1st Team news

Westfields in a six goal thriller

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Westfields extended their unbeaten league and cup games run to six matches under new manager John Layton, when they drew 3-3 with title contenders Boldmere St Michael at allpay.park on Saturday, to earn a point in a thrilling end to end MFA League game.

Westfields should have taken all 3 points as they lead 3-1 with 70 minutes gone but individual mistakes lead to the visitors clawing their way back into the game and rescuing a point in a match that provided plenty of excitement.

Westfields first chance fell to leading goalscorer Mark Davis who rose superbly at the far post to meet a Cory Hyde cross but the strikers powerful header flashed over the crossbar. However, Westfields took the lead in the 16th minute when Jamie Edwards collected the ball in midfield, raced past 2 visiting defenders and unleashed a tremendous left foot drive which flew into the top left hand corner of the net. In an end to end opening period the visitors hit back to equalise and Mark Mason was put clear to beat the advancing Jon Pugh to cooly slot home the equaliser in the 28th minute.

Westfields however pressed hard with Ashley Day and Mark Hibbard impressive in midfield and Westfields regained the lead in the 44th minute when Gareth Thomas put Jamie Edwards free on the left flank and he beat his fullback and put over a pin point cross and Mark Davis raced in to slam the ball home from six yards to give Westfields a 2-1 interval lead.

After the break the tempo continued with both sides playing good open soccer and Westfields extended their lead when from a left wing corner the ball fell nicely for Jamie Edwards who tucked the ball away from six yards at the far post in the 63rd minute.

The game should have been over a few minutes later when substitute Shaun Prince put over a great cross and Paul Allams near post effort was scrambled off the goal line by a Boldmere defender.

Boldmere were back in the game in the 70th minute when the Westfields keeper dropped a right wing cross and Jason Holmes scrambled the ball home at the far post for a gift of a goal. Westfields then had to defend well as the Boldmere side came in search of an equaliser and it came when Westfields failed to defend a corner and Aaron Hamilton had the easy task of tucking the ball from six yards for an equaliser.

Both sides maintained their attacking flair in search of a dramatic late winner but both defences remained firm in the last 10 minutes to ensure the points were shared.