Welton S&SC Res. 2-1 AFC West End

Not so Brilliant Orange at Welton

West End’s late season promotion push suffered a set-back on the road with a 2-1 defeat at picturesque Welton, leading some to suggest that fishing balls from a stream with a corner flag is not ideal match preparation. On a small hard pitch the Beers struggled to impose themselves in the early stages with the ball rarely on the floor long enough to string any sort of passes together. Welton dealt with the conditions better and took a twentieth minute lead in bizarre circumstances; a high lifted cross from the left evaded those in the box but took a high enough bounce to balloon over Christian Sales and drop under the cross-bar.

Woodhall Spa United 0-10 AFC West End

West End Score Perfect Ten on Spa Trip

When you’re about to face an unbeaten side a no show from your goalkeeper and three of your squad still twenty-five miles away changing a flat tyre forty minutes before kick-off is not ideal preparation, but it all panned out nicely for the Beers as they kicked off in the snow. With a make-shift line-up the Beers feared the worst, but the excellent Abbey Lane pitch suited West End’s passing game a treat and the visitors soon took the lead; Jack McDonnell’s cross was left by Sam McDonnell and Joe Harper fired home from just inside the area. West End then doubled their lead as Sam McDonnell slotted home from Jamie Lawrence’s cut-back. Buoyed by their great start West End continued to threaten and found a third goal inside the opening twenty minutes; Sam McDonnell and Dave Capps exchanged passes on the edge of the box, but the home keeper saved Capps’ strike only for Lawrence to turn home the rebound.

AFC West End 1-2 Tower Athletic

Tower Almost Toppled

Up against Premier Division opposition West End were chasing their most significant giant-killing feat today as they hosted Tower Athletic in the Ron Eaglen Challenge Cup. Things didn’t start too well for West End as their hosts took control early on and took the lead fifteen minutes in. However, the home side slowly began to assert themselves on the game and grabbed a deserved equaliser ten minutes from the break as Gav Sumner got in behind the Tower back line. Sadly though West End couldn’t hold on ‘til the break as Tower levelled from a set-piece; their forward rising highest in a melee at the far post that left Gav Sumner with concussion.