Thursday 17th February 2022, NWCFL First Division South

West 1 (Elliott 74, Elliott sent off 82, Davis sent off 90+4)
Cheadle Heath Nomads 1 (Horner 90+3)
Att: 417

West were forced to settle for a point as Cheadle Heath Nomads struck late at Brookburn Road.

Ben Elliott’s goal 16 minutes from time looked to have secured a seventh straight win, but after Elliott had been dismissed for a second yellow card, former West man Tom Horner nodded home a corner in the third minute of stoppage time.

There were chances at both ends in an open first half, with James Hooper – making his second West debut – prodding wide when well-placed and Andrew Jones excelling in the West goal.

But it took until the 74th minute for the deadlock to be broken, as Elliott latched onto a long ball and flicked it over Nomads keeper Dimeji Willan before converting.

Elliott was back in the dressing room eight minutes later, however, as the referee strangely harshly ruled that he had kicked the ball away when shooting immediately after the assistant had flagged Harry Cain for offside.

The visitors broke through the 10-man rearguard in the final moments as Horner converted a set-piece, with West finishing with nine after Rhain Davis was dismissed in the goal’s aftermath.

West: A. Jones, Cook, Hancock (Westall), Delaney (Cain), Dibble, Heathcote, Hooper, Gavin, Elliott, Davis, Gabidon (Swift). Not used: Taylor, Vayro.

Eckersley’s Plumbers & Locksmiths Player of the Match: Andrew Jones.

Chris Rowley post-match reaction