Recap

Thornbury Town 1 – Pritchard

Westfields 1 – Muirhead

WESTFIELDS HELD UP AT THORNBURY

Westfields drew away at basement club Thornbury Town on Saturday in the Hellenic League Premier Division when the bottom-of-the-league club gave a spirited display and kept Westfields at bay despite an attacking second-half performance by Westfields.

Mackenzie Welsh in the Thornbury Town goal was in inspired form and made 2 breath-taking saves towards the end of the game to keep out Westfields’ winners, when it looked as though Westfields were going to take the points, when he tipped over the bar an Adam Wakley shot and then saved well from substitute Morgan Evans.

Earlier in the first half Westfields had had a great opportunity to open the scoring early on but Adam Wakley blazed over the bar from 6yds and then Jack Gittoes also headed wide when well placed.

Midway through the half the home side took the lead on the breakaway when a right-wing centre was nicely knocked home by the Thornbury striker, Pritchard, but Westfields came storming back and equalised just before the break when dangerman Archie Muirhead turned smartly in the box to beat Welsh with a low drive.

With the sides level at the interval Westfields came out in the second half but could not find the finishing touch and Manager Phil Glover then sent on substitutes Ryan Hillier and Morgan Evans to add pace to the attack but they, despite plenty of endeavour, could not break through.

In fact it was Ian Havard in the Westfields goal who saved brilliantly from point-blank range to keep out what would have been a winner for the home side, and then Havard then brilliantly tipped over the bar a neat chip shot from Pritchard to keep the sides level.

Westfields then lost full-back Sean Powell who was sent off after being the last man when he made a last-ditch tackle on the Thornbury striker and received a red card.

Westfields down to 10 men still gave a spirited display and it was the home team keeper, Mackenzie Welsh, who earned the Man of the Match award for 2 breath-taking saves late in the game to keep out Westfields’ efforts.

Westfields had to settle for a point in this game but they would consider it 2 points dropped rather than a point gained.

On Wednesday Westfields are back on duty in the Hellenic League Premier Division when they meet Longlevens, kick-off 7.45pm, at allpay.park on Wednesday 19^th October, and then on Saturday 22^nd October they are on FA Vase duty when they welcome Ollerton Town from Mansfield in Nottinghamshire for a First Round FA Vase tie, kick-off 3pm, at allpay.park.