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KESWICK WEST CUMBRIA 7-2 SETHTON
Barnes x 3
Proctor x 2
Cook x 2

This week finally saw the beginning of the new season with KWC hosting Liverpool Sethton.
As with any new campaign both sides were eager to get their first points on the board and serve as a platform for the rest of the season to build on.
Having been promoted last season, particularly when they only finished third, question are bound to asked about whether Wests are capable of competing at the higher level, or more harshly, whether they deserve to.
However, judgements aside, it all boiled down to that on the opening weekend, Wests found themselves in NWL Div 3 and facing their first test of the season.
Wests began with their starting 11 from the previous week’s victory over Windermere, but also welcomed back Shaun Wilson into the fray.
Having not met in recent years and allowing each squad to change since they last did, both sides knew very little about the side they stood opposite. Tactics of each side were to be an appetising surprise for both.
Wests began the game the brighter and had clearly been chomping at the bit all summer, eager to get back to action and it took no longer than 5 minutes for the KWC account to be opened, Rikki Barnes making it 1-0 with a neat back-post finish.
Swanston fed Morgan minutes later and after rounding the keeper was unlucky to see his shot scuffled off the line, however with virtually the next attack the lead was doubled, Barnes bagging his brace with a well slotted finish.
Wests were rampant and Rob Cook added a third with a near post finish after ghosting his way through the visiting defence.
Mark Proctor then netted a fourth and the first half rout was brought to a close with Cook getting his second and Barnes completing his hat-trick.
Wests either took their foot off the gas or became complacent but the second half was far different from the first.
Sethton regained a bit of pride scoring straight from the restart without KWC having touched the ball but the fightback was short lived. Wests continued to play some nice hockey but couldn’t find the finish their build ups deserved. Barnes, Morgan and Cook all had chances to add to the tally and Swanston could have netted more.
Proctor eventually gave some meaning to the half adding his second before the visitors ended the game with a second of their own to give a slightly more credible 7-2 scoreline.
A somewhat disappointing second half display but with 7 goals and 3 points from their 1st game, Wests couldn’t have asked for a much better start.