Collated by Nick Syrett

Evidence that you can’t keep a good groundsman down for long was seen in the reversal of a Somme like battlefield to football pitches over the course of the last week. Our rejuvenated curator was spotted merrily dancing across the Hardly Farm quagmire tending to rogue divots and boggy patches with his eagerness re ignited. The West faithful now holds its breath as we wait and see if our esteemed leader, who recently returned from another trip to China, shifts his usual tipple from Burton rd Ale to Corona… Watch out for any sniffles folks..

Urmston Meadowside U9 Eagles v WD&C U9 Harriers 

This was a win built on the solid foundations of the Harrier’s defensive work. Tai, Ruben, Luke, Vaughn and Lucas all put a shift in with some great pressing and defensive play. Max P scored and bamboozled the opposition on the wing. Olly S and Tyler we’re both clinical in front of goal – Olly chalked up another hat-trick while Tyler got 2 one a beautifully crisp finish to a ball travelling at pace from the byline. Next week we leave development games for the magic of the cup.

U10 Trafford FC warriors v WD&C U10 Eagles: Edged a narrow victory too with goals from Sacha, Micki, Luca(2), Bailey(2).

WD&C U12 v Hale Utd Sao Paulo

A POTM performance from Alfie in goal and a hat trick from George weren’t enough to see off Hale United Sao Paulo in testing conditions.

The ever reliable Chorlton Park withstood the weather to play host to a match originally scheduled to take place at Bowden Cricket Club.

Hale started strongly and were quickly on the attack. However, West were not intimidated. A tenacious effort from Frankie set George up for a superb half volley for West to take the lead on 4 minutes. 

An unusual incident followed when the Hale keeper handled from a back pass, conceding an indirect free kick in the penalty area. Wilf rolled the free kick to Frankie who blasted a shot into the Hale wall. 

Pressure from West continued, with the Hale keeper being forced into making a save from a shot by Kofi.

In the face of this bright start from West, Hale upped their game – leading to a string of excellent saves from Alfie, who was commanding and brave in net, ably supported by Jacob in defence and a battling performance from Wilf. Unfortunately, the clean sheet did not last and it was from one of Hale’s less promising chances that the equaliser came when the ball was deflected into the net.

West heads stayed up and a great move from William forced another save from the Hale keeper.  Cameron showed strength in defence to help West withstand the Hale pressure. The reward was to come shortly afterwards when a clearance from the Hale keeper fell straight to George who made no mistake in blasting it home.

West went into the half time break 2-1 up.

Hale came out after the interval energised but couldn’t get past a resolute Alfie in goal.  It wasn’t all one way traffic, though, with a great run by Louis forcing a corner for West.  

Then followed a goal fest from Hale, forcing an equaliser and three more in succession to put them 5-2 up. 

Not to be downhearted, West continued to battle and it was a credit to all of them that they didn’t give up. Kenta showed great strength in defence, tenacious to the end.  

West persistence got its reward in the last minute, with a well taken goal from George securing his hat trick.

Not a win this time, but many positives to be taken from this tough encounter played  in difficult conditions.

Home support : 13 + 2 dogs

Away support : 6 + 0 dogs

Urmston Meds v WD&C U14 Magpies

With 5 players off playing volleyball,  the under-powered Urmston Meds manager was hoping to call the game off at Flixton fields on Sunday morning.  The predicted downpour was as tardy as one of our centre backs, and so it was game on for the Magpies versus a team bottom of the league, with 10 players and low on confidence.  With our own coach reffing and us manning both lines, dodgy bookmakers were taking large amounts of money on odds shorter than our number 9. 

After 15 minutes of painful stalemate on a surface that made chorlton park look like Wembley,  the bookmakers were nervous. 

Step forward our go to hitman to latch on to a route one through ball and bundle it towards goal before slotting it cooly past the onrushing keeper. 0-1. Like waiting for a bus in Flixton,  a second arrived as king of the assists, Charlie, lifted a cute freekick to left edge of the box for Jack to control with his first touch and finish with his second. 0-2. The bookies relaxed. The game was killed off by another through ball for the hitman to latch on to, this time rounding the keeper and nudging in calmly. Like a ginger Del Piero, our wee Jack in the box played off the shoulder of a sluggish defence like an Italian pro today. Only his dad (harshly) disallowed a first half 4th for a dubious handball!. Funds saved in the Haworth house?? 

At half time, the opposition waived the points and brought on his ringer of a son who plays for a team in a higher division. 11v11 and against the wind it was a different contest. The Magpies generally played smartly to keep it simple and see the game out with few alarms.  

Step forward man of the match and all action hero GI Joe for the moment of the match.  A high press coughed up the ball to Joe, who chopped it off his left and on to his right, looked up and arrowed it across the keeper into the top right corner. His static, chest out celebration was Cantona-esque, and so was the finish.  Trés bon. 

We did concede a late soft own goal that owed more to an under used, snoozy defensive line than attacking prowess. Shame.  

Final score 1-4

Goals: Haworth their weight in goals*.. Jack x3 Joe x1.

X3 assists for Charlie Atkassist

 *not related 

WD&C U15s v Stretford Victoria

10-3 win

U 15’s Phoenix v Wilmslow Town (Away)

Div 2 : Qtr final League cup 

Lost 1 – 2

A really difficult match report to write this one. Away, against the leaders of Div 2, a hard fought match was in the balance with 10 mins to go, with the teams locked at 1 – 1.

We were enjoying our best period of the game, but the match was heading inexorably towards the excitement of a penalty shoot out.

Sadly, at this point, the ref then decided to throw a spanner in the works & award a marshmallow soft penalty ? No real appeal from the opposition players or coach but the ref, inexplicably, pointed to the spot..our players looked on in horror, their players thanked their lucky stars (agonising for the coaches to watch !)

The penalty was duly dispatched (2 – 1 to Wilmslow)

As valiantly as the lads tried we couldn’t find an equaliser. Alas, it wasn’t to be ?

The lads showed great heart & must remember that Wilmslow Town are a big club with 3 separate teams in the U 15’s divisions alone..this was their 1st team, full of excellent players, with an experienced coaching team. The lads are playing at a high standard & should be enormously proud of their efforts.

Onto next week & let’s concentrate on the league.

Fantastic performances all round.

Goal – Helal

POM – Finlay

West U16s got back to winning ways with a 10-3 victory over Stretford Vics. An under strength Stretford started with 10 men on a freezing Turn Moss bog and west rushed into a 2-0 lead. Another lad arrived and once shorts were borrowed the parity in numbers led to a vics fightback and at 2-1 the game looked in the balance. But west used their subs and squad strength to stretch the game and make the 11 work hard and by the end of the first half, the score was 6-1. Second half, playing up the slope and into the wind was harder work and more even with the game finishing 10-3. Goals from Nic (3), Daniel (2), benji,

Oli, Matty, Samuel (2). MOTM Midfield maestro Tom