Monday 26th August 2024
NWCFL Premier Division
Matchday 5
West 2
Matthews 5
Wharton 90+5
Litherland REMYCA 2
Hammill 50, 55(p)
Attendance: 1,001
West line-up:
1 Martin, 2 Kenny, 3 Sutton, 4 Moore (c), 5 Cole, 6 Rowney (17 Jones 73), 7 Darkwah (12 Billingsley 59), 8 Murray (14 Whiteoak 73), 9 Abadaki, 10 Holt (16 Wharton 59), 11 Matthews (15 Lazenbury 75).
On Bank Holiday Monday a crowd of 1,001 turned out at Brookburn Road to watch West rescue a 2-2 draw against bottom-side Litherland REMYCA.
For the third consecutive home game, West enjoyed a perfect start and managed to take the lead inside five minutes. That goal came when Billy Matthews drove a low shot underneath the REMYCA ‘keeper at his near post and put West in control against a side who had lost their last seven competitive fixtures. It was a familiar tale to previous weeks however as West couldn’t maintain their early intensity and found themselves limited to a series of half-chances for the rest of the half. That said, West did control the game well and, with the exception of one smart save from the feet of Ollie Martin, it was a comfortable albeit uneventful first half. West’s best chance to double their lead came courtesy of captain Jimmy Moore, but he couldn’t quite direct his header goalwards following an excellent Chris Rowney cross.
A 1-0 lead seemed like a fair result going into the break but, just as Burscough did on consecutive Saturdays earlier in the month, the visitors caught West cold after the restart and they found themselves level within five minutes. It was top-scorer James Hammill who got the equaliser for REMYCA, and he did so in style by curling a 30-yard shot into the top corner and well beyond the reach of Martin in the West goal. That equaliser seemed to expose a familiar fragility in the West side and the momentum quickly shifted towards the visitors. They began to attack with confidence and there seemed a sense of inevitability about what came next, as Hammill put REMYCA ahead from the penalty spot five minutes later to give West an unexpectedly difficult hill to climb.
As it was, West struggled to recover from this setback and, other than two passionate penalty appeals, there was very little for the packed Shed end to get excited about. That was until the fourth minute of stoppage time when the returning Jordan Lazenbury picked up a ball on the left hand side and whipped a cross towards Ben Wharton, who made no mistake as he powered his header past the REMYCA keeper to rescue a point for West and open his account for the club. The full-time whistle followed shortly after and, despite the excitement of the stoppage time equaliser, there was no doubt tthat it was two points dropped against opponents who were beaten 4-0 by lower league opposition in the FA Vase two days earlier. The result leaves West in 16th, but attention now turns back to the FA Cup journey and the visit of Silsden AFC on Saturday.
Listen to Paul Marshall's post-match thoughts here:
Your Burton Road Brewing Co Supporter of the Match was Emma and her Player of the Match was Tom Murray.
Bank Holiday and midweek results
NWCFL Premier Division
Monday 26th August 2024
Abbey Hey 1-2 Barnoldswick Town
AFC Liverpool 3-0 Irlam
Burscough 2-2 Padiham
Bury 3-0 Cheadle Town
Glossop North End 0-2 Charnock Richard
Longridge Town 1-2 Chadderton
Lower Breck 3-0 Squires Gate
Pilkington 1-1 Colne
Stockport Town 2-1 FC Isle of Man (1pm)
Tuesday 27th August 2024
FC St Helens 4-2 Prestwich Heys
Ramsbottom United 4-0 South Liverpool
Photographers: Nathan Ashmall and Chris Michell
