1st Team news

Westfields earn replay in Vase

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Westfields drew 2-2 away at Shawbury United in a pulsating FA Vase 2nd round tie to earn a replay at allpay.park on Tuesday evening. Neither side could find a match winning goal despite extra time in an exciting end to end game.

Westfields started at a cracking pace and James Upcott had a great chance in the 2nd minute when he burst through and shot narrowly wide of the post.

Westfields’ opening goal came in the 15th minute when Mark Hibbard was brought down 20 yards out and Garath Thomas blasted the ball home off the Shawbury wall to put Westfields ahead.

Shawbury came back and Jon Pugh made 2 incredible saves in quick succession first palming away a Chris Henry shot then reacting brilliantly to deny Simeon Lee who followed up to slam home but Pugh made another impressive save.

In an end to end game Shawbury equalised when the Westfields defence got in a tangle and Chris Henry had a simple chance to level the scores on the half hour. Westfields then had 2 chances to regain the lead when leading goal scorer Mark Davis put in a powerful header then a low drive both of which were well save by Steve Jones in the Shawbury goal.

After the break Shawbury took the lead when Jones collected a long free kick from Scott Jackson and cleared the ball to Simeon Lee who got clear of the Westfields defence to beat the advancing Jon Pugh to put the West Midland League side in front for the first time in the game.

Westfields kept battling away and deservedly drew level on the hour when Jones in the Shawbury goal dropped a harmless Paul Allam cross and James Upcott was on hand to tap the ball over the line to put the scores level at 2-2.

In torrential rain defences remained on top, although in the dying minutes of the game Mark Davis got free but his chip shot was saved by Jones as the game then went into extra time.

Westfields had the early chances when Upcott fired wide after Mark Davis and Jamie Cuss had made the opening then Jon Pugh saved well from Simeon Lee as both sides went all out for the winner.

Both sides gave pulsatng performances and Upcott nearly snatched the match winner for Westfields when he hit a volley just wide of the post in the first period of extra time.

After the interval in extra time both defences did well with Scott Jackson and Garath Thomas in outstanding form at the heart of the Westfields defence as a replay will now be needed on Tuesday night at allpay.park.