KESWICK WEST CUMBRIA 4 – 3 LYMM

COOK x 3
MORGAN

This week KWC hosted Lymm in what was to be the game of the
season thus far.

Both teams squared
off against each other last season and both gained promotion but while Wests
finished 3rd, Lymm had taken the league by storm and capped off an
unbeaten season winning the title. In fact Lymm had only dropped 2 points
throughout the whole campaign, those 2 points courtesy of a 3-3 draw with Wests.

As the season
approaches the midway point KWC sit joint top following what can only be described as the perfect start to the campaign while Lymm sit just off the front-runners in third.

Having lost out to
Morecombe the previous week, the signs were there that Lymm were a side certainly capable of defeat but with only a handful of defeats in several years
following the reformation of the club, the defeats were few and far between.

Wests fielded their
consistently strong squad and were bolstered with the return of Chris Mattear to the defence.

The game began at a
wary pace with both teams feeling out the opposition, possession retained was the main focus. Wests however did look the more threatening and played with a
greater attacking front from the outset. One such attack found Mark Proctor smashing the ball just wide of the back post and just shy of the outstretched stick of Rikki Barnes.

Wests however did
strike first and took the early lead. Wests cleared a travelling attack up to
Barnes who fended off a challenge and held the ball up nicely before playing a perfect crossfield pass to the on-running Swanston to collect and drive forward to the edge of the D and supplying the pass for Rob Cook to fire home.

Lymm were clearly
stunned and found themselves fortunate not to be 2 down soon after. Following a
break in play Swanston quickly smashed the ball into the danger area finding Barnes who although did connect, pulled the shot just wide.

However, although the visitors are unfamiliar with conceding goals they are more than well known
for scoring them as Wests were about to find out in a nightmare 15 minute spell.

Having soaked up
the pressure the KWC defence leaked a short corner which was converted in unfortunate circumstances via an own goal to level up the tie and the game was completely turned on its head moments later when another Lymm short corner
routine ended with the same outcome.

Wests began to lose
their concentration somewhat and were punished again presenting Lymm with their third short corner opportunity allowing them to complete the hat-trick and
shine a misrepresented 1-3 scoreline.

Having conceded
little over 3 all season and staring at the vastly unfamiliar possibility of
defeat Wests had nothing but an uphill battle on their hands against a side now beaming with confidence. Wests could only look on for the next few minutes as with an air of professionalism rather than arrogance, Lymm maintained
possession and depleated any sign of a quick goal to get the home side back into the game.

This however seemed
to have the opposite effect that was desired as by reducing the pace out of the game, Wests were now back to the tempo they have dominated the leage at to this point. The remainder of the half was nothing more than scrappy and although not pretty, it gave KWC some stable ground to build on and prevent falling further
behind.

As the half came to
a close a goal out of nothing breathed fresh air into the KWC sails. Morgan and Dessert worked together down the right allowing the captain the half a yard needed to shake off the Lymm challenge, progress to the byline courtesy of a
textbook J run and cut the ball back to Cook for a near post first time strike to leave the score at the break 2-3.

With the possibility of claiming what had previously seemed an unlikely point, Wests. approached the second half with a new found optimism and motivation.

From the off, KWC
pushed hard and immediately put the visitors on the back foot, gaining and retaining possession well but still finding it difficult to calve out and half chances. Mark Proctor and Shaun Wilson again supplied the Cumbrians with the perfect contrasting balance of drive and resolution and provided the perfect
connection between the defence and attack.

Wests continued to
chip away at the defence and after a neat one-two from Cook and Swanston, a ball was won out side the 25, Morgan took advantage with ball straight into the D and a well placed 1st touch by Barnes found west's a short corner was earned and the home side had the opportunity to present their
own short routine which was executed to perfection leaving Morgan to drag the ball into the corner for the deserved equaliser.

The remainder of
the game was played out on a knife edge and as the time ticked closer to the conconclusion, the importance of a seventh goal was clear.

Lymm earned themselves a couple more short corner routines but determined defending from
the back four ensured the result wasn’t as clinical as before.

In the final 2
minutes of the game the comeback and turnaround was complete, A stray ball lifted into the air from a tackle in the middle, fell into the path of Morgan who collected
the ball on the wing and drove forward before cutting the ball sideways into the D for Rob Cook to fire home to complete his hat-trick,

A few seconds of
last minute, urgent defending was still to be done but the solid Mattear and Fennell stood firm as the whistle blew.

An excellent result
for Wests who overcome the first of their four main opponents and with other results going in Wests favour, they end the week top of the league three points clear of the clashing pack