Despite a mist enveloping the ground and refusing to budge all day, we still managed to get our first home game since November underway.
This was the Argyle Sports Cup match originally due to take place last weekend but thankfully the pitch had recovered to a “soft in places, but playable” state, and it was game on.
Jami had the first chance of the game after only a minute, but her right footed shot was easy for the keeper. Unfortunately for Jami, her game was over after just 8 minutes, a muscular problem meaning she had to be replaced by Woodsy.
It’s fair to say that Woodsy went on to have an eventful game.
West built on a positive start and a fantastic move, started by Woodsy as she got to a loose ball first and found Rach Dunlop who in turn played a superb ball to Sophie Bracegirdle, the ball eventually finding its way to Woodsy who had continued her run into the box. Her effort from 2 yards out was placed spectacularly wide into the car park behind the shed end.
On 18 minutes we had the ball in the net for the first time. Great link up play between Frisby and Rach who fires the ball towards goal. Woodsy taps in……and the flag is up immediately for offside.
It wasn’t long before we took the lead though. A short clearance by the Morecambe keeper was intercepted by Meg Clarkson who ran into the area and drilled a left foot shot across the keeper and in off the post. 1-0.
Kath Jones was on the end of another fine move a couple of minutes later, her shot clipping a defender and looping into the keeper’s hands.
On 26 minutes, Rach Dunlop had a good run through the visitors’ defence and fired past the keeper from the edge of the area. 2-0.
West continued to dominate possession but were struggling to create enough chances to reflect their domination.
A case in point on 38 minutes With another disallowed goal. Rach’s shot hit the post, the deflection finding Woodsy who taps into the net……but she’s offside. Groundhog Goal.
We did increase our lead on 41 minutes, Rach getting on the end of a Caddy free-kick to make it 3-0, and just before half-time, the score took on a more realistic look when Rach completed her hat-trick with a powerful run and finish into the roof of the net.
H-T West lead 4-0.
West started the second half on the front foot, scoring immediately from the kick-off. Sophie tapping in from a Rach cross. 5-0.
On 54 minutes Rach was rewarded with a well earned rest, Paige Chalmers coming on, taking up her position on the right wing and Sophie moving up front.
Morecambe looked a little more resolute following that early goal and it was some time before West carved out another chance. On 68 minutes, Sophie put in a great cross, but Woodsy couldn’t get on the end of it. It’s worth mentioning here that whilst Woodsy hadn’t had much luck, she had absolutely worked her socks off since replacing Jami, and deserved more!
On 72 minutes Frisby had a dig from 20 yards, just wide. She tried again on 79 minutes, getting on the end of a low free kick, but seeing her effort turned wide with the subsequent corner coming to nothing.
On 83 minutes, an absolutely cock-a-hoop Katy Wilman came on. Beset with the lurgy she’s a martyr to her chest when there’s fog in th’air.
Five minutes later Sophie was on the scoresheet again, linking up brilliantly with Woodsy and finishing at the second attempt. 6-0.
On 89 minutes, Woodsy’s match was summed up perfectly. A cross from the right hitting the back of her head, and dropping perfectly for Sophie to complete her hat-trick from 1 yard, Woodsy face down in the mud.
That was the final action, West running out comfortable 7-0 winners and looking forward to an away trip to near neighbours Manchester Stingers in the next round.
Team: Fish (GK), Dolan, Clarkson, Caddick (Wilman 83′), Mason, Bracegirdle, Kerr, Frisby, Jones, Hodges (Woods 8′), Dunlop (Chalmers 54′)
Goalscorers: Dunlop (3), Bracegirdle (3), Clarkson (1), Woods (0 – but deserved so much more)
Attendance: 40
