A great season for the U13 West ended on a slightly low note as they were knocked out of the Spring Plate Cup against Hemel Comets. The game started fairly evenly though, with a heavy pitch making good passing difficult for both sides, but opportunities soon arrived at both ends as Jamie Heaffey ran onto a good though ball but was just beaten to it by the keeper, while Martin Robinson in goal tipped a good Comets shot wide. Soon after, Jamie had another great run and finish, but the goal was ruled out for a handball offence.

The opening goal however, was scored by Comets from the spot after a dubious penalty was given with the offending tackle taking place a fraction outside the area. West didn’t let their heads drop though as firstly a good move from Matt Peckham to Scott Howlett resulted in a shot from Tom Weaver that was saved, then from a corner Ross Whinnett’s header went just over the bar. The first half ended with West the single goal down, but opportunities had been limited in a pretty scrappy first period.

Early in the second half a failure to clear the ball from their area saw West concede again, which was added to only a minute later to see Comets leading 3-0, but the boys continued to press forward, and under pressure from Chris Welch in his own area a Comet player put the ball in his own net. A further chance to reduce the deficit soon arrived as a great cross on the right was headed strongly by Ross, but it went just wide. Comets however, scored again to lead 4-1 before good work between Ross and Jamie again produced a scoring chance, but the shot went just over the bar.

Soon after Comets grabbed a fifth from a corner, but West still had one or two opportunities to score, the best of which would have been as a result of the Comets keeper rushing out of his area to clear the ball, however it fell to George Figg who was just inside the Comets half. With the Comets keeper still outside his area George hit a beautiful lobbed shot towards the empty goal, but unfortunately it went just wide.
 

The match ended with Comets winning 5-1, and this was probably fair as West had not passed the ball well throughout the game, while Comets also seemed to be first to every loose ball, and used their strength more effectively. In this last match of the season West did create a few opportunities to make the score line a little closer, but none of them were really clear cut, however, over the course of the full season the boys should be very proud of the achievements and improvements they have made.