Match Report – Westfield (Friendly) Thursday 8th August 2019

Preseason
Friendly

Westfield 4-2 South Coast Athletico

Saturday 8th August 2019
Parish Field

Chopbacks come up short against strong opposition

The next fixture in the Chopbacks preseason calendar was a midweek match against County League club Westfield.

The game started in explosive fashion with the Chopbacks taking an early lead from a Connor Easton throw that was flicked on by Jack Bloomfield for Brad Owens to head in.

This woke up Westfield and for the next half an hour they threw attack after attack at the Chopbacks bringing out some big saves my Ben Tate and multiple midfield interceptions by an energetic Lee Finnigan.

Lee had to go off the pitch on the half an hour mark after a challenge left him with a deep flesh wound just below the knee.

On the 35 minute mark the ball struck Charley Adams on the arm in the penalty area result in a spot kick being awarded.

Westfield made no mistake from the spot to equalise.

The Chopbacks managed to hold on till halftime to go in level.

The second half started the same as the first had ended with some fast attacking movements down both wings for the opposition forcing Ben Tate having to pull off a couple more acrobatic saves.

Sadly though, he was unable to keep out a Westfield header during a corner resulting the Chopbacks being behind for the first time in the game after 52 minutes.

Changes were made to keep the squad rotated involving Luke Darvill making his first appearance of preseason and Captain Dayle McGurk coming on just in time for a Chopback throw.

In true Hollywood fashion, Dayle McGurk headed in the equaliser from a Connor Easton throw to even the scores once again.

Westfield however had more in the tank and kept on attacking down both flanks but it took a individual effort to finally break throw in the 71st minute to put the Chopbacks on the back foot again.

The Chopbacks pushed and pushed for an equaliser and whilst doing so left themselves open at the back on the 88th minute for Westfield to counter a sucker punch putting the game beyond doubt.

With the last movement of the game a tired Georgie McDonagh attempted an under hit back pass which Ben Tate was forced to gamble with an on rushing attacking player, the gamble led to Ben Tate being caught in the face and sustaining a deep flesh wound to his nose.

With that the referee blew the whistle before allowing Westfield to score would have been a certain 5th goal bringing the match to a close.

A great test for the Chopbacks who got to experience playing against a County level club which is a level that the club aspires to reach in the future.