Saturday 5th October 2024
NWCFL Premier Division
Matchday 12
West Didsbury & Chorlton 2
Lazenbury 49p
Darkwah 71
Barnoldswick Town 1
Creech 68
Attendance: 919
West line-up:
1 Martin, 2 Jones, 3 Kenny (17 McConnell 85), 4 Moore, 5 Riley, 6 Hughes, 7 Darkwah, 8 Murray, 9 Grimshaw (14 Holt 67), 10 Lazenbury, 11 Matthews (15 Dass 78). Not used: 12 Bailey, 16 Yarwood.
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West picked up three important points on Saturday as they narrowly beat Barnoldswick Town by two goals to one.
The win marked West's 100th league game since returning to Step 5 in 2022 and contributed to the best run of form that the club has enjoyed since that promotion. That said, it was a performance that was more professional than it was pulsating. The first half saw very few chances created by either side, and the game was played at an uncharacteristically slow pace. It remained goalless going into the break and the crowd of just under 1,000 were undoubtedly hoping for more when the match resumed.
West did come out with a renewed sense of purpose though and the game sprung into life just three minutes after the restart when a Barlick defender handled Jordan Lazenbury's long-range effort. Lazenbury stepped up to take the resulting penalty and made no mistake from 12 yards. He sent the 'keeper the wrong way and drilled his kick into the top right-hand corner to put West in control.
The visitors had relatively little by way of immediate response, but they did equalise in unconventional circumstances twenty minutes later when a free kick from distance caught everybody out and sailed over the head of Ollie Martin. West showed great resilience to this setback however, and four minutes later they were back in front. It was the impressive Cameron Darkwah who volleyed home at the back post to record his third goal of the season.
Barlick had two very good chances to steal a point in the final stages but failed to hit the target on either occasion. The referee called time and West completed a fifth win in six matches. It was a result that moved West up to 13th but safe in the knowledge that they have as many as five games in hand over the various teams that stand between West and the playoff spots.
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Listen to manager Paul Marshall's post-match thoughts here:
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Your Burton Road Brewing Co Supporter of the Match was Greenie and his Player of the Match was Cameron Darkwah.
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Browse through our wonderful match galleries, from club photographers:
Nathan Ashmall, Chris Michell, Jack Todd and Christina Bowett.
