AFC West End 5-3 George & Dragon

Match report to follow…

AFC West End line-up (4-2-3-1); Christian Sales; Dane Vincent, Rich Brown, Adrian Gray, Martin Robinson; James Dewhurst, Joe Harper; Mike O’Keefe Rich Vickers, Rob Davies; Jack McDonnell

subs: Dave Capps, Rich Phillips, Sam McDonnell

Man of the Match: Jack McDonnell (4 votes), Adrian Gray (3 and a half votes), Rich Vickers (3), Joe Harper (2 and a half), Dane Vincent (2), Rob Davies (1), Christian Sales (1)

Dick of the Day: Jack McDonnell (5 votes), Rich Vickers (4), the referee , three on one (2), Dave Capps, Stephen Pearce, Geoff Horsfield (1)

AFC West End 5-2 Plough Inn Sturton

West End Plough Their Way Back to Victory

After a goalless draw when they last met three weeks ago, the visitors took just six minutes to rule that scoreline out this time. On their first foray into the West End area Plough were given two opportunities to shoot before a forward smashed the loose ball in off the underside of the bar. Within ten minutes they had doubled their lead, as another close range finish made it 2-0. But, as the half wore on West End finally began to settle and were rewarded as they pulled a goal back before the interval; Sam McDonnell showing good strength to turn and hold off a challenge on the top of the box, before rolling a low shot past the keeper.

AFC West End 3-2 AFC Tennyson

Late West End Show Defeats Tennyson 

AFC West End left it late to return to winning ways in their first home league match since October. The Beers suffered an early set-back as Joe Harper went off injured inside the first five minutes and never really settled, allowing Tennyson to take a deserved lead midway through the half as a neat ball inside was turned home by the visitors’ forward with the aid of a slight deflection. In fact Tennyson could have had another but their left winger was denied only by a brilliant last ditch challenge by James Dewhurst.

AFC West End 5-3 AFC Harpars

Comeback Makes it Four From Four for the Beers

After disappointment in the Jock Mitchell Trophy last week AFC West End returned to league action as AFC Harpars came to the West Common. West End started the brighter side and took a deserved lead quarter of an hour into the game as Jamie Lawrence flicked the ball into the path of Dave Capps, and Cappsy finished well to open the scoring. West End had chances to add to their lead with Lawrence, Jack McDonnell and Glen Wlson all going close to doubling the advantage. Instead West End had to pay for missed chances as they went into the break all square. Harpars’ two forwards combined with a beautifully timed pass and well taken finish to make it 1-1 ten minutes before half-time.

AFC West End 3-4 GE Millers Arms Res.

Close But No Cigar after West End Fight Back

AFC West End are still chasing their first points of the season, but can take encouragement from their performance in today’s match with GE Millers Arms Reserves. The visitors were given an early chance to take the lead from the penalty spot as Jez Ashberry compounded the act of falling over when giving chase to the Millers Arms winger by falling over in front of him and seeing the winger topple over his prone self to win the spot-kick. Thankfully though returning keeper Liam Tonks was equal to the task and pulled off a fine save. However the visitors got their reward minutes later as a rare moment of indecision in the West End back line allowed  Millers Arms to get in a pull-back that was  tapped home by their giant John Carew-a-like for the opening goal.

Plough Inn Sturton 2-3 AFC West End

West End Reap What They Sow at Plough

A welcome start to pre-season preparations for AFC West End as they recorded a 3-2 win away at fellow Division 5 side Plough Inn Sturton.  A record away following of four followed ‘the beers’ squad north were rewarded with a hard fought victory in which West End twice came from behind. The Beers came close to taking the lead in spectacular fashion with only the crossbar denying new assistant manager Dave Capps a volleyed opening goal. Sam McDonnell also came close with a well struck shot from the edge of the box that flew millimetres wide, while the returning Jamie Lawrence was also proving a handful for the home defence, but the Plough keeper was doing well to keep the scores at bay. At the other end new West End keeper Liam Tonks made a number of fine saves but could do nothing about the opening goal as a quickly taken throw caught the unfamiliar West End back line napping and the hosts took full advantage with a far post header.

Blacksmiths 2-5 AFC West End

West End Forge Win at Blacksmiths

The archetypal game of two halves on Bracebridge Heath as a gale force wind blew down the pitch forcing the match to be played in one half of the field. Blacksmiths had the wind at their backs first half and used it to their advantage to edge into a 2-0 lead by the break. With the change of ends came a change in momentum with West End on the attack throughout the second half. Two goals from Rich Dungworth brought AFC level, but the lead seemed just beyond West End. However with ten minutes remaining Sam McDonnell struck to put West End in front, and a hat-trick goal from Dungworth and another goal for super sub Lee Matsell rounded off a convincing win.

Starting Line-up (4-4-2): Alec Waby; Jonny Dyas, Mayur Patel, Shaun Hepple, Stephen Pearce; Dave Capps, Gav Sumner, Glen Wilson, Phil Lodge; Sam McDonnell, Rich Dungworth
Substitutes: Lee Matsell, Jez Ashberry, Dan Cain

AFC West End 3-2 Monks Road WMC

West End’s second outing of pre-season came against another side promoted from division six to five for the coming season. An unfamiliar West End side struggled early on and despite a Rich Dungworth goal trailed 2-1 in the second half. However, late goals from Dungworth and Sam McDonnell helped bring a turnaround for an unexpected 3-2 win.
Starting Line-up (4-4-2): Alec Waby; Stephen Pearce, Paul Walker, Gav Sumner, Jez Ashberry; Phil Lodge, Glen Wilson, Andy Kirk, John Moore; Sam McDonnell, Rich Dungworth
Substitutes: Adam Bierton, Junior Mayala, James Flintham

Hykeham Plough 2-3 AFC West End

West End Haul in the Plough

AFC West End finally got back to winning ways after a dramatic win away at Hykeham Plough. Despite far from ideal preparation arriving late after visiting two other venues before eventually finding Hykeham’s ground West End began well on a small pitch and went ahead when captain Joe Harper got on the end of Chris Dewey’s corner, powering a header past the helpless keeper. West End remained comfortably in control until early in the second half when they imploded and conceded two soft goals in as many minutes.