Saturday 16th October 2021, NWCFL First Division South

West 1 (Heathcote)
Ellesmere Rangers 1 (Tanomjit)
Att: 664

On a frustrating day at Brookburn Road, West missed an opportunity to maintain their advantage at the top of the table as they were held to a draw by a resolute Ellesmere Rangers side.

In truth, the game was largely devoid of quality aside from a few choice moments. Captain Sam Heathcote was responsible for two of them: first, he nearly found the net from his own half having spotted the Rangers keeper Ashley Spittlehouse off his line, only narrowly going the wrong side of the far post. Then, with half time approaching, he managed to get one in the right side – an incredibly well struck free kick aimed towards the side that the keeper was standing was too good Spittlehouse for who could only palm it into the netting.

After the break, the game settled into the same rhythm as before, with neither side able to get a grip. Even an equaliser – as close to a copy of Heathcote’s free-kick as you could realistically expect to find, only this time from Ellesmere’s Brandon Tanomjit – failed to inject much life into proceedings.

Unable to play their natural style, West increasingly went long, with limited results. One chance of note did come, with a Ben Elliott effort being blocked on the line, but a point felt like a fair reflection on a day when neither side really got going.

West: A. Jones, Cook, Hancock, Tinker, Dibble, Heathcote, Matthews, Gavin, Elliott, Ford, Gabidon. Subs: Delaney, Westall, Grewal, Eme, Swift.

Eckersley’s Plumbers & Locksmiths Player of the Match: Dontai Gabidon.

Chris Rowley post-match reaction