Saturday 21st September 2024
NWCFL Premier Division
Matchday 9
West Didsbury & Chorlton 2
Murray 27
Matthews 86
FC Isle of Man 1
Cornish 48
Attendance: 852
West line-up:
1 Martin, 2 Kenny, 3 Sutton, 4 Moore (c), 5 Jones, 6 Hughes (15 Holt 64), 7 Rowney (14 Whiteoak 64), 8 Murray (16 Wharton 81), 9 Abadaki (12 Grimshaw 89), 10 Lazenbury, 11 Matthews. Not used: 17 Riley
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West picked up a third league win on the bounce as a late Billy Matthews goal sealed all three points against FC Isle of Man.
Kick off against the Ravens was delayed by ten minutes due to the visitors being held up on their ferry crossing to the mainland but, when the match did get underway, West started in typically bullish fashion. Only 90 seconds were on the clock when Victor Abadaki was played through on goal, before being hauled down inside the area by the opposing keeper Wilkinson. That gave Jordan Lazenbury a golden opportunity to give West an early lead from the spot, but his penalty hit both goalposts and agonisingly bounced away.
West were undeterred by this setback and continued to push for an opening goal, with Max Sutton hitting the crossbar just two minutes later. The opening goal did eventually come shortly before the half-hour mark, albeit it was scored in extremely fortuitous circumstances. Tom Murray was the goalscorer but he will count himself lucky as his tame long-range effort squirmed through Wilkinson's hands to put West in front.
That lead was held until the break but, within three minutes of the restart, Isle of Man were level courtesy of an excellent Jack McVey freekick that curled around the wall and gave Ollie Martin no chance in the West goal.
With the game in the balance, both sides had their chances and the visitors probably thought that they'd managed to steal the points with five minutes remaining. That chance fell to Ste Whitley after a freekick was whipped in from the left. It looked as though Whitley had successfully diverted the ball goalwards, but Martin produced a spectacular reflex save to somehow keep West in the contest.
That reprieve from Martin ignited something in West and, when the resulting corner was cleared upfield to Ben Wharton on the half-way line, the opening was there for West to exploit. Wharton played an inch-perfect ball on the turn through to Billy Matthews, who controlled the ball sublimely before slotting the ball to score the goal that put West firmly in control.
With four minutes of normal time remaining, that should have been enough for West. In the end it was, but only thanks to another wondersave from Ollie Martin in stoppage time. It looked as though the Ravens had drawn level from the edge of the box when another Whitley effort flew towards the top-corner of the goal, but it was thankfully met by the by the fingertips of an outstretched Martin to deny a certain equaliser.
The final whistle sealed West's third consecutive league win, lifting them up to 16th before a first-ever visit to FC St Helens in midweek.
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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 Dylan and his Player of the Match was Billy Matthews.
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Browse through our wonderful match galleries, from club photographers:
Nathan Ashmall, Chris Michell, Jack Todd and Christina Bowett.
