Saturday 21 December 2024
NWCFL Premier Division
Matchday 26
South Liverpool 0
West Didsbury & Chorlton 2
Lazenbury 43, 88
Attendance: 142
West line-up:
1 Martin, 2 Kenny, 3 McConnell, 4 Moore (c), 5 Riley, 6 Rowney (17 Dass 78), 7 Banister (14 Matthews 63), 8 Murray, 9 Abadaki (16 Briggs 63), 10 Lazenbury, 11 Billingsley (15 Hughes 78). Not used: 12 Jones.
__________________________________________
Jordan Lazenbury scored at the end of each half to earn an important win on the road, completing a double over South Liverpool in a game West controlled from start to finish and should've won by a bigger margin.
Paul Marshall had the luxury of naming an unchanged starting line-up for the first time this season, though there was rotation on the bench as Andy Briggs and Connor Hughes, who were cup-tied last week, took their place alongside Billy Matthews and Reuben Dass. It was also great to welcome Adam Jones back to the matchday squad after two months out.
The conditions were bleak and blustery throughout, and at times the wind threatened to have a real influence on the outcome.
West had a monopoly on attacks in the early stages of the game and had already seen a couple of half-chances blocked before Victor Abadaki was upended by South keeper Lucas Allan on 18 minutes to give Jordan Lazenbury the chance to open the scoring from the penalty spot. However, Allan guessed correctly and saved West top scorer's spot-kick at full stretch.
Jack Banister, Chris Rowney and Lewis Billingsley all saw efforts smothered and scrambled away as West kept pushing for an opener. Allan was to thwart West again just after the half-hour, tipping Abadaki's shot from the edge of the box onto the post and away for one of a seemingly endless series of West corners.
The breakthrough finally arrived two minutes before the break, Lazenbury making amends for his earlier miss by firing a powerful and wickedly swerving shot past Allan, who did well to get anything on it but his efforts weren't enough and West took the lead to the dressing rooms.
South offered semi-constant threat on the counter and with the deficit only at one, West were unable to relax. A high cross caught by the swirling wind almost embarrassed the West defence but a combination of Ollie Martin and the crossbar kept the ball out.
Otherwise the second half was a curious repeat of the first - plenty of West possession and territory, but the second goal remained elusive. It was quite unerring; a West penalty 18 minutes into the half, saved to the keeper's left - this time substitute Briggs denied with his first touch after coming on - relief finally presenting itself with a clinical Jordan Lazenbury finish two minutes before the end.
These goals were Lazenbury's 19th and 20th in a West shirt - the fastest any player has reached this mark in our NWCFL history - and the first to do so before Christmas.
Thank you to all the West supporters who made the journey to the Mersey and good luck to South Liverpool with the rest of your season.
We now look forward to our Boxing Day home fixture against Cheadle Town, which is 1:30pm kickoff. Don't forget to buy your tickets for the Bury game!
__________________________________________
Today’s @burtonrdbrewing Supporter of the Match is Mick and he chose Jordan Lazenbury as Player of the Match.
[image or embed]
— West Didsbury & Chorlton (@wdcfc.bsky.social) December 21, 2024 at 5:53 PM
__________________________________________
We spoke to West manager Paul Marshall after the match:
__________________________________________
Browse through our wonderful match galleries, from club photographers:
Nathan Ashmall, Chris Michell, Jack Todd and Christina Bowett.
