Recap

Westfields 2 – Johnson, Wakley

Worcester Raiders 2 – Monaghan 2

WESTFIELDS YOUNGSTERS GAIN A POINT

Westfields were forced to field a very young side against 3^rd place Worcester Raiders on Saturday when injury problems to Dan Stoneman, Joel Edwards, Sam Rawlings, Adam Newbury, Ben Vine and Kyle Cassell allowed manager Phil Glover to introduce players from the development squad including Zac Johnson, Cameron Davies and Sam Griffiths who all produced excellent performances as Westfields gained a point against an in-form team.

In fact Westfields got off to a brilliant start when teenage striker Zac Johnson put Westfields ahead in only the 4^th minute with a clinical finish which surprised the Worcester Raiders defence.

However, the visitors were soon back on track 5 minutes later when a mix-up in the home defence by goalkeeper Matt Apperley and central defender Joe Davies allowed Louis Monaghan to nip in between the 2 Westfields players and lob the ball into an empty net.

This gift goal gave the visitors the lift they needed and in the 15^th minute Monaghan was again on target with a superb shot from the edge of the box which left Matt Apperley in the Westfields goal well beaten.

Westfields however kept working and Apperley produced a full length save to keep out a 3^rd chance for the Worcester Raiders before Westfields hit back with a number of good opportunities.

After the break Westfields maintained their free-flowing football and Matt MacDonald and Steve Davies produced workmanlike performances alongside Harry Pitman in the centre of midfield.

It came as no surprise when Westfields got a deserved equaliser in the 85^th minute when a Matt MacDonald shot was deflected by Adam Wakley which wrong-footed the Worcester keeper Ryan Young and flew into the bottom corner of the net to give Westfields a chance at 2-2.

Westfields then stepped up the game and threw everything at the visitors in an effort to gain all 3 points and substitute Sam Griffiths was not far away with a crisp shot which brought Young to his knees with a fine save, whilst at the other end Sean Powell produced a fine interception to keep out any late attempt by the Worcester Raiders attack.

This was an excellent point for Westfields against an in-form side and certainly the youth players who were introduced gave Phil Glover and the Westfields side a great boost as they go into their final 3 matches of the season.

Next Saturday Westfields travel to Brimscombe & Thrupp in an away Hellenic League Premier Division game, kick-off 3pm.

Westfields’ HFA County Senior Challenge Cup final against Hereford Pegasus will be played at Edgar Street on Tuesday 25^th April, kick-off 7.45pm.