Cookie Privacy Preferences
We utilize essential cookies to ensure our website operates effectively and remains secure. Additionally, we'd like to request your permission to use optional cookies. These are intended to enhance your browsing experience by offering personalized content, displaying advertisements that are relevant to you, and helping us to further refine our website.
Choose "Accept all cookies" to agree to the use of both essential and optional cookies. Alternatively, select "Let me see" to customize your preferences.
Privacy Preference Centre
Our website utilizes cookies to enhance your browsing experience and to present you with content tailored to your preferences on this device and browser. Below, you will find detailed information about the function of cookies, enabling you to make informed choices about which cookies you wish to accept. Please note that disabling certain cookies might impact your user experience on our site. It's important to remember that cookie preferences need to be set individually for each device and browser you use. Clearing your browser's cache may also remove your cookie settings. You have the freedom to modify your cookie preferences at any point in the future.
For a comprehensive understanding of our use of cookies, please refer to our complete cookies policy.
These cookies are needed for the website to work and for us to fulfil our contractual obligations. This means they can't be switched off. They enable essential functionality such as security, accessibility and live chat support. They also help us to detect and prevent fraud. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but it means some parts of the site won't work.
These cookies allow us to measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know how popular pages are, and to see how visitors move around the site. If you don't allow these cookies, we won't know when you've visited our site, and we won't be able to monitor its performance.
These cookies enable us to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we've added to our pages. If you don't allow these cookies, some or all of these services may not work properly.
These cookies collect information about your browsing habits to show you personalised adverts. They may be used to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They don't store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you don't allow these cookies, the adverts you see will be less relevant.
RECREATION GROUND | BROOKBURN ROAD | CHORLTON | M21 8FE
by Robert Lee · 11/09/2019
Tuesday 10th September 2019, NWCFL First Division South
West 5 (Steer 11, Middleton 38, Tinker 55, Cottee 78, 90+3)
Abbey Hulton United 0
Att: 241
Five-star West eased past Abbey Hulton United to consolidate their place in the First Division South top four.
Ben Steer, Chris Middleton and Josh Tinker all scored inside the first hour as West moved up to second, with James Cottee claiming a late brace to secure a biggest win of the season so far.
There was no FA Cup hangover as Brad Cooke’s side shrugged off the disappointment of last week’s exit to Stalybridge Celtic with a comprehensive win over an Abbey side that came to Brookburn Road in good form, but ultimately had no answer to a clinical West display.
West were missing a number of players who have played key roles so far this campaign, but this win – along with a fifth clean sheet in ten games – demonstrated the strenth of Cooke’s squad, typified by Steer, making his first start of the season. He seized his opportunity with an irrepressible performance and a trademark spectacular goal.
The match was only two minutes old when Steer burst through on goal and fired just wide under pressure from Abbey defenders, but another impressive midweek home crowd didn’t have to wait long for the opening goal. Steer took the ball onto his left foot from outside the area and sent a fierce drive across Abbey keeper Jacob Holding and into the top corner of the net.
Steer continued to torment the visitors, going close on two more occasions – most notably after latching onto Dylan Moloney’s raking pass, beating his marker and shooting just over the bar – but West’s lead remained narrow for much of the first period, despite an Abbey player spending ten minutes cooling off in the sin bin.
West had struggled to put opponents away in previous home games but any jangling nerves were settled seven minutes before the break, as Middleton helped himself to a second goal of the season. Steer’s corner was recycled by Tinker at the far post, and the unmarked West centre-back had the easiest of opportunities.
? Half-time highlights – here’s our second goal from @middychri5. https://t.co/3BzUHecRxY
— West Didsbury & Chorlton AFC ️️ (@WD_CFC) 10 September 2019
There was still time for Abbey’s big chance to pass by before the interval as a free header was turned wide at the far post, but that was the extent of the visitors’ attacking forays and West authoritatively put the game to bed in the second period.
Ten minutes after the restart, Josh Tinker added a third in almost surreal circumstances – the West midfielder motored onto a loose ball in midfield and drove forward with the Abbey defence seemingly refusing to close him down. The West supporters behind the goal can claim an assist as their pleas for a shot were eventually heeded by Tinker, and his effort was simply too powerful for Holding who could only palm the ball into the net.
Despite West’s dominance, centre-forward Cottee had been relatively quiet but the arch-poacher added his third and fourth goals of the season in the final minutes. First, he was on hand to gobble up the scraps after Holding had palmed a Tom Horner header into the air, and in the final minute of stoppage time he rounded off the scoring, beating the hapless Holding to an Andrew Jones long pass and nodding the ball into the net.
? …and the 5th, which ended the scoring and secured @cottee_james his brace https://t.co/Ks4xTBC6Xh
— West Didsbury & Chorlton AFC ️️ (@WD_CFC) 11 September 2019
West: A. Jones, Cook, Cooper, Tinker, Middleton, Horner, Grimshaw (C. Jones 69), Gavin, Cottee, Moloney (B. Woods 69), Steer (Dale 78).
West media man of the match: Ben Steer.
Reaction from the West media team, Brad Cooke and West supporter Xavi Heras.