Toolstation NCEL Division One
Westella & Willerby 1-2 Hallam
Hallam manager Ryan Hindley watched his side win at Westella
Two late goals broke Westella’s hearts and earned promotion-chasing Hallam all three points in dramatic fashion.
Jack Hargreaves was the hero in the dying seconds for Ryan Hindley’s men.
On a poor playing surface, Hallam kicked the game off and straight away gave the ball away trying to play football. Danny Walker immediately pinching the ball and firing down low to the right of the Hallam keeper.
A minute later and Westella got in behind the visitors defence, Goole loanee Charlie Shelley cutting the ball back for Chris Short who fired just over the bar from 18 yards.
It was only a matter of time till Hallam adapted to the pitch getting the ball out wide to the lively Brammer and Ord who continued to drive at Westella full backs in Stone and Dodson but failed with any real quality.
As the first half wore on it became more of a battle as both sides continued to cancel one another out with neither side testing either goal keeper.
Westella started the second half putting the visitors on the back foot, a precise through ball from Shelley to Mike Pecora on the edge of the Hallam box was adjudged to of been off side.
On the hour mark Hallam had a period of possession that saw Westella forced on to the back foot but some stubborn defending and last ditch tackles the visitors failed to find a way through.
From a Hallam corner on 65 minutes that was well cleared saw a leg race between Danny Walker and the two Hallam full backs, neither full back dealt with the ball and Walker powered his way through on goal and fired the ball past the stranded keeper for 1-0.
Immediately the visitors made changes freshening up their attacking force, Exall in the home goal making some good saves and collecting crosses when he was needed most.
The pressure eventually told as Hallam got in down the right hand side of the pitch crossing the ball low Westella failed to clear their lines and on hand was substitute Jake Currie to fire home from close range on 80 minutes.
Westella continued to soak up the pressure making it hard for the visitors to break them down with the 90 minutes up the referee added 3 minutes injured time.
In to the 92nd minute, some last ditch defending saw Hallam earn a corner that would eventually fall to edge of the Westella penalty area and with 30 seconds to play Jack Hargreaves won the game with a half volley that flew in to the net for 2-1.
What They Said
Westella & Willerby manager Leon Sewell
“To lose a game with 30 seconds remaining against a strong Hallam side is a real blow to the lads today. It was definitely a game we did not look out of place given the run Hallam are currently on.
“There’s no doubt about it, a point each would of been more than a fair result as neither side looked like scoring but for us to soak up large spells of pressure and take the lead was fantastic.
”We had two good chances in the first couple of minutes and if we take them chances the game could of been a totally different result. Even when we took the lead Hallam turned the pressure up on us but couldn’t find a way through.
”After today’s performance it’s about us making our own little bit of luck and finding the way to win ourselves, the players have set their own benchmark on that performance alone and it’s now up to me to ensure we push on and get out of the bottom two.”