West began this Spring Plate Cup game badly, as after only a minute an Eagles player took advantage of an unlucky deflection off a West defender from a cross to open the scoring. Although trailing a team in the division above them, the boys didn’t let the early goal concern them and they soon got into their stride and forced a number of chances, the best of which fell to Jamie Heaffey whose shot went just wide. A greater percentage of possession then saw West force a succession of corners, and from a rebounded Ryan Rickard strike Charlie Craigen’s strong shot brought the equalizer. Only a minute later the boys took the lead as Matt Peckham fed Jamie with a good ball, and his long run down the wing was finished with a shot under the keeper to make it 2-1.

West’s growing confidence brought the best out of the midfield, with Tom Weaver, Chris Welch, Ryan R and Matt dominating, and further goals arrived from Jamie, who finished well after good work from Ross Whinnett, who then got on the score sheet himself with Chris getting the assist. Soon after it was Chris’s turn to score as he battled well to win the ball in the Eagles area and shoot to make it 5-1.

As half time approached, and after a few West position changes, the Eagles team did start to put a bit of pressure on, with one shot hitting the post, however Ryan Maher, Stuart Cole, Joe Murtagh and Charlie C were coping well and limiting the Eagles to few scoring opportunities, and the half ended with the score 5-1.

After the break West took a while to get
going, however Eagles created few clear
openings and Martin Robinson in goal hardly touched the ball despite more of the play being in the West’s half. Midway through the half following a reshape, West began to raise their game again and soon added to the score line as a great move on the right saw Carl Biggs play a good pass to Joe whose excellent cross was met by Tom who made it 6-1. Soon after, Jamie had a good run onto goal but knocked the ball a bit to close to the keeper who managed to parry it away, however Carl got to the loose ball first and scored comfortably to make the final
score 7-1 in West’s favour.

This was a great battling performance against a team in the division above them. Their passing was good, and the 1-2’s practiced in training certainly paid off. If anything the score line didn’t tell the whole truth as they could have got into double figures if they had received a little bit of luck from the half chances that came their way as several opportunities went either just over or wide. They now need to repeat this against a Comet side, who are also in the division above them, if they are to make the Spring Plate Cup Final.