Saturday 19th March 2022, NWCFL First Division South

Maine Road 1 (Lewys 32)
West 3 (Elliott 1, Heathcote 9, pen 60)
Att: 932

West took a significant step towards the First Division South title with an accomplished derby win at Maine Road.

Ben Elliott and Sam Heathcote scored inside the opening ten minutes as West made a blistering start, and though Shaquille Lewys reduced the deficit before the break, Heathcote’s second-half penalty sealed a first league win at Brantingham Road since April 2017.

Barely 40 seconds had elapsed when Elliott rifled West into the lead following good work from Billy Matthews, and the visitors took an iron grip of proceedings when Heathcote’s free-kick evaded the grasp of Road keeper Peter Monteith.

But the home side, who came into the game on the back of a nine-game unbeaten run, began to assert themselves and after Andrew Jones had blocked a low shot, Lewys swivelled on the rebound to halve West’s lead.

Chris Rowley’s side shrugged off the setback and dominated the second period, with any jangling nerves in the away support settled when Heathcote dispatched his 30th goal of the season on the hour. Monteith was penalised for clattering into Elliott inside the area, and the West captain buried the spot-kick into the bottom corner.

Elliott and Dontai Gabidon had chances for a fourth as West finished strongly, and Chris Rowley’s side are now just three points away from a return to the NWCFL Premier Division.

West: A. Jones, Cook, Westall, Delaney, Vayro, Heathcote, Matthews, Taylor, Elliott, Swift, Gabidon. Not used: Dibble, Hancock, Ryan.

Eckersley’s Plumbers & Locksmiths Player of the Match: Laurence Taylor.

Chris Rowley reaction