Third Division
Westfield Reserves 5 Mells & Vobster United Reserves 2
Saturday, 01 October 2005
This highly anticipated clash of the divisions top scoring sides took place on a sunny afternoon at Westfield FC.
Westfield had about 5 regular players missing due to work commitments and injury but were still able to field a decent side and they started the stronger by passing the ball around well as though they had been playing together all season.
Colbourne playing in center midfield was soon stamping his authority on the match with some crunching tackles and he was being helped well with Reeves, Lake and Brooks all working hard alongside him.
Mells though showed why they are going to be a tough side for anyone to beat this season with some good defending and some quick counter-attacks of their own.
The first 15mins were fairly even until Westfield forced a corner which Brooks swung over superbly for Sketch arriving at the back post to powerfully head home giving the keeper no chance and Westfield the lead.
Mells were a little rocked back at this and 5 mins later a goalmouth scramble occurred during which the ref spotted a hand ball and awarded Westfield a hotly disputed penalty.
West-Gaul making his 1st start of the season calmly strolled up and slotted the ball home giving Westfield a 2-0 lead.
Mells then tried to up the tempo of the game desperately searching for a way back into the match but Cook, Croker, Rawlings and Sketch were defending stoutly and on the odd occasion Mells did get by them Tucker in the Westfield goal was having a superb match and dealt with everything.
With halftime approaching Mells got the bit of luck they needed to get back in the game when a communication error between Cook and Tucker allowed the Mells forward to nip in between them and prod the ball home making the score 2-1 at halftime.
The 2nd half began with both sides battling hard trying to gain the upper hand but the game became a bit scrappy with both defences well on top.
With 10 mins of the half gone Mells were throwing players forward to try and get a equalizer and Cook was judged by the referee to have fouled the Mells forward in the penalty area and so the 2nd penalty of the match was awarded this time to Mells and they fired it home bringing the scores level.
Westfield were fired up now and they went straight on the attack forcing Mells to defend deep and with only 5 mins passing since Mells had equalized, Colbourne surged into the box and hammered home a half volley from 6yds out giving Westfield the lead again at 3-2.
Mells again responded well but with Tucker in outstanding form and Westfield making sure they got bodies behind the ball they could find no way through. With 70 mins gone Cuer was brought on to replace the hard-working Brooks and Westfield looked to use his pace down the right flank as a bit of an outlet from defence.
With 75 mins gone Westfield virtually wrapped the match up with a superb goal involving Cuer and West-Gaul, Cuer outjumped the Mells defence and calmly headed the ball to West-Gaul who acrobatically did a bicycle kick into the Mells net giving the keeper no chance making the score 4-2.
5 mins later and another Westfield attack found Colbourne in the box and he was upended for another penalty to Westfield, Sketch took it this time and scuffed his shot giving the Mells keeper the easiest penalty save he will have to make this season.
Jamie Lake who had covered a tremendous amount of ground during the match was taken off with slight knock on his foot and Lilley was brought on in his place to tighten things up at the back, but with Callaghan also on for Westfield, Westfield were forced to play the last 8 mins with 10 men when Croker went off injured aswell.
Mells threw everything forward to try and get something out of the the match but it was Westfield who had finished off the game with the goal of the match a 30yd pile driver from Reeves which hit the net before the Mells keeper had even moved and Westfield ran out worthy winners in a battling match against a young , hard working Mells side that will prove difficult for any side to beat this season
Mom Mark Tucker
Neil Cradock |
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