Westend battle hard in first game of the season
WESTEND UNITED 3
ELLWORTH 5
(Mid Cheshire League Div 3)
The first game of the new season took place on the new home venue of Congleton High School and it produced a thrilling game.
Ellworth started the game and immediately put Westend under pressure aided by the slight down hill nature of the pitch and also by a strong wind blowing the ball towards the Westend goal. Westend did manage a few visits to the oppositions half and on occasions looked capable of scoring. After twenty five minutes Ellworths pressure paid off and they scored. The game continued and eventually Ellworth won a corner and the ball came in to an Ellworth player whose shot was cleared off the line only for the ball to go straight to another who made no mistake to make the score 0-2. The game could have been put beyond Westends reach if it had not been for two magnificent saves from Robin Evans leaving the score 0-2 at the interval. Westend started the second half and went straight on the offensive and six minutes into the half the ball came to Jim Cowburn on the edge of the box and he hit a fierce shot over the keeper to make it 1-2. After applying a lot of pressure Westend were caught by a break from Ellworth who made it 1-3. Westend were back on the attack from the kick off with Harry Highgate having a shot go just wide of the post. At the other end Ellworth were awarded a free kick that went over the bar by a whisker. Ellworth caught Westend out again with a long ball over the top of the defence leaving one of their forwards to make it 1-4. Westend did not give up and after some determined battling in the box they were rewarded with a well taken goal by Harry Highgate. A minute later Oliver Gifford slotted home a great individual effort to make it 3-4 with only five minutes left to play. The will to score more goals was there to see with all players pushing up to get the ball into the Ellworth area and because of this we were again caught open at the back and Ellworths fifth goal came just before the final whistle. The game was played with great spirit and determination and should give the lads huge encouragement for the future.
The man of the match was Jim Cowburn for his tireless running, excellent heading and total commitment for the team.
Team: - Ambage, Blood, Burton, Carroll, Cowburn, Crossley, Evans, Gifford, Goodwin, Highgate, Mason, Roney and Sapsford.
The next match is away against Sutton and players are asked be meet at the school at 9.00 am.