NESTON 0 – 6 KESWICK WEST CUMBRIA
BARNES
PROCTOR x 2
WILSON x 2
FLETCHER

Having made the perfect start to the new campaign, KWC 1sts travelled to Neston this weekend looking to continue their fine run of form and add yet more early season points onto the NWL Div 3 board.
Wests have excelled beyond even their own expectation so far collecting maximum points and sitting pretty in third position while Neston have struggled to make an impact so far, although on paper it could be said the home side have had their 3 most ‘challenging’ fixtures already, a feat Wests still have to address.
But despite the early league table being tarnished with areas of grey, Wests have simply played against the team they have been faced with and earned the 3 point reward on each occasion, so its nothing other than a hat-trick of good performances that has presented them with their league standing.
However, while dominant at home, West’s only away tie proved more tricky and despite claiming the win, rode their luck a little too often so an air of caution was discussed prior to the start. Early season hard work could be undone with complacency.
The game began at a frantic tempo and both teams seemed eager to use up their energy at the first attempts. Wests however play at their best when at their own pace and textbook passing around the back 4, in particular from Mattear and Fennel,l broke the pace down and allowed the Cumbrians to play their preferred style of hockey.
The deadlock was broken within the first 10 minutes. Pyke feinted through the midfield before offloading to Proctor whos strike was saved initially but Barnes was onhand to slot home the loose ball to keep his impressive scoring sequence going.
Morgan and Desert flooded the right while Swanston and Cook matched their efforts down the left and KWC began to dominate. The second came swiftly from Mark Proctor whos perfectly placed swipe found the bottom corner after a neat layoff from Cook.
Wests couldn’t have asked for a better start but continued to play to their strengths and the lead was extended further midway through the half. A basic short corner routine enabled Morgan to tee up Shaun Wilson to blast his shot past the keeper for his first of the season.
Neston did have both skill and pace going forward at times but all too often the defence stood firm, man of the match Chris Mattear was faultless and despite Dave Harris making a good save to keep the lead to 3, It was to be his last involvement in the game.
More chances followed for West but couldn’t be converted, the best of which found Swanston unlucky to connect with a sublime Cook cross but the half was completed in style from another short corner, this time Proctor lashing the ball over the line for his second and West’s fourth.
After the break Neston did come out with more of a purpose and a sense of determination to get something from the game but a combination of good defence along with the constant ability to counter quickly allowed Wests to break down and turn round any glimpse of a home attack.
Wests converted a fifth via a deflected Seth Fletcher strike and was unlucky not to grab his second minutes later with goal at his mercy. Dan Pyke has an opportunity with a back stick attempt, Rob Cook hit the post..(ish) and Mark Proctor was brought down when through on goal thus confirming the eventual scoreline could have been even greater.
The last goal came again from Shaun Wilson who found the net from an identical short corner routine as his first; although a difference in power, the precision was matched as was the outcome.
Another good performance from Wests who are starting to look every bit like a well gelled team and will be looking to continue this rich run of form into this this weekend double header against Mossley Hill on Saturday and Bebington on Sunday in the cup.