Third Division
Meadow Rangers Reserves 4 Westfield Reserves 4
Saturday, 21 January 2006
Westfield visited Meadow expecting a hard match with Westfield having a few players missing due to injury and other commitments and knowing that Meadow would be fielding a stronger than usual side by playing their new 1st team signings of Justin Dowling and Ashley Meggat.
The match began with both midfields scrapping it out and with neither side giving an inch until 10 mins into the game a long goal-kick deceived everyone and Dowling was allowed to run in and chip the advancing Guy in the Westfield goal for the opener to Meadow.
5 mins later and things turned worse for Westfield when Dowling was allowed some free space wide on the right and his cross was turned in by another Meadow forward for 2-0 to Meadow after 15 mins.
Westfield were shaken but still kept trying to play football with Brooks, Lake and Bridges all causing Meadow some problems but as previous weeks the final ball was not coming off and unbelievably on the 20 min mark Meadow broke again and Dowling scored his 2nd to put Meadow 3-0 up.
Westfield then at long last began to show why they are top of this division by starting to play a little bit of the football they know they can and were starting to force Meadow back and into some desperate defensive clearances and with 30 mins gone a great run from Lake found Bridges who this time hit the net to reduce the score to 3-1.
Meadow seemed to lose a bit of spirit after this goal was conceded and with 40 mins gone a good pass from Brooks found Lines and he coolly slotted home bringing the score back to 3-2 and Westfield back into the match.
Westfield pushed to get the equalizer before half-time but Meadow held firm and so half-time arrived with Meadow 3-2 up.
The 2nd half began and Westfield were quick out of the blocks forcing Meadow back and with the Westfield defence of Cook, Latchem, Sketch and Rawlings now getting to grips with Dowling it looked increasingly likely that it was only going to be a matter of time before Westfield found the equalizer but Meadow had other ideas and were defending stoutly resisting everything Westfield threw at them and then with 65 mins gone a mistake by Guy in the Westfield goal allowed Meadow to increase their lead to 4-2 and things looked gloomy for Westfield.
Westfield re-organised and manager Josham brought himself on and also Crocker into midfield and really went for broke by pushing Lake upfront to partner West-gaul.
Westfield kept pushing leaving themselves a little exposed at the back but it was a gamble they had to take and with 75mins gone it was Lines again who fired Westfield back into the match following a goalmouth scramble.
Josham and Crocker with their fresh legs were beginning to boss the midfield with Meadows legs tiring and in the 80th minute Crocker found himself out wide on the Meadow left and from fully 35yds he chipped the Meadow keeper and put Westfield level in the match for the 1st time since the 10th minute.
For the last 10 minutes both sides went and came close to the winner but in the end the game finished 4-4 with both sides believing they could and should have won it.
Mom:Rob Lines
Neil Cradock |
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