West made it six wins in a row as they came from a goal down to defeat Winsford United on a warm afternoon at the Barton Stadium.
West Manager Steve Settle, having rested several players in the mid-week win at home to Nelson, restored Tom Bailey, Declan Rydings, Ben Steer and Matty Kay. Mid-week match winner Daryl Weston kept his place in the starting line-up as Mark Rogers returned to the squad. There was also a place on the bench for Jordan Poole for the first time this season; albeit at the expense of Sam Parr who twisted his knee in the warm up dashing his hopes of making an appearance against his former club.
West should have been ahead from the kick off when Ben Steer down the wing from the kick off, his low cross just evaded Bailey but fell to Declan Rydings who forced a sensational block on the line from the Winsford goalkeeper Green.
The save was even more significant two minutes later when Winsford went down the other end and a low shot found its way to the feet of Dave Short who turned the ball home from close range under the body of Aaron Ashley. Sadly, for the former West player Short would be forced into an early substitution following what looked to have been a scratched cornea.
There was little goalmouth action in the first half with Steer’s long throws representing the visitors biggest goal threat whilst Bailey would test the Winsford goalkeeper from long range.
However, West would reach the half level as their best move of the opening 45 minutes saw Josh Tinker burst down the right and his cross was headed home at the far post by Steer.
The goal lifted West who started the second half much brighter and almost lead on 52 minutes when substitute Carlos Mendes Gomes released Steer down the right with a terrific pass with the low cross finding Kay in penalty area but he fired his effort just over.
Two minutes later West were ahead as Steer’s throw in found Rydings inside the penalty area and the West forward did terrifically to turn the ball home with outside of his out stretched boot.
The goal galvanised West as Rydings went close again cutting inside and forcing a good save from the Winsford goalkeeper on the hour mark. West continued to create chances as Kay forced the Winsford goalkeeper into a terrific save after another good pass from Steer on 73 minutes. On 76 minutes Steer went close again as he headed into the hands of Green after a whipped in cross from Mendes Gomes.
The points were made safe in stoppage time as Steer played in Kay who selflessly found Bailey who drilled home for his 16th goal of the season to hand West all three points.
