WESTFIELDS (Widemarsh Common)

This weekend the much delayed remaining ties in the FA Vase 3rd round finally took place, over a month after they were originally due to be played! The FA Vase is my favourite of the major competitions and due to circumstances, I was afforded the chance to witness two tasty cup ties...

Sunday 9th January 2011
FA Vase 3rd Round
Westfields 1-2 Billingham Synthonia
(After Extra Time, 1-1 90 mins)
Attendance: 104

At the fifth attempt I finally got to Widemarsh Common, the home of Westfields. After being postponed 3 times on successive Saturday's in December, due to snow and ice, the fourth attempt to get this tie on yesterday was called off due to a waterlogged pitch!

However with the overnight forecast favourable, common sense prevailed and both teams decided to try again today, hence why I managed to get two games in this weekend, besides anything had to be better than Man Ure v The Red Shite on ITV and the ensuing arse kissing of 'King Kenny' on his return to take his team to the Championship...

Like Yesterday's game the cup draw pitted a Midland Alliance team against a Northern League Team. Westfields are comfortably mid table, whilst Billingham are struggling this season having won just four league games. 

Also like yesterday it was a good even cup tie and at the interval both sides went in level having both scored from headers from corners. Phil Glover put the homesters ahead on 39 minutes before Jamie MacGowan levelled four minutes later. Westfields probably played the better football and they had an effort come back off the post and a goalbound attempt cleared just as it was about to cross the line.

Synthonia were a more powerful and direct side and most of their good efforts come from set pieces and in the second half they began to out muscle the home side. Both sides had decent penalty appeals waved away and the game went into extra time.

In the 95th minute Billingham's power finally told and Nathan jamieson grabbed the winner and, as the game became stretched, Synthonia were having a lot of joy on the break. They hit the bar and forced the home keeper into a superb double save but it was the visitors who march into the next round.

There was a crowd of 104 at the game today but there was no sign of Westfields most famous fan, he must have been watching the ITV game! http://www.westfieldsfc.com/news/article/royal-support-for-westfields/



The Sun Valley factory in the background.
As the wind changed direction it gave off a pretty 'fowl' smell!