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KESWICK WEST CUMBRIA 2 – 4 LANCASTER UNIVERSITY

SWANSTON
COOK

Sunday saw the second of the weekends games as Wests hosted Lancaster University.
Having beaten the visitors earlier in the year it could be said that KWC were the favourites to come out of this one on top but with Lancaster currently holding one of the best runs of form in league, the game could go either way.
Wests fielded a strong line up including Olly Kendrick and Seth Fletcher but were without Bowen, Fennell, Dessert or Randall.
The game began and within 10 seconds Wests found themselves behind. An aerial ball was floated from the Lancaster half and dropped nicely into the path of the onrunning forward who finished neatly to give the visitors the early lead.
Despite the setback, from the restart Wests took the game to the University side. Almost immediately a KWC attack, Morgan with a side line aerial into the path of Cook who neatly took it pass the keeper for a certain goal was stopped illegally on the line and Wests had a penalty flick, however Morgan was denied and struggled to find the net to keep the game level.
The lead didn’t last long though as a beautiful aerial ball from Morgan again found Cook who distributed a perfect pass into the path of the overlapping Swanston who’s first time shot found the back of the goal and took KWC level with the visitors.
As with the game on Saturday, Wests seemed to control the pace and play of the majority of the half but found it difficult to penetrate the Lancaster back 4 with the final pass/ball. The visitors seemed to reply on a long ball tactic but frustratingly it had its desired effect as it opened up the midfield and KWC defence with one pass. Wilson and Mattear held firm though and again the travelling side’s best efforts came courtesy of the short corner routine but none could be converted, largely in thanks to Wilson who cleared the ball off the line in particular attempt.
Just before the break Wests turned the game around and took the lead; Lancaster knocking the ball left to right but a well work tactic by the home side paid off; Moving as a team following the ball leaving no gaps for the visitors to pick a pass, And pressure from Barnes opened a opportunity up for Morgan to intercept a pass and take charge dribbling through countless tackles, round the back and placed a through ball into the path of Barnes dummying the ball for a clear strike for Rob Cook, slotting the ball home at the far post.
After the interval, Wests came out a completely different side and seemed a shadow of the team that had come off the pitch minutes earlier. Lancaster were applying additional pressure on each KWC player in possession, in particular at the back where the defence struggled to get out of danger but for the majority of the second half, Wests found themselves on the backfoot and in their own half.
Despite the pressure, KWC were withstanding the offense but an unfortunate mistake allowed the University striker a free shot at goal which was capitalised on to level the tie.
Lancaster had their heads up now and continued to pile pressure on Wests and despite further solid defending ,were undone via short corner and took the lead 3-2.
Wests began a revival after the restart and tried controlling the pace once again but unlike the first half, were unable to keep possession for long periods and were left chasing the ball for longer. With Time ticking away, when Wests did collect the ball, the urgency to move the ball downfield was apparent as each advance towards goal committed more men forward leaving larger gaps at the back. Eventually, the risk resulted in its almost inevitable outcome and Lancaster netted a fourth to see off both the game, and with other results going against Wests, possibly their chance at the league.
Wests only 3points ahead with third place Lymm, the race for the second promotion place is now on. This Saturday West travel away...to Lymm.