Saturday 2 November 2024
NWCFL Premier Division
Matchday 19
West Didsbury & Chorlton 3
Grimshaw 30
Lazenbury 87
Banister 90+5
AFC Liverpool 4
Murphy 6
Taylor 55, 90+1
Jones 80
Attendance: 814
West line-up:
1 Martin, 2 Kenny, 3 Sutton (12 McConnell 82), 4 Moore (c), 5 Riley, 6 Hughes, 7 Darkwah (15 Banister 60), 8 Rowney, 9 Grimshaw (14 Billingsley 69), 10 Lazenbury, 11 Matthews (17 Bailey 86). Subs not used: 16 Yarwood.
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West's run of home league wins came to end as AFC Liverpool edged a seven-goal thriller at Brookburn Road.
Paul Marshall made four changes to the side that rescued a point at Prestwich Heys in midweek as Max Sutton, Chris Rowney and Lee Grimshaw - who were all on the pitch at full time at Prestwich - came in, while Cameron Darkwah returned after a one-match ban.
Tom Murray, who hadn't missed a league game since July, was serving his own suspension while Jack McConnell and Lewis Billingsley moved to the bench. Reuben Dass missed out on the matchday squad through injury.
West had won their last six league games at Brookburn Road - a new club record - but were up against a strong AFC Liverpool outfit, whose history of visits here features half a dozen wins of their own - more than any other club.
The game started at a good pace and the Reds soon took the lead, just six minutes on the clock when Bobby Murphy finished Caleb Jones' set-piece delivery from close range.
Both sides continued to create chances with Billy Matthews twice coming close and Cam Darkwah and Lee Grimshaw both seeing shots smothered. West's equaliser arrived on the half hour as Jordan Lazenbury's shot was parried but he reacted first to the loose ball and headed back across goal for Grimshaw to nod in.
West deserved to be on level terms and had control of the game, but the Reds were a constant threat on the break. That's how it stayed until the break but Liverpool were on top from the restart. West had Ollie Martin to thank for a superb save, but the Reds soon regained the lead after a mix-up between Riley and Martin presented a gift for Elliot Taylor.
That was a bit of a suckerpunch and though the game remained end-to-end, chances of a second West equaliser were few and far between as the Reds mostly limited Lazenbury and Banister to long range attempts.
Just when West were preparing an onslaught as the game entered the last ten minutes, the Reds grabbed a third through the excellent Caleb Jones, who fired in from the edge of the box.
Strangely - but not unusually for games involving these two sides - the late goal re-ignited the contest. With Jimmy Moore now deployed up front as West entered kitchen sink territory, Jordan Lazenbury was the first to benefit from the chaotic final minutes, finishing at the second attempt.
However, any hopes of completing the comeback were soon dashed as Liverpool broke on the counter. Seconds after West had the ball on the attack, Martin was picking the ball out of the back on the net as Taylor clinically capped off a swift move to notch his second of the game.
There was still time for Jack Banister to grab a consolation but the final whistle blew moments later, as West dropped points at Brookburn Road for the first time in two months. West have now scored three times in each of the last five meetings with AFC Liverpool, but lost four of them.
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We spoke to West manager Paul Marshall after the match:
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Your Burton Road Brewing Co Supporter of the Match was Simon and his Player of the Match was Jimmy Moore.
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Browse through our wonderful match galleries, from club photographers:
Nathan Ashmall, Chris Michell, Jack Todd and Christina Bowett.
