Nettleham Res. 1-5 AFC West End

West End Sting Nettles for Five

After suffering their worst ever start to a league season AFC West End continue their Harry Redknapp-esque recovery with another win to move up to fourth in the Lincoln Sunday League Division 5. After surviving a hang-over heavy first road trip in nearly two months West End took to the rain-soaked and down-right squelchy Mulsane Park pitch hoping to put the league’s bottom side to the sword and looked set to do so as they took the lead through Sam McDonnell turning in Jamie Lawrence’s low cross. 1-0 soon became 2-0 as Lawrence got on the score sheet – the forward was on the end of a long kick downfield from Christian Sales only to be denied by the Nettles’ keeper but he regained the ball and made sure at the second opportunity.

Nettleham Res. 1-2 AFC West End

West End Back to Winning Ways

After three straight defeats West End finally returned to winning ways with a hard fought victory at Nettleham. West End controlled the first half and despite some very random decisions from the referee, who in the words of Kitch looked “like that guy off Notting Hill who keeps asking for John Grisham novels”, took the lead as Dan Hill fed Dave Capps to finish well. The other main first half talking point came as Alf tried desperately to keep a ball in play and in doing so ran into the back of the main stand of Nettleham’s Saturday side.

AFC West End 5-1 Nettleham Res.

West End Sting Nettles

West End continued their fantastic start to the season with a third successive victory. Jamie Kitching was the latest person to join the goalkeeper merry-go-round and made a number of telling saves. However, it was man of the match Steve Nurse who made the most significant contribution with a well taken hat-trick helping West End to a 5-1 win that, following a Joe Harper strike, was sealed with a glorious own goal from a Nettleham defender.

Line-up (4-4-2): Jamie Kitching; Stephen Pearce (Ryan), Bruce McDonald, Adrian Gray, Jez Ashberry; Dave Capps, Joe Harper, Gav Sumner (Dale Annous), John Moore (Glen Wilson); Steve Nurse, Dan Hill
Man of the match: Steve Nurse (hat-trick hero)
Dick of the day: Gav Sumner (injury sways it again)

Nettleham Res. 2-4 AFC West End

Nettles Stung in Own Backyard

Having been in control for much of this match at Mulsane Park, West End almost lost out on all three points due to a spirited late fight back from the home side. West End had controlled for much of the match and led 2-0 thanks to two Rich Dungworth goals, but with fifteen minutes to go Nettleham scored two quick goals to level the match. However, the introduction of Lee Matsell rallied West End and they responded with two late goals of their own; Matsell scoring one and setting up Dungworth for his hat-trick goal in the closing minutes to seal a 4-2 win.

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

AFC West End 4-3 Nettleham Res.

West End Put the Pedal to the Nettle

A third game unbeaten for West End and a great morning for Joe Harper, who made his first start for the club having undergone knee surgery in the summer. Harper grabbed two goals in a 4-3 victory for a bare XI West End side that featured Glen Wilson deputising in goal for the second time in three matches. Andy Kirk and Rich Dungworth grabbed the other two goals in a match which West End were more in control of than the score line suggests.

 Starting Line-up (4-4-2): Glen Wilson; Jez Ashberry, Mayur Patel, Jonny Dyas, Stephen Pearce; Chris Dorling, Joe Harper, Andy Kirk, Phil Lodge; Sam McDonnell, Rich Dungworth