1st Team news

Rocester 1 - Westfields 1

MATCH REPORT - Saturday, November 28, 2009

Rocester 1 - Shane Reaney 25
Westfields 1 - Phil Glover 52

Attendance 97

Westfields: Pugh, Harrison, Casey, Mussell, Sparey, Moon, Day, Hibbard, Addis (D), Addis (J), Glover.
Subs: MacCauley, Hunt, Evans, Lynch.

WESTFIELDS’ DEFENCE STAR WITH AWAY POINT

Westfields maintained their improved MFA league form with a deserved away point at Rocester.  Westfields made the 200 mile round trip to North Staffordshire and came home with a precious point to keep them 8th in the league table but it was their skipper and keeper Jon Pugh and his back four of Sam Harrison, Lee Mussell, Tom Sparey and Paul Casey who took the honours with a superb second-half display against a rampant Rocester team who hit the post and crossbar plus forced Pugh to make 3 brilliant saves to deny Rocester the 3 points.

Westfields opened up well and Daryl Addis tucked away an early chance from a Paul Casey cross but was ruled “off side”, then both Mark Hibbard and Phil Glover tested the Rocester keeper Richard Froggatt without being able to open the scoring.

Westfields were then caught with a counter attack in the 25th minute when from a free flowing Westfields’ attack Paul Casey’s cross was cut out by keeper Richard Froggatt whose long clearance was latched onto by Shane Reaney who side-stepped Tom Sparey and went on to beat Jon Pugh for a fine solo goal to put the home side ahead.

Westfields were trying hard to get behind the home defence but both Jamie Addis and Mark Hibbard saw their crosses cleared by the home defenders.

After the break, Rocester attacked well and Reaney was foiled by Jon Pugh who held onto a stinging drive before Westfields drew level in the 52nd minute when full-back Sam Harrison went on a long run deep into the Rocester half only to be brought down 20 yards out from goal and Westfields were awarded a direct free-kick which Phil Glover smashed low into the bottom corner of the Rocester net for an equaliser.

This goal signalled Westfields to go forward and manager Sean Edwards sent on teenager Jaron MacCauley in place of the injured Ashley Day but this saw Rocester step up their game and Pugh was beaten when James Curley rattled the Westfields’ post from 18 yards and Paul Casey cleared up field then on the 75th minute the woodwork again saved Westfields when a Shane Reaney header came back off the crossbar as Rocester went all out for the winner.

Then in the 80th minute Rocester looked like snatching the winner when a fine cross from the Rocester winger James Curley was met by Reaney but Pugh saved bravely at the striker’s feet then Sam Harrison cleared off the Westfields’ goal line as Rocester came right back at Westfields.

Westfields then had a late chance to win the game when they forced a late free-kick but Glover’s free-kick just cleared the Rocester crossbar as both sides were happy with a point on a strength-sapping heavy pitch when Westfields’ defence took the honours with a fine away 1-1 draw.