Tuesday August 1st \\\ NWCFL Premier Division \\\ Matchday 2

Wythenshawe Town 3 - 1 West
Rodney 22                              Worrall (og) 5
Liptrott 27                              Att: 462
Ajayi 55

Wythenshawe Town
1 Hall, 2 Kesete, 3 Liptrott, 4 Worrall, 5 Omorogbe, 6 Sheridan, 7 Byrnes, 8 Ajayi (16 Vargas 75), 9 Correia (15 Reed 13, 17 Deans 80), 10 Nock (c), 11 Rodney (14 Dass 49). Not used: 12 Osigwe.

West Didsbury & Chorlton
1 A. Jones (c), 2 C. Jones (14 Grimshaw 31), 3 Hancock, 4 McKnight, 5 Hampson, 6 Foulds, 7 Kirongozi (17 Billingsley 76), 8 Davis, 9 Elliott, 10 Eme, 11 Matthews (16 Smyth 80). Not used: 12 Taylor.

West were secong best at Wythenshawe Town on Tuesday night, slipping to defeat in the first away game of the season.

There were three changes made to the starting line-up from Saturday's opening day win over Colne, with Graham, Schofield and Billingsley making way for Hancock, Kirongozi and Eme. Tom Schofield's absence forced a reshuffle in midfield, with Darren McKnight dropping in to the 4 position, Rhain Davis moving from 10 to 8, and Zeke Eme in at 10. The other changes were like-for-like.

Kicking off slightly late, West made a bright start and had already made in-roads behind Town's backline when Davis found Kirongozi on the right five minutes in, the winger jinking past Liptrott and delivering an inswinging cross impossible to defend. WORRALL got to the ball in front of Elliott but could only divert it past his own goalkeeper.

Wythenshawe responded quickly, a downward header forcing AJ to gather in front of his goalline barely two minutes later.

Town had to withdraw Correia shortly after, the forward pulling up with a hamstring injury and being replaced by former EFL player Jamie Reed. 

Hancock was caught late by Kesete on halfway but the referee Mr Bostock decided that a talking to was enough for the Town full-back.

Midway through the first half, Town equalised. The ball took a dead bounce in the West area as Hampson prepared to clear his lines, and the deviation was seized upon by RODNEY who made no mistake from 10 yards, firing past an exposed AJ. Within five minutes Town had completed the comeback, LIPTROTT riding Kirongozi's challenge wide on the left and working himself into a shooting position before slipping his shot inside the near post.

Town were buoyant and West had little respite between attacks, a third very nearly coming from a right-wing cross but the unmarked Rodney failed to make a proper connection.

Still inside the opening half hour, Callum Jones stayed down after heavy challenge and couldn't continue, despite the best efforts of the magic sponge. Manager Chris Rowley took the opportunity to re-shape, introducing forward Lee Grimshaw in place of CJ, with Billy Matthews covering right-back and Zeke Eme moving to Matthews' vacated left-wing spot.

The game was being played at a high tempo and both sides soon had threatening moments in quick succession, firstly a loud handball shout for Town was ignored then, with the ball at the other end, Hall's mishit clearance under pressure gave Grimshaw a half-chance from distance but the shot could only find the fence behind the goal.

There was still time for two more scares for West. Reed broke the offside trap and rounded AJ but could only find the side netting from a very acute angle. Moments later, Nock let fly from 25 yards and saw his screaming effort hit AJ's right-hand post flush and come back towards him, but the rebound was too difficult to control and the second attempt hit the clubhouse.

The half ended with a West penalty appeal of their own, shouts possibly more in hope than expectation after Grimshaw had gone down in the box. McKnight was the first name into the referee's notebook, the yellow card metered out for pulling back Ajayi as frustrations became visible.

A West booking was also the first action of the second half, this time Hampson taking one for the team as Town threatened.

Town then made their second injury enforced change of the night, and the third of the match, as Rodney was unable to shake off a knock to the knee. Dass replaced him. 

Davis was the next name in the book, again for a foul on the fringes of West's defensive third. This time a yellow card wasn't the only punishment as the free-kick was met by AJAYI, the former West player heading in from close range to give Town breathing space.
 

Zeke Eme was West's brightest spark through an otherwise spark-free second half, but was doubled up on by Wythenshawe defenders and managed out of play when danger started to present. McKnight also had the chance to repeat his dead-ball tricks from Saturday but got too much on his strike and lifted it over.

Around 150 West fans had made the short trip south and gave what they had to lift the team but it was proving to be am irksome evening, Town effective in stopping West play and nothing happening in the moments that might go either way.

As we entered the final quarter of the game, Town had their eyes on the 3 points and went down a gear to absorb what West could muster. Kesete had his name taken for kicking the ball away. 

Kirongozi made way for Billingsley, impressive on debut, and Town introduced Vargas for the goalscorer Ajayi. 

With ten minutes left on the clock West were reduced to ten, Hancock and Worrall clashing deep in Wythenshawe's half. Initially it seemed both players had been booked but the referee upgraded his decision, sending the West left-back from the field.

With West now otherwise left with only two recognised defenders on the pitch, Smyth replaced the tireless Matthews to create a back three for the remaining minutes.

Reed was relieved by Deans in the same break, having entered as a substitute himself early in the game. He'd been involved in most of Town's attacking play and hadn't given West's defenders a moment's peace.

Vargas earned himself the final, and sixth, booking of the night after tripping Davis. 

There can no complaints at the outcome and the winning margin could've been greater.

The result left both West and Town amongst eight teams whose seasons have begun with a win and a defeat.

Listen to Chris Rowley's post-match thoughts here, sponsored by Steve Eckersley.

Pictures by Nathan Ashmall, Si Cook and Chris Michell.
Full match gallery available here.


NWCFL Premier Division classified results \\\ MD2
Tuesday August 1st 2023
AFC Liverpool 3-2 Skelmersdale United
Barnoldswick Town 3-1 Chadderton
Burscough 3-2 Lower Breck
Cheadle Town 0-4 Wythenshawe
Colne 1-3 Bury
Irlam 3-2 Glossop North End
Kendal Town 1-0 Longridge Town
Padiham 0-0 Litherland REMYCA
Prestwich Heys 3-0 Pilkington
Squires Gate 1-1 Charnock Richard
Wythenshawe Town 3-1 West Didsbury & Chorlton
Wednesday 2nd August 2023
Ramsbottom United 2-1 FC Isle of Man

Next game \\\ Saturday August 5th, Vauxhall Motors (H), FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round