Saturday July 29th \\\ NWCFL Premier Division \\\ Matchday 1
West Didsbury & Chorlton 3 - 0 Colne
McKnight 49, 60(p) Att: 687
Elliott 52
West Didsbury & Chorlton
1 A. Jones (c), 2 C. Jones, 3 Graham, 4 Schofield (12 Delaney 67), 5 Hampson (16 Smyth 85), 6 Foulds, 7 Billingsley (14 Grimshaw 73), 8 McKnight (15 Dickinson 80), 9 Elliott (17 Kirongozi 80), 10 Davis, 11 Matthews.
Colne
1 Goodwin, 2 Wallbank, 3 Lloyd, 4 Kardacz (12 Pickles 32), 5 Winstanley, 6 Devenney, 7 Tanou (15 Amarzou 62), 8 Doyle (c), 9 Forshaw, 10 Bolton, 11 Weaver (14 Da Costa 62). Not used: 17 Ahmed.
West's second-half blitz secured a deserved win over a Colne side playing NWCFL football for the first time in seven years.
Morning showers had greased the surface but their forecasted return never materialised and The Step Places Stadium instead bathed in warm sunshine, enjoyed by a club-record opening-day crowd of 687.
West haven't tasted defeat on the opening day of the season since 2018 and that record came under only momentary threat on a sunny afternoon in M21.
Tom Schofield and Lewis Billingsley made their West debuts in an otherwise familiar looking starting line-up, Callum Graham continuing at left-back in the absence of Tom Westall.
Colne's travelling fans were noticeable by colours and volume as West kicked off towards the clubhouse, as is now customary.
The early stages were open and both goalkeepers had their mitts on the ball before Colne came close to opening the scoring, Forshaw creating space in West's third before bending a shot onto the base of AJ's left-hand post from 20 yards.
West responded with similar efforts, both Matthews and Schofield trying their luck from outside the box but missing left and high respectively. Billingsley then jinked into the box on the right-hand byline, recovering a diagonal ball out to the wing and flashing a cross right along the corridor of uncertainty as defenders and attackers watched on.
Forshaw was Colne's central threat and his second attempt came from an almost identical location to his first, but this time placed the ball harmlessly over the bar.
At the midway point of the first half Billingsley crafted West's best moment so far, superbly wriggling into the box and pushing the ball across the face of goal but the ball was smothered under the feet of Matthews and Wallbank at the back post and cleared to safety. Moments later Colne had a dangerous sight of goal, with Weaver facing down AJ after being released by a through ball from Tanou in midfield, but the winger's shot was stifled and the only damage was a corner.
Colne were forced into a change just after the half-hour, a strong block tackle between Graham and Kardacz leaving the Reds midfielder down. An update has since revealed ligament and tendon damage to his right foot, but thankfully no broken bones. Best wishes to Mateusz from all at West. His place on the field was taken by Pickles.
The Reds, playing in yellow and navy, created the final chances of the half. Forshaw again causing problems but unable to get his shot on target and Pickles skipping past Hampson after the West #5 had been sold short by Billingsley's pass, but again AJ snuffed out the danger.
The half ended with a brief scare as Foulds stayed down after colliding with Colne keeper Goodwin, but he was back to his feet quickly. The referee Mr Owen took the teams back to the dressing rooms having matched each other in all departments.
The first action of the second half came on 49 minutes and saw Matthews close down Goodwin, taking the power off the keeper's clearance and allowing the ball to find McKNIGHT, who was fouled as he tried to capitalise. The Northern Irishman dusted himself down to take the free-kick, expertly threading the ball around the wall and beyond Goodwin's left hand.
Within two minutes West had doubled their advantage with a bizarre goal. Matthews, a constant menace down the left in the second half, beat Wallbank to a high ball and dribbled to the byline. Billingsley was in position waiting for the pull back but could only lift his shot onto the bar, however ELLIOTT jumped on the rebound to nod in at the second attempt amid a chaotic goalmouth after his first had itself been parried onto the bar.
The Shed was in raptures and order had barely been restored when a third goal arrived. Matthews, again entering the box from the left, went down prompting half-hearted appeals for a penalty but within seconds Elliott was tripped and West were awarded a spot-kick.
McKNIGHT stroked the ball home to Goodwin's right, sending the keeper the wrong way, and three goals in 11 minutes had completely transformed the game.
The Reds made a double change, Da Costa and Amarzou replacing Weaver and Tanou, but things soon went from bad to worse, with skipper Doyle shown a straight red card on 66 minutes in the next passage of play, seemingly for dissent.
As the game entered the final quarter West started to ring changes of their own, this being the first weekend where NWCFL clubs were able to make up to five substitutions. Schofield and Billingsley were swapped for Delaney and Grimshaw.
The two substitutes quickly combined for a lovely interchange on the right corner of the box, granting Delaney a tease of goal but his advancing run was closed down as he was about to pull the trigger, his follow through giving away a foul on the clearing defender.
Grimshaw was keen to impress on his second West debut, whistling a shot over from 18 yards as a fourth goal continued to be pursued.
Both goalscorers departed on 80 minutes, Kirongozi and Dickinson entering the field. In the next two attacks, Kirongozi had three opportunities to extend the lead but all managed to elude the #17. Firstly breaking into the box to fire over, secondly seeing a glancing header pushed around the post for a corner, and finally heading wide from close range.
The final change of the game saw Smyth relieve Hampson at the centre of West's backline as the game faded towards the full time whistle.
Both sides came into this game considering it to be something of an acid test; going home with three goals, three points and a clean sheet is a superb outcome.
Listen to Chris Rowley's post-match thoughts here, sponsored by Steve Eckersley.
Your Burton Road Brewing Co Supporter of the Match was Polly and her Player of the Match was Billy Matthews.
Pictures by Nathan Ashmall.
Full match gallery by Si Cook and Chris Michell available here.
NWCFL Premier Division classified results \\\ MD1
Saturday 29th July 2023
Bury 5-1 Glossop North End
Chadderton 3-0 Litherland REMYCA
Cheadle Town 0-1 Charnock Richard
FC Isle of Man 2-0 Wythenshawe Town
Kendal Town 1-0 AFC Liverpool
Longridge Town 2-2 Irlam
Lower Breck 1-1 Barnoldswick Town
Prestwich Heys 1-3 Burscough
Skelmersdale Utd 1-3 Padiham
Squires Gate 0-2 Pilkington
West Didsbury & Chorlton 3-0 Colne
Wythenshawe 4-0 Ramsbottom United
Next game \\\ Tuesday August 1st, Wythenshawe Town (A), NWCFL Premier Division, Matchday 2
