Wednesday 21st September 2022, Lancashire Challenge Trophy First Round

Garstang 2 (Quigley 7, Kelly 51)
West 3 (Delaney 46, Swift 53, Lewens 64)
Att: 117

West saw off Garstang by the odd goal in five to progress to the Second Round of the Lancashire Challenge Trophy.

The visitors were only ahead for 26 minutes against the NWCFL First Division North hosts, but they proved to be the decisive minutes as Max Lewens' smart finish settled matters.

Last year's Challenge Trophy finalists were distinctly second-best in the opening period, and went into the break behind following Aaron Quigley's 7th-minute opener. The home side could have been further in front at the interval but were denied by a combination of Andrew Jones and some wayward finishing.

West, and the game in general, came to life at the start of the second half and the teams traded three goals in eight minutes immediately following the restart. The visiting supporters were barely in position when Liam Delaney's low free kick deceived the wall and home keeper Will Kitchen, but Rory Kelly's left-footed drive restored Garstang's lead five minutes later.

Barely 90 seconds after that, and West were level again - Joel Swift muscled his way through the Garstang defence and finished underneath the onrushing goalkeeper.

West finally begin to seize the momentum and a third goal looked increasingly likely. It arrived when Jack Ryan's through ball was perfectly judged to meet Lewens' run, and the winger clipped the ball over the Kitchen's dive and into the far corner of the net.

Lewens forced a smart save from an almost identical situation late on as West looked to make the game safe, but his first goal in West colours was enough to secure progression.

West: A. Jones, Hancock, Graham, Delaney, Vayro, Cook, Iacovou (Miller 65 (McKnight 79)), Gavin, Swift, Ryan (Elliott 65), Lewens. Not used: Foulds, Taylor.

Eckersley's Plumbers & Locksmiths Player of the Match: Max Lewens.

What it means

We move into the Lancashire Challenge Trophy Second Round, as we look to emulate last season's run to the final. The Second Round draw will be made shortly after the final game of the First Round - scheduled to be AFC Fylde v Chorley on Tuesday 11th October.

What's next

We switch focus to another knockout competition, as we welcome Nostell Miners Welfare to Brookburn Road in the FA Vase Second Qualifying Round (Saturday 24th September, 3pm).