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 · 16/12/2018
Saturday 15th December 2018, NWCFL Premier Division
Whitchurch Alport 0
West 2 (Coombes 12, Gavin 32)
Att: 105
David Powell’s reign as West manager got off to a perfect start with an accomplished win over Whitchurch Alport.
West cruised to a half-time lead through an excellent Jamie Coombes goal and an opportunistic strike from Lee Gavin, and soaked up Whitchurch pressure in the second half to ensure a first league victory since September.
New boss Powell only had two days and one training session to prepare for the visit to Yockings Park, but this was an extremely promising display in atrocious conditions. West pressed high to seize control of proceedings and were inventive in attack, rewarded with two goals inside the first 35 minutes. And they were resolute after the break to restrict an increasingly frustrated home side to half-chances, keeping only their second clean sheet of the campaign.
Powell handed a debut to veteran striker Cieran Kilheeney, and the former Droylsden and Ashton United hitman had a pivotal role in both goals. The first goal of the new era arrived after just 12 minutes – Joe Shaw emerged from midfield with the ball before finding Kilheeney, who held play up on the edge of the box. Coombes latched on to Kilheeney’s pass, and the Gilbraltar international expertly rolled the ball past Alport keeper David Parton to register his first goal in West colours.
The visitors continued to press and Ashley Leather, who was instrumental in West’s win over Alport at Brookburn Road in August, was again a constant menace. He forced Parton into a smart stop at his near post before Kilheeney saw his shot pawed away, but West did double their lead just after the half-hour. Kilheeney’s effort from outside the area looked to be trundling out for a goal kick, but the unmarked Gavin was alert at the far post and tucked the ball into the net.
Marcuss Burgess had little to do but had to be switched on to deny Alport with his legs as the first half drew to a conclusion, but West were good value for their commanding lead as the sides headed for the sanctuary of the dressing rooms. Alport spent much more of the second period in the West half, but the visitors were happy to invite pressure and look to kill the game on the counter-attack.
Alport’s top scorer Arron Johns had a series of shots blocked at source by the excellent Ryan Eiselt and Matt Eckersley, but in truth West looked more likely to add the game’s next goal. Leather remained a nuisance and had another shot saved by Parton before he was upended by Darren Campion as he looked to launch another West counter.
Kilheeney was superbly denied by Parton in the final few seconds, but West had long since done enough to seal a vital win ahead of the festive period.
West: Burgess, Sergeant, Pearson, Andrews, Eiselt, Eckersley, Leather, Gavin, Kilheeney, Shaw (Langford 85), Coombes (Woods 59). Not used: Potts, Botchey, Tsegaye.