Tuesday 15 October 2024
NWCFL Premier Division
Matchday 15
West Didsbury & Chorlton 3
Banister 80, 90
Matthews 87
Lower Breck 0
Attendance: 402
West line-up:
1 Martin, 2 Rowney (c), 3 McConnell, 4 Bailey, 5 Riley, 6 Hughes, 7 Banister, 8 Murray, 9 Abadaki, 10 Lazenbury, 11 Dass (15 Matthews 60). Not used: 12 Sutton, 14 Holt, 16 Grimshaw, 17 Kenny.
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A resounding 3-0 win over Lower Breck moved West into the playoff places for the first time since the opening fortnight of the season.
West's run of form going into the match had been nothing short of exceptional with 22 points taken from a possible 24. They knew however that a meeting with 3rd place Lower Breck would be one of the tougher tests of the season to date. Manager Paul Marshall handed a first start to winger Reuben Dass, and he occupied the opposite flank to Jack Banister who had impressed on his own full debut four days earlier.
It was clear from the outset that this was a match between two very strong teams. Both sides looked to move the ball quickly and attack their opponents, but it was perhaps unsurprising not to see any real goalscoring opportunities in a meeting between the two most frugal defences in the division. In the 39th minute however came the moment came that shaped the rest of the match. Victor Abadaki received a ball over the top and managed to shimmy past his opposing centre-back, Thomas Mitchell. Mitchell had generally done well to thwart Abadaki's goal threat in the opening stages, but when the West striker found himself with only the onrushing 'keeper to beat, Mitchell hauled Abadaki to the floor just as he was setting himself to shoot on the edge the box. The referee had a perfect view and, after consulting with his assistant, brandished a red card for Mitchell to give West a huge advantage going into the second half.
West came out positively and it was evident that Lower Breck would have to really dig in to take what would now be hugely desirable away point for them. Jordan Lazenbury did hit the crossbar just four minutes after the restart, but thereafter the visitors' defensive unit remained resolute. A frustrated West attack struggled to penetrate the Lower Breck back line, and Billy Matthews was introduced in place of Reuben Dass to offer an alternative going forward. Despite that, it felt as though West had run out of ideas going into the final quarter of an hour. The decisive moment came in the 80th minute though as West finally found their breakthrough. It came when Jack Banister picked up the ball in a central area 25 yards out and went for goal himself. His shot appeared to take a deflection but it flew past Theo Roberts and into the top corner. That goal immediately eased the tension that had started to grow around Brookburn Road, and West could sense that a significant victory was now well within reach.
Seven minutes later and the game was put to bed altogether. Tom Murray won the ball back for West in the final third and worked his way to the byline before cutting back to Billy Matthews in the middle. He then took a touch, composed himself and drilled the ball past Roberts to ensure that West were once again on the cusp of taking all three points. The cherry was then placed on the cake in second-half stoppage time as Matthews turned provider by running in on the left and flashing a ball across the face of the goal for Banister to double his tally by tapping in at the back post.
The referee blew up moments later and West recorded a 3-0 win that will have certainly raised some eyebrows around the division. West's form in recent weeks will have caught the attention of those at the top end of the league, but such an emphatic win against such strong opponents showed that West really are serious about their promotion abitions. The season is looking promising for West, but attention will now turn to the FA Vase and the visit of Stockport Town on Saturday.
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We spoke to West manager Paul Marshall after the game:
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Your Burton Road Brewing Co Supporter of the Match was Luke and their Player of the Match was Tom Murray.
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Browse through our wonderful match galleries, from club photographers:
Nathan Ashmall, Chris Michell, Jack Todd and Christina Bowett.
