West Men have played three cup games, West Women have won another two, here’s a round-up of all of them. Normal service resumes Saturday.
Notes written for the show below -
Clitheroe Lancashire Cup 2nd Round
Midtable in the division above
Changes to the side - Jake Kenny back in, Billy Matthews unbelievably the first start since August
Clown show of a performance overall, ending 5 won in a row
Jack McConnell own goal, looped into the net, another bizarre own goal later, and 3 other easy chances for Clitheroe
5 - 0 loss, well deserved -
Ramsbottom Macron Cup 3rd Round
1st vs 2nd in the League
Ramsbottom in fine form - had won a club record 11 in a row
Another bit of a change team - Latiq Roberts starting
A game I wasn’t at, but I’m assured that Roberts had a great game
Two screamers to secure the win for West - Jordan Lazenbury with a deflected shot (or cross) in the first half,
Jack Bannister with a rocket in the second.
Late consolation for Rammy, but West hold on -
Maybe only worry is that it took two belters to win the game, and we still had to hold on despite being the better team
Next round is on February 14th February, up against Thornton Cleveleys - we’re probably the strongest side left in the competition
Thornton Cleveley currently 11th in Division 1 North, have only beaten Division 1 sides to get here - West should be favourites, but you never know.
01 Burscough v Cheadle Town
02 Nelson v Telford Town
03 West Didsbury and Chorlton v Thornton Cleveleys
04 AFC Liverpool v Euxton Villa
Stalybridge Celtic Manchester Premier Cup 1st Round
Marshall hinted at changes, but there weren’t many - Latiq Roberts played again, and was class again.
Stalybridge are in the playoffs in the division above, looked much the better side to begin with - and deservedly took the lead after quarter of an hour, a rifled shot into the roof of the net.
West then spent the rest of the half getting a foothold in the game - Brandon Dawson finding space at the back post to steer home. Unfortunately, seemingly injured - spent half time doing a fitness test on the pitch, which he didn’t pass.
Kaleb Parkinson with the second - through ball from a Stalybridge slide tackle, rounded the keeper and stroked home.
Scoring rounded out by Lazenbury, beating the defender for pace, sizing up the goalkeeper, and then slotting the ball through his legs.
It could’ve been more: Stalybridge didn’t offer much, and West were much better overall second half, worthy of their win.
Possible opponents, according to Tom Fern -
Abbey Hey
Ashton United or Trafford
Bury
Droylsden or Radcliffe
Hyde United or Curzon Ashton
Mossley
Wythenshawe Town
Draw presumably made in the next few weeks, games left to be played.
Back to the Counties this weekend, with Charnock Richard at home. Joy of joys.
Poulton North West Women’s Regional League
West made it 6 wins in a row in Poulton - not in Fylde, but actually in Birkenhead.
Poulton are one of the teams battling relegation, vital we won to stay clear of the pack - and these three points may have been enough for us to secure safety.
Strong West performance for the opening 70 minutes, and should’ve been out of sight by the time that Lawrence bundled home a shot that had cannoned back off the bar.
West’s dominance continued, but Poulton Victoria’s keeper had a blinder - made several saves, and kept them in the game.
Last 10 or 15, pure backs to the wall, but West hold out -
Up to 4th in the league, 11 points clear of relegation with 9 games left for us, 12 games left for most of the others.
West also had a big cup win away at Chadderton - 19 nil, but that scoreline has been censured and coverage has been minimal, so I’d struggle to tell you any more.
No game this weekend, back in action vs Darwen on December 7th.
