Monday 27th December 2021, NWCFL First Division South

West 5 (Delaney 21, 47, Gabidon 33, Elliott 49, Davis 55)
Cammell Laird 1907 0
Att: 742

West put on a show to hit five goals past Cammell Laird for the second time this season, and register a timely three points.

Boss Chris Rowley was absent, with his assistant Chris Adams taking the reins for the third time this season. But the West players showed no adverse effects from the festive period, tearing into the visitors and scoring five on the sixth occasion so far this campaign.

The home side were in the unfamiliar position of not having won in over a month, with last weekend’s reverse at Ellesmere Rangers ending their unbeaten start to the season. They were eager to set the record straight and created clear chances early on – Ben Elliott steered Matthew Cook’s cross the wrong side of the near post following good work from Ezeikel Eme, and Dontai Gabidon shot wide after jinking his way off the left wing.

The opening goal arrived just after the 20-minute mark and was worth waiting for – after a loose ball found its way to the edge of the visitors’ box, Liam Delaney controlled it with his chest before lashing a thunderous half-volley into the top corner of the net.

Delaney was then narrowly off-target following another good Eme-Cook interchange, but Gabidon did double West’s lead before the break. Rhain Davis was the architect, finding Gabidon with a slide-rule pass, and the West winger rounded Laird keeper Nathan Davidson before coolly finding the net.

If the half-time whistle provided some respite for the visitors, it only lasted for the 15-minute interval as West ran away with the game within ten minutes of the restart. Two minutes into the second period, Delaney helped himself to his second of the afternoon – and an 11th of a productive season – when he nodded home Davis’ corner at the far post.

The typically-industrious Elliott then claimed a deserved goal a further two minutes later – pressure from Gabidon forced Davidson into a miskick, latched onto by Cook. The right-back resisted the temptation to shoot and instead played in Elliott, who prodded the ball home.

Elliott turned provider as West racked up a fifth after 55 minutes, racing down the right wing and steadying himself before putting a chance on a plate for the arriving Davis.

With 35 minutes still to play, thoughts drifted towards a potential addition of brackets to the scoreline but the visitors managed to stave off further punishment. Elliott, Gabidon and Cook all had chances for a sixth, and Liam Delaney was inches away from a hat-trick when his header nestled in the side netting. But the West supporters had to be content with just the five, as their side end 2021 three points clear at the top of the First Division South.

West: A. Jones, Cook, Hancock (Westall 79), Delaney, Dibble, Heathcote, Eme (Cain 58), Gavin, Elliott, Davis, Gabidon (Grewal 71). Not used: C. Jones, Swift.

Eckersley’s Plumbers & Locksmiths Player of the Match: Liam Delaney.

Chris Adams post-match reaction