Tuesday 21 January 2025
NWCFL Premier Division
Matchday 30
West Didsbury & Chorlton 4
Lazenbury 10, 35
Abadaki 81, 84
Squires Gate 1
Harries 41
Attendance: 256
West line-up:
1 Martin, 2 Roberts, 3 Kenny, 4 Moore (c), 5 McConnell, 6 Rowney (12 Sutton, 82), 7 Dass (15 Banister, 61), 8 Murray, 9 Briggs (14 Billingsley, 80), 10 Lazenbury, 11 Matthews (16 Abadaki, 61). Not used: 17 Jones.
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West recorded a fifth consecutive league win on Tuesday night as they eased past an out-of-form Squires Gate. It was the first time that West had won five consecutive Premier Division matches since April 2017, and it was the perfect way to move past the weekend's FA Vase exit at North Shields.
Manager Paul Marshall made five changes from that starting XI as Billy Matthews, Reuben Dass and Andy Briggs came in to join Jordan Lazenbury in the West attack. At the other end of the pitch, Jimmy Moore and Harvey Roberts joined a makeshift back 4.
The sight of playmaker Harvey Roberts filling in at right-back was perhaps the most eyebrow-raising addition to the starting lineup, but he very nearly gave West the lead in the opening minutes. It came directly from a corner as Roberts' delivery sailed over the keeper and needed a stretching defender at the back post to deny what would have been a spectacular Olympico goal.
The opening exchanges continued at a quick tempo and both sides had opportunities to go in front. It was a familiar face who eventually broke the deadlock though, as Jordan Lazenbury gave West the lead in the 11th minute. It followed an excellent tackle by Andy Briggs to retain possession for West inside the centre circle, and Lazenbury then picked up the loose ball and ran at the Squires Gate back line before deftly stroking the ball beyond the outstretched 'keeper from 20 yards.
Lazenbury then doubled the lead from the penalty spot just after the half-hour mark. It was won by Billy Matthews, who ran down the left and drew a very late challenge from opposing full-back Scott Adamson. Lazenbury made no mistake from 12 yards, and the mood around the ground suggested that it would be a fairly relaxing evening ahead.
That goal only woke the visitors up however, and they enjoyed a good spell of pressure ahead of the half-time break. Ollie Martin made a point-blank save to cleverly deny Dean Ing as the interval approached, but Scott Harries went one better for Gate and reduced his side's deficit to a single goal.
West came out strongly after the restart. Jordan Lazenbury and Andy Briggs both hit the woodwork and drew a number of acrobatic saves from visiting goalkeeper Nathan Pennington, who was undoubtedly his side's player of the match. He continued to deny West that elusive third goal, and it looked for a second as though Squires Gate would make West pay for those spurned opportunities when they countered and wasted a golden opportunity with two players through on goal. West were spared by the visiting forwards seemingly having too long to apply the finish, and the home defence was able to recover and clear the danger.
West composed themselves following this scare, and finally made their pressure pay in the 81st minute. The goal came courtesy of second-half substitute Victor Abadaki. He tore down the left-hand side before taking aim at Pennington's goal, and his effort took a slight deflection to wrong-foot the 'keeper and restore West's two-goal advantage.
If there was any lingering doubt as to where the points were heading, Abadaki then completed his brace three minutes later. It came when Lazenbury was denied a hat-trick from close range but his strike partner picked up the ball, danced around two tired defenders, and stabbed the ball into the net to kill the game completely.
It was not a surprising result all things considered, and it was a 13th consecutive loss for the visitors. That said, the win was an important one for West following the heartache at North Shields, and it cemented the club's place in the division's top 5. West will look to build on that win when they host Abbey Hey on Saturday.
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We spoke to West manager Paul Marshall after the match:
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Browse through our wonderful match galleries, from club photographers:
Nathan Ashmall, Chris Michell, Jack Todd and Christina Bowett.
