Recap

Westfields 3 – Miller, Peters, Thomas

Royal Wootton Bassett Town 2 – Francis 2

Video coverage thanks to Craig Newton and #NewtonTV – https://youtu.be/jdKOvErHUi8

WESTFIELDS OPEN UP LARGE GAP

Westfields extended their lead at the top of the Hellenic League Premier Division with a hard-fought 3-2 home win over visiting Royal Wootton Bassett.

Westfields, who won 6-1 away at Wootton Bassett in September, found the visitors a much stronger unit and Westfields had to battle all the way to secure the 3 points as the visitors showed far more endeavour and gave a gritty performance.

Westfields had to overcome the fact that they lost goalkeeper Joe Gorman on the hour and without a substitute keeper on the bench Westfields’ defender Kane Kahaki went in goal and had to work hard to assist his defence in securing all 3 points.

Earlier, Westfields had started the game with a dream start when Ben Miller put a curling shot into the net in only the first minute to give Westfields the lead but the visitors came storming back when Mark Francis pulled a goal back on the half hour.

Westfields then restored their advantage when Cameron Peters seized on an opportunity in the 6yd box to put Westfields back 2-1 in front at the break.

After the interval Westfields found the visitors much more forthright as they came looking for an equaliser but when Westfields lost Gorman on the hour they had to reshuffle the side with Kahaki taking the gloves and the green jersey and substitute central defender Paul Hurrell coming in to play alongside Ryan Green.

It was slightly against the run of play that Westfields went 3-1 ahead when they burst forward and Aidan Thomas rifled home a shot from 15yds into the bottom corner of the net to give Westfields a 3-1 lead.

The home side, urged on by 162 home spectators, then had to defend well and twice Ollie Butler and Ryan Green got in good tackles to keep the visitors at bay but Mark Francis then pulled a goal back on 80 minutes when he rifled home a shot from just inside the penalty area.

Westfields then lived dangerously and only a saving tackle by Sam Gwynne and a quick clearance up front eased the pressure before Kahaki was called into action again when he fisted clear a long-range free-kick as the visitors threw everything into the attack.

Westfields kept up the pressure with excellent defending as Ollie Butler twice made great tackles to prevent further pressure.

Westfields resisted the pressure thrown at them by the visitors to record a fine 3-2 home win and a Hellenic League double against Royal Wootton Bassett.

Westfields now travel to Tuffley Rovers on Tuesday night and then make the long trip to London on Saturday to play Windsor as they enter the second half of the season.