Monday July 10th - Pre-Season Friendly - Rochdale EDS 1 West 4

A Monday night trip to Hyde United's Ewen Fields ground was next up for West, against a youthful side from Rochdale's Elite Development Squad.

West again handed starting berths to three trialists, but the remainder of the team was much changed from Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Warrington Rylands.

It didn't take long for either side to settle, with the opening minutes containing attacks and counter attacks aplenty. West's 3-5-2 system was both creating and allowing lots of width.

The scoreline wasn't likely to remain 0-0 for long and Rochdale EDS duly landed the first blow, a close range finish after good work down the right. The winger got round the back of West's defensive line and rolled the ball across for the finish, with a couple of teammates queuing up.

The goal didn't change much, with Rochdale attacking wide and at speed whenever possible. West further grew into the game and had a couple of sights of goal before equalising just before the half hour. A corner from the right picked out KIRONGOZI who delivered a superb downward header into the net, beyond the attention of his markers and the goalkeeper.

West had a penalty shout turned down shortly before half-time, as Lewens dribbled into the box and went down under the centre-back's challenge. It looked a good case but the referee firmly rejected West's appeals and we went in at the break one-apiece.

A single substitution was made during the break, with Ben Hampson joining the game. 

With West now kicking towards the wonderfully named Tinker's Passage End, the best move of the match arrived within minutes. Taylor won the ball in midfield, sprayed the ball out to the right to Trialist, who sprinted beyond the full-back and delivered an appetising cross, giving SWIFT a simple finish.

Two minutes later, a carbon copy build-up on the right between Taylor and Trialist created a glimmer of an opening for Kirongozi, whose flicked backheel was probably the only way to score from the position he found himself in, but it instead went a yard wide of the back post.

As we approached the hour mark, West gave themselves a two-goal cushion with a sensational strike from distance. The TRIALIST unleashed a rising shot from 25 yards, beyond the keeper into the top corner and smashing down off the underside of the bar.

More familiar faces entered the fray to top up their allocation of pre-season minutes, with Cook, C. Jones, Eme + trialist replacing Lewens, Dickinson, Swift and Vayro.

With just over ten minutes remaining, West sealed the game and completed the scoring. This time it was Kirongozi who turned provider, sliding the ball through to TRIALIST who lifted the ball over the goalkeeper just inside the area.

Ryan and Hancock were the final replacements of the evening, stepping in for Taylor and Smyth for the closing stages. 

By now West were totally dominant, the game reduced to attack versus defence. Davis' screamer looked set to give West a fifth goal but the keeper matched the strike with a brilliant fingertip save over the top corner. The final score could have been greater but would also have been harsh on an impressive Rochdale EDS group.

Listen to Chris Rowley's post-match thoughts here.

West line-up: Luke Vayro, Matthew Smyth, Laurence Taylor, Sam Dickinson, Max Lewens, Rhain Davis, Jean-Jacques Kirongozi, Joel Swift + trialists

Subs used: Ben Hampson, Matty Cook, Zeke Eme, Callum Jones, Jack Ryan, Connor Hancock + trialists

Goals: Rochdale EDS 15 /// Kirongozi 27, Swift 53, Trialist 60, 78

Attendance: 73.

Picture by Si Cook. Click here for full match gallery

West's pre-season itinerary continues back home at The Step Places Stadium, Brookburn Road, against 1874 Northwich of the NPL Division One West on Saturday July 15th, 3pm kickoff.