Saturday 31st August 2024
The Emirates FA Cup
First Qualifying Round
West Didsbury & Chorlton 4
Lescott 23
Rowney 26
Lazenbury 56
Abadaki 71
Silsden 2
Stewart 14
Price 58
Attendance: 958
West line-up:
1 Martin, 2 Jones, 3 Sutton, 4 Moore (c), 5 Cole, 6 Rowney, 7 Lescott (12 Billingsley 65), 8 Whiteoak, 9 Abadaki (14 Darkwah 80), 10 Lazenbury, 11 Matthews (16 Wharton 65). Not used: 15 Grimshaw, 17 McGonigle, 18 Kenny.
West booked a first-ever place in the FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round on Saturday afternoon after powering past Silsden. It was a glorious day for the club which began with Victor Abadaki signing his first contract in football, and he was one of four goalscorers who helped West make history at Brookburn Road.
West’s home form this season has been characterised by early goals, but it was Silsden who struck first when Casey Stewart diverted a mishit shot on 14 minutes. Stewart clearly enjoyed his celebrations in front of the Shed but his side’s lead was short-lived as it took West just seven minutes to draw level.
Donovan Lescott, impressing on his full debut for the club, played a smart one-two with Jordan Lazenbury before dropping his shoulder and drilling across the goal to open his West account. Only three minutes later West took the lead. Lazenbury involved once more, his cross causing confusion in the Silsden back line to allow Chris Rowney to head home - also his first West goal. After this frenetic period, the match settled down and West held the lead to the break.
A common theme of West’s showings at Brookburn Road this season has been a vulnerability just after half-time, but there was to be no repeat of that here. On 56 minutes, Lazenbury again made Silsden pay when he was allowed space and time to sensationally loop the ball inside the far post and beyond the outstretched keeper to put West 3-1 ahead. Silsden did ask the question, though, and out of nothing quickly reduced the deficit to 3-2 with just over half an hour to play.
A nervy quarter of an hour followed and the tie seemed to be in the balance. That was until Lazenbury received a ball over the top on the left wing with 20 minutes to go and, without even taking a touch, played a perfectly weighted cross into the path of Victor Abadaki, who delicately guided the ball past the Silsden keeper to put the game beyond doubt.
The Cobbydalers had nothing further to offer to that setback, and West professionally managed the final exchanges to book their place in the hat for Monday’s draw. Lazenbury’s wondergoal and hat-trick of assists saw him rightfully claim the Player of the Match award, and West fans will be confident that their league campaign can be reignited now that he and Abadaki are both back and firing.
The first chance for West to try and get some more points on the board will be on Tuesday night at home to Irlam but, for now, attention turns to Monday’s draw as the FA Cup journey continues.
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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 Jack and his Player of the Match was Jordan Lazenbury.
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Browse through our wonderful match galleries, from club photographers: Nathan Ashmall, Chris Michell, Jack Todd and Christina Bowett.
