1st Team news

Newcastle Town 1 - Westfields 2

MATCH REPORT - Saturday, August 29, 2009

Newcastle Town 1 Johnson 60
Westfields       2 D.Addis 33, Hibbard 50 (pen)

Attendance 47

WESTFIELDS IN CUP GLORY
PUGH INSPIRES FA CUP VICTORY

Westfields progressed into the First Round Qualifying with a fine 2-1 away win over previously unbeaten Newcastle Town of the North-West Counties League on Saturday to earn another FA Cup scalp.

Westfields, who beat Bolehall Swifts in the Extra Preliminary Round 5-0, had to work much harder in this difficult away tie but Sean Edwards’ team produced a hard-working non-stop performance to earn a home tie with Southern League Midland Division side Sutton Coldfield Town on Saturday 12th September at allpay.park.

Westfields, themselves unbeaten, faced an in-form Newcastle Town team and in their very first attack Jon Pugh produced a flying save to hold a stinging 20 yard drive from Jordan Johnson when the Newcastle striker got free.  Then Pugh saved with his feet when Chris Budrys was through on goal and seemed certain to put the home side ahead.

In Westfields’ first attack the visitors had strong claims for a penalty turned down when a Paul Allam cross was handled by a Newcastle defender.

Pugh then saved brilliantly again from Newcastle danger man John Sheldon before Westfields snatched the lead in the 33rd minute when Sam Harrison put in a long throw-in on the right wing and the Westfields’ teenager put over a superb throw and Daryl Addis raced in to head home from 10 yards for the vital opening goal.

Westfields grew in confidence and ended the first half strong with Mark Hibbard and Jamie Addis both going close with good efforts.

After the break, Newcastle came back strongly and Chris Boast hit the Westfields’ post with a header before Westfields increased their lead in the 50th minute when danger man Paul Allam again chased a through ball from Harrison and he broke into the Newcastle penalty area only to be brought down and Westfields were awarded a penalty which Mark Hibbard tucked away to put Westfields 2-0 ahead.

However, Westfields’ lead was cut in the 60th minute when Newcastle Town pulled a goal back from the penalty spot when Mike Evans brought down Jordan Johnson and the Newcastle striker beat Jon Pugh from the resultant penalty kick to put the Staffordshire side right back in the Cup tie.

However, Westfields’ substitute Tom Harding almost increased the lead when he replaced Scott Devlin and saw his cracking drive brilliantly saved by the Newcastle keeper and then Mark Hibbard fired inches wide of the post when the ball fell nicely for him at the edge of the penalty area.

In the last 10 minutes Newcastle brought on 2 substitutes in a bid to get an equaliser and force a replay but again Jon Pugh made a brave save then saved with his feet from Johnson as Westfields withstood the last Newcastle pressure to earn a 2-1 away victory and another FA Cup success.