scott Sapsford, Philip Roney, Darren Roberts and Dean Morgan were hampered slightly by the sun with high balls difficult to see causing clearances to be executed on the floor. This was achieved allowing Robin Evans to play a guarding role picking up, kicking or heading when required. Carroll picked up a loose ball and put a great cross in Alex Mason received it well but his shot went agonisingly wide of the post. Later in the half Jim Cowburn had a good effort stopped by the keeper. Mason came off replaced by Sam Marshall and he got involved straight away. The first half continued with Westend having the majority of the play and Ettiley never looked like scoring and it ended with neither side scoring at 0-0.
Ettiley started the second half this time with them having the sun in their eyes. After about five minutes of the half Joe Brazier came on for Gifford. Westend set about this half with greater determination and were bombarding the Ettiley goal but the finishing touch appeared elusive. Ettiley had forward venture and they forced a great save from Evans who could only deflect the ball to another Ettiley player but his shot was headed off the line by Sapsford. Westend proceeded to push forward with a shot by Higate. Matthew Blood swapped in goals with Evans. Westends patience paid off when they were rewarded with a goal from Mason after a great ball to him from Cowburn he beat one defender and shot neatly past the keeper to open the scoring. Dean Morgan received the ball on the halfway line and took it forward to the line and got a great cross in for Mason to head home for his second. Mason completed his hat trick with a nice shot that beat the keeper. Cowburn came on in place of Mason and looked threatening on the left. Sam Marshall received the ball in the area but his shot went wide only to be retrieved by Carroll who sent it back for Marshall to neatly side foot it into the back of the net to make it 4-0 to Westend. After some great skill from Higate the ball was sent out wide to Carroll who got the ball in for Marshall to score his second with a great touch in. The final whistle came with the final score 5-0.
This performance tops off what has been a very enjoyable season for the team and it will give the lads confidence up to the start of the new season in September. I would like to thank the parents for their enthusiastic support throughout the season having turned out in all weathers.
The man of the match was Ashley Goodwin for his midfield performance with some spectacular tackling, battling and passing.
Team: - Blood, Brazier, Carroll, Cowburn, Evans, Gifford, Goodwin, Higate, Marshall, Mason, Morgan, Roberts, Roney and Sapsford.
The next match is a friendly away against Middlewich on 21st April and players are asked to meet at the school at 9:15 am this will be confirmed nearer the date.