Third Division
Westfield Reserves 3 Stoke Rovers Reserves 2
Saturday, 07 January 2006
The score line would suggest a close game but the reality was that if Westfield could have only taken half their chances then they should have hit double figures but Stoke to their credit with a much improved side from earlier in the season defended well and made life as difficult as possible for the home side.
The match began with Westfield really fired up after a rousing new year speech from manager Josham and it didn?t take long for Westfield to open the scoring when some good wing play from Avis and a great cross found Longdon at the far post and he carefully headed home from 3yds out and with 5 mins gone the new year had started well for Westfield.
Westfield were really playing some superb build up football with Reeves, Cook, Bridges and Lake all passing the ball around well and really bossing the midfield. Stoke were trying to respond but were really having trouble getting the ball out of their own half and when they did it was only with fleeting attacks that really wasn?t troubling westfields defence and Newman in the Westfield goal didn?t touch the ball until about 20 mins into the game.
Despite having all the play though Westfield were having difficulty in finding a 2nd goal with on many occasion the final ball going astray and some bad finishing.
At only 1-0 and the longer the half went on stoke began to believe in themselves a bit and with 35mins played they got the equalizer from a badly taken goal kick, and then with their very next attack they scored again to go in at half-time unbelievably leading 2-1 after being on the back foot nearly all half.
Westfield began the 2nd half confident that they could turn this game around and the same pattern as the 1st half developed with Westfield completely dominant and just a mixture of bad luck, strong defending and bad misses keeping stoke in front.
With an hour gone Westfield threw everyone forward with both fullbacks, Lines and Rawlings getting forward and sending over some good crosses but Stoke stood firm and it really looked as though it was going to be one of those days for Westfield.
Top scorer West-Gaul was introduced for Westfield along with M Lake and some re-shuffling of the side was done and within 10 mins of these changes Westfield got the goal there play deserved when Longdon powerfully headed home after a goal mouth scramble for the equalizer.
This goal seemed to deflate Stoke a little and on the 75 min mark and with Stoke stalwart Ken Lydford completing his 20th walk round of the pitch Westfield finally got what was to prove to be the winner when some great play from Rawlings and cross caused panic in the Stoke box and again Longdon arrived and headed home for his 1st hat-trick for the club and to put Westfield 3-2 up and the relief all around the ground from the large crowd was apparent.
The last 15mins became a bit of a non event with Westfield looking to increase their lead and Stoke trying to hit Westfield on the break but with the experienced heads of Croker, Latchem in the center of defence there was no way through and so the game finished in a deserved but hard fought win for Westfield but Stoke can be proud of their performance and on this display there will be a lot of teams out there they will be taking points from.
Mom:Scott Longdon
Neil Cradock
|
|