Saturday 12th September 2020, pre-season friendly

West 1 (Heathcote 7)
Altrincham Reserves 0

An early Sam Heathcote goal was enough for West to see off Altrincham Reserves and chalk up another pre-season win.

Chris Rowley’s side, in their final warm-up match before hosting Bury AFC in the FA Vase next weekend, created numerous chances against the young Robins and spurned a second-half penalty, but ultimately had to settle for a second consecutive 1-0 win following the victory against Atherton LR seven days earlier.

West skipper Heathcote claimed the decisive goal inside the first ten minutes, combining with Rhain Davis before firing emphatically across the keeper and into the far corner. The impressive Davis had the ball in the net himself before the interval but was unfortunate to have celebrations cut short by the assistant’s flag.

After the break, Davis assumed responsibility from the spot after his jinking run was unceremoniously ended by an Altrincham defender. The Robins keeper guessed right, however, and pawed the ball away to keep the visitors in touch. But West never looked in danger of being pegged back and were able to secure a second consecutive clean sheet ahead of next weekend’s curtain-raiser.

West: Jones, Sheridan, Gabidon, Delaney, Clarke, Hancock, Leather, Tinker, Heathcote, Davis, Dale. Subs: Matthews, Dibble, Westall, Ryan, Swift, Elliott.